Early Childhood Focus

3-, 4-Year-Olds to Get Full-Day Preschool

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:32:07 PST

The township's school district will be the first district in Ocean County to offer full-day preschool under new state-wide mandates. The state wants to enroll about 70,000 children in early preschool by 2014, which will cost $330 million.

Probe Eyes Child Care

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:41:08 PST

A lack of inspectors, slow response times to complaints and lack of information for parents are but some ofthe problems with New Jersey child care oversight uncovered in an Asbury Park Press investigation. "The state can legally, and should morally, do something about this," Linda K Smith, the executive director of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, told the newspaper for Sunday editions.

Quality Child Care Getting Harder for Working Parents to Afford

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:14:47 PST

Timothy and Jennifer Puleo looked for quality, price and location when searching for child care for their baby. Price, it turned out, was often the deal-breaker. Puleo, an insurance underwriter, said his Short Hills company offered a 30 percent discount if he used a center within three miles of the job. But the big chains in that area were so expensive even the discount wouldn't have helped, he said.

Child Care Center Inspections, Monitoring to Increase Under Bill

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:15:33 PST

Child care centers in New Jersey would have to be inspected at least once a year � instead of every three years � under a bill Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini plans to introduce in September.

Parents, Teachers Hail Preschool Plan

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:55:11 PST

"Let the wild rumpus start," said 5-year-old Jane Petit as she and a preschool mate played with cloth characters to act out scenes from Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are." As Jane added her own flair to the story, across the Neptune Early Learning Center more than 200 other 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds were also learning, and playing, under the watchful eye of 47 trained and certified staff members.

Minimal Regulation of Child Care in N.J.

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:46:29 PST

The classroom was noted as being "very dirty," along with the bathroom and hallway floors. Inspectors found a staff member who yelled and cursed at children. And some children were wearing soaked, saturated diapers.

Accreditation For Child Care Company Gives Parents Peace of Mind

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:43:44 PST

Sparta � When entrusting the care of your child to someone else, one craves some form of assurance that they are in good hands. Kiddie Academy� has long provided wary parents with a sterling reputation and unparalleled programs; and, the company can add Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation (CITA) - and being one of the first educational preschools in the country to receive it - to its already extensive list of accomplishments.

Child care is far from child's play

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 10:15:19 PST

The new job came with a corporate office and ample benefits. But Teresa Cunningham found herself fantasizing about more earthly things -- burping and cuddling babies.

Learn to share: Schools, child care centers coexist

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:16:03 PST

For the third year, Barbarito and Beyers are operating a private day-care center and preschool in two previously unused classrooms at Dennis Township Primary School in rural Cape May County. They soon will be opening a second center at the Ventnor Educational Community Complex.

NORWESCAP introduces �Together 4 Quality� accredidation program child care

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:15:21 PST

NORWESCAP Child and Family Resource Services, the local child care resource and referral agency for Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren Counties, is prepared to introduce �Together 4 Quality,� an accreditation project.

Big or tiny, it pays to be family-friendly

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:46:23 PST