L-R: Mrs. Brister, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Alter review materials related to Grow NJ Kids, a statewide program that the Rumson School District recently subscribed to.
Press release from Rumson School District
As part of an effort to enhance our Preschool program and offerings, the Rumson School District is pleased to announce a collaboration with the New Jersey Departments of Children and Families, Education, Health, and Human Services.
The district’s vision is to establish a program with two goals: improve our early childhood education practices and develop the highest quality preschool program. To accomplish these goals, Rumson has enrolled in the Grow NJ Kids program, which provides districts with support in enhancing program quality and vision for continuous improvement.
Through this innovative partnership, the Rumson School District will have access to coaching and mentoring support, as well as professional development opportunities for our teachers and staff. Grow NJ Kids also provides the district with assessment tools to analyze and benchmark Rumson’s program in order to identify opportunities for enhancement and improvement. The assessment addresses standards such as: safe, healthy learning environment, curriculum and learning environment, family and community engagement, workforce and professional development, and administration and management.
As a Grow NJ Kids participant, the district is continuing to demonstrate its commitment to offering high-quality programs, including its preschool program, and promoting school readiness. Observed quality means that Grow NJ Kids staff will be coming into the district’s program to review various quality standards.
“Working together, we will review things such as our activities and curriculum, how we work with families and how we interact with children,” says Michael Snyder, Rumson’s Supervisor of Special Services. “As a Grow NJ Kids participant, we will get resources to help our program improve, including coaching, training, and scholarships.”
Family involvement is an important part of Grow NJ Kids. The district encourages active community participation by asking questions, providing feedback and staying involved as this program is implemented. The district will share its rating once it has been assigned and provide more information as needed.
Grow NJ Kids is a state-sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning throughout New Jersey. Grow NJ Kids gives childcare and early learning programs resources to assess and improve their programs, while providing parents with information that allows them to evaluate the quality of programs and make the best choices for their child. The goal is to create a system that encourages ongoing improvement. Grow NJ Kids is part of a national effort. More than 40 other states are at some stage of launching their effort to improve quality.To learn more about Grow NJ Kids, please visit their website at www.GrowNJKids.com.
