Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Preschool Program topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Robbinsville reports first-year preschool enrollment growth and high program quality scores
Summary
Robbinsville Public Schools told the board that its first-year preschool program expanded to 14 classrooms, enrolled more students than expected, and scored highly on state environment and curriculum measures while identifying areas for improvement such as meals/snacks and math materials.
Robbinsville Board of Education members heard a detailed report June 24 on the district’s first year of a universal preschool program, including enrollment growth, classroom quality scores and plans to expand to 18 classrooms next year.
The district opened 14 preschool classrooms this year and said enrollment rose from an initial 161 regular-education students (plus 10 students in inclusion/IEP placements) to an end-of-year total of 176 regular-education students and 10 inclusion students. For 2025–26 the program has 204 regular-education students registered and five IEP inclusion spots committed, with about 31 open seats remaining for the 18 classrooms the district plans to operate next year.
District staff presented the curriculum, assessment and classroom-quality evidence that underpinned the program. Dr. Burns, identified in district materials as the director of early childhood education, and preschool staff described use of Creative Curriculum, the Teaching Strategies assessment system, the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) and the Teaching Pyramid Observation Tool to guide instruction and measure classroom practice. The ECERS subscale scores the presenters cited included indoor spaces and furnishings (5.7), encouraging children’s use of books (5.5) and individualized teaching and learning (5.4). The team identified meals and snacks (2.5) and math materials/activities as areas for improvement.
Staff also described supports for students needing extra help. Out of about 163 pre-K general-education students, 34 were brought to the preschool intervention and referral team for review; 20 of those received implemented supports, six were later dismissed from intervention during the year, and two were referred to the district Child Study Team (CST). The preschool nurse reported roughly 1,800 nurse visits this year and said roughly 1,100 entries captured absences; nurses and staff used three- and five-day absence alerts to follow up with families and connect some to medical care.
Presenters highlighted partnerships that supported the program: Robbinsville Police (car-seat inspections and K-9 visits), school resource officers Greenwood and Shane, Robbinsville Public Library, Robbinsville Pediatric Dentistry, Mercer County Board of Social Services, Amazing Athletes, PTA volunteers and local child-care providers (Chestnut Montessori, iGoSTEM Academy, Kiddie Academy and Malvern School). Staff also described monthly parent academies, an Early Childhood Advisory Committee (RECAC) with community stakeholders, and plans to form RECAC subcommittees in the coming year.
District leaders told the board the program aims to maintain fidelity to its research-based curriculum and measurement tools, to continue professional development on math and social-emotional learning, and to refine snack options and supplemental food choices to address nutrition concerns identified by ECERS observations. Staff said registration includes an in-person component so families meet the district registrant and preschool staff before the school year begins.
The board did not take a vote on the preschool report; staff asked the community to enroll soon because seats are limited for next year.
