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West Orange pre-K program near capacity as district prepares to open
Summary
District officials told the board the universal pre-K program will serve up to 480 students across district and partner sites for 2024–25, with 35 inclusion spaces and only 19 openings remaining; all sites are set to open on Sept. 4.
The West Orange Board of Education heard that the district’s universal pre-kindergarten program will operate near capacity for 2024–25.
Kalisha Doreline, director of the district’s early childhood program, told the board the program will have a maximum of 480 preschool slots across district locations, private providers and Head Start sites, including 35 reserved inclusion spaces. “So for the 24–25 school year, we will have a maximum of 480 preschool students across our district, private provider, and Head Start locations,” Doreline said.
Doreline provided site-by-site enrollment: the Early Childhood Learning Center has four classrooms (60 capacity, 51 enrolled plus eight reserved inclusion spaces); Betty Maddalena has one general education classroom (15 capacity, nine enrolled plus five inclusion spaces); Montclair Child Development Center totals 45 places (32 enrolled with six inclusion spaces); West Orange Community House reported 44 of 45 slots filled; Valley Settlement House had 25 of 30 filled with five families waiting; Primrose had 15 of 15 registered. New and expanding partners include Peanut Shell (serving 75, with 68 registered and 12 inclusion spaces), Temple B’nai Abraham (60 capacity, 54 registered with five waiting), Tutor Time of West Orange (29 of 30), Little Explorers Learning Academy (25 enrolled), First Mountain Preschool (30 capacity with four waiting) and Roseland Child Development Center (26 of 30 registered with four waiting).
Superintendent Moore said board liaisons from the high school and district staff had worked to prepare locations and personnel, and he noted the district will open on Sept. 4 for students. Doreline added that registration follow-ups would fill the remaining 19 seats from wait lists this week.
The board responded with praise and thanks to staff. A member called the availability of early childhood seats “an amazing thing for this community,” and several members thanked Doreline and her team.
The board did not take additional formal action on the pre-K update; staff said they will continue outreach to fill remaining openings and will report back as enrollment finalizes.
