Camden, NJ Pushing For 100-Percent Enrollment in City's Free Pre-K Program
By Paul Kurtz
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- The Camden School District is continuing its effort to beef up the city's enrollment in preschool programs.
Today, schools superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard was going door-to-door with members of the school district's Office of Early Childhood Education, handing out pamphlets and getting the word out.
"A lot of families just aren't aware that the program exists," Rouhanifard said. "And those that know a little bit about the program, they think maybe you have to pay to enroll your students into it. So this is a great opportunity to dispel those myths and tell them this is a free program for all three- and four-year-olds."
The big push, he says, has led to a 20-percent increase in enrollment. And he says their goal is to reach 100 percent by 2016.
"An early start is just really, really critical for our children. And so, the earlier we can get our students in a nurturing, learning environment, the more likely they are to be succesful later in life. It creates that foundation," he said.
