Ruiz Commends Creation of Division of Early Childhood Education

Senator Stresses the Division is Only a Start

Trenton – Senate Education Chair Senator M. Teresa Ruiz issued the following statement commending the Governor’s creation of a Division of Early Childhood Education: 

“Developing a division solely focused on infants and early childhood education is a start to closing the achievement gap and creating greater opportunity for all students.  Research has shown that high quality early childhood education, especially from zero to five, is one of the best investments we can make in our children. For far too long our approach has been fragmented, which is why I have worked to shift the focus of education instruction to a zero to sixteen model during my time as Chair of the Senate Education Committee.

“It is essential we provide all of our children with the foundation they need to be successful and look at their educational experience from cradle to career. A focus on zero to five will help to streamline our long term policy and I plan to work with the administration on this even further. I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to Cary Booker on being named Assistant Commissioner of the Division. I am confident in his abilities and I know he will provide a strong voice advocating for our state’s youngest children. This is only a start, I look forward to advancing legislation to create a full fledge Department of Early Childhood Education in the future.”