The overarching purpose of the work group is to inform immediate and long-term policy on the provision of preschool services in the Abbott districts. This will involve identifying and analyzing problems, and generating possible solutions. Throughout the process, we expect members to keep their respective constituencies informed and to solicit information from them. In addition to being full participants in this process, the Office of Early Childhood Education will organize meetings, keep minutes and implement the initiatives of the working group. Three smaller task forces will be formed to work on the following topics: 1) designing and conducting a systematic needs assessment of child and family characteristics and program implementation; 2) initiatives to improve program quality; and 3) increasing capacity.

Steve Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University

Ana Berdecia, Executive Director, Puerto Rican Community Day Care, Trenton

Steve Block, Director of Research, Education Law Center

Terri Buccarelli, New Jersey Department of Human Services

Janet Cole, President, New Jersey State Federation of Teachers

Lucille Davy, Special Counsel on Education, Office of the Governor

Thomas Dunn, Superintendent of Schools, Elizabeth

Joe Della Fave, Ironbound Community Corporation

Audrey Fletcher, President, New Jersey Head Start Association

Ellen Frede, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Early Childhood Education, New Jersey Department of Education

Gwen Grant, Director of Early Childhood Education, New Brunswick

Ed Greene, Professor, Montclair State University

Tonya Hall-Coston, New Jersey Department of Education

James Harris, President, NAACP

Kristen Jones, Parent

Antonio Lewis, Superintendent of Schools, Asbury Park

Beverly Lynn, Executive Director, Newark Preschool Council, (Head Start Agency)

Celeste Merriweather, Early Childhood Supervisor, Bridgeton

Geraldine Moore, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network

David Nash, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association

Florence Nelson, Center for Professional Development, Kean University

Jeanne Oswald, Commission on Higher Education

Barbara Reissman, Executive Director, Schumann Fund for New Jersey

Cynthia Rice, Association for Children of New Jersey

Sharon Ryan, Rutgers University

Maria G Santiago, Parent

Daniel Santo Pietro, Director, Hispanic Directors Association

Junius Williams, Esq., Chair, Education Law Center Board of Directors

Cecelia Zalkind, Director, Association for Children of New Jersey