- MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR
- REAL RESULTS
- A PLAN FOR NEW JERSEY'S FUTURE
- CONFRONTING TODAY'S CRISIS
- A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCE
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PRESS RELEASES
Press Release: CORZINE HAMMERS CHRISTIE FOR HIS DECISION TO CUT FUNDING FOR PRE-SCHOOL October 28, 2009 
For Immediate Release October 28, 2009 Contact: Elisabeth Smith (609) 695-7190 CORZINE HAMMERS CHRISTIE FOR HIS DECISION TO CUT
FUNDING FOR PRE-SCHOOL “Christie would turn his back on more than 8,500 children throughout New Jersey”
TRENTON—During a press conference in Linden today, Governor Jon S. Corzine hammered Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for his refusal to fund pre-school for all non-Abbott districts across the state. “Christie has let everyone know, repeatedly, that he thinks pre-k is ‘babysitting’”, said Corzine. “Now he is letting everyone know that if he were to be elected governor next week he would eliminate funding for this critical educational tool in 115 districts all across New Jersey. Christie would turn his back on more than 8,500 kids across New Jersey. He continues to be extremely wrong when it matters most.” In a Press of AC interview last week, Christie said he would stop state funding for pre-school in all but the 31 former “Abbott” districts. The newspaper reported that Christie’s plan “would eliminate funding for 115 districts . . . This year, 146 districts received $570.1 million for pre-school aid.” In Union County alone, 583 children would be locked out with 255 kids in Linden alone sent home. “Over the past four years, education has been a top priority for my administration,” said Corzine. “We have been guided by a simple tenet: every child in New Jersey has a right to be inspired and challenged every day in schools that are the very best. For the future of New Jersey’s economy and the future of our kids, we invested in early childhood education to ensure that New Jersey students are well-educated, prepared and better-able to compete in the 21st century global economy. That’s why, while we made the tough choices to cut the size of state government and reduce the budget by $4 billion, we’ve actually increased funding for education by $1.8 billion and funding for pre-k over $52 million this year alone.” The Linden School District is supporting full day pre-school using their increased funds under the Governor’s historic new school funding formula. The District is receiving a grant for school construction funding as a part of the $3.9 billion in additional funds the governor championed. This grant will support an addition to School #2 for 19 new preschool classrooms, one pre-school special education classroom, additional special education facilities and a nursing suite. The project will include a new playground and parking area. The total cost of the project is about $11 million, of which the state share is about $2.4 million. Christie has been very clear about his stance on pre-school education, declaring in May that Corzine has decided “the government should babysit children? It’s simply wrong.” When given the opportunity to clarify his position in a recent television appearance, Christie instead stood by his previous declaration. New Jersey has already begun to see the significant benefits of Governor Corzine’s investment in education. New Jersey is one of only three states to narrow the achievement gap in fourth grade reading and one of only 15 states to narrow the gap in fourth grade math. At the same time, the Corzine Administration has raised performance levels and toughened standards for high school math and science curricula so that our students are prepared for higher education and the workforce. As a result, New Jersey students have continued their outstanding performance relative to other states. High school graduation rates are the highest in the country, and New Jersey students are among the best prepared for higher education ###
Christie Would Turn His Back on More than 8,500 Children
8,531 Children Enrolled in Preschool Outside of the Abbott Districts
In 115 school districts this year, in every single county but one in New Jersey, more than 8,500 children would be sent home. In Union County alone, 583 children would be locked out. Right here in Linden, 255 children would be sent home. In Middlesex County, 376 children would be locked out in Carteret, Highland Park and Piscataway and other towns. In Camden County, 917 children would be locked out in Pennsauken, Winslow and other towns. In Hudson County, 975 children would be locked out in Bayonne, Kearny, North Bergen and other towns. In Bergen County, 689 children would be locked out in Lodi, Hackensack, Cliffside Park, Englewood and other towns. ATLANTIC ATLANTIC CITY BRIGANTINE CITY BUENA REGIONAL EGG HARBOR CITY FOLSOM BORO GALLOWAY TWP HAMILTON TWP HAMMONTON TOWN MULLICA TWP SOMERS POINT CITY VENTNOR CITY WEYMOUTH TWP BERGEN CLIFFSIDE PARK BORO EDGEWATER BORO ENGLEWOOD CITY FAIRVIEW BORO HACKENSACK CITY LITTLE FERRY BORO LODI BOROUGH BURLINGTON BEVERLY CITY EDGEWATER PARK TWP NEW HANOVER TWP PEMBERTON BOROUGH RIVERSIDE TWP WILLINGBORO TWP CAMDEN BELLMAWR BORO BERLIN TWP BROOKLAWN BORO CHESILHURST CLEMENTON BORO LAWNSIDE BORO LINDENWOLD BORO MAGNOLIA BORO MERCHANTVILLE BORO PENNSAUKEN TWP PINE HILL BORO SOMERDALE BORO WINSLOW TWP WOODLYNNE BORO CAPE MAY CAPE MAY CITY LOWER TWP MIDDLE TWP NORTH WILDWOOD CITY WILDWOOD CITY WILDWOOD CREST BORO WOODBINE BORO CUMBERLAND COMMERCIAL TWP DEERFIELD TWP DOWNE TWP FAIRFIELD TWP GREENWICH TWP LAWRENCE TWP MAURICE RIVER TWP UPPER DEERFIELD TWP ESSEX SOUTH ORANGE-MAPLEWOOD GLOUCESTER CLAYTON BORO DEPTFORD TWP ELK TWP GLASSBORO LOGAN TWP NATIONAL PARK BORO PAULSBORO BORO WESTVILLE BORO WOODBURY CITY HUDSON BAYONNE CITY EAST NEWARK BORO GUTTENBERG TOWN KEARNY TOWN NORTH BERGEN TWP WEEHAWKEN TWP HUNTERDON HIGH BRIDGE BORO MERCER LAWRENCE TWP PRINCETON REGIONAL MIDDLESEX CARTERET BORO HIGHLAND PARK BORO JAMESBURG BORO PISCATAWAY TWP SOUTH AMBOY CITY SOUTH PLAINFIELD BORO MONMOUTH BELMAR BORO BRADLEY BEACH BORO FREEHOLD BORO HIGHLANDS BORO KEYPORT BORO RED BANK BORO UNION BEACH MORRIS DOVER TOWN MORRIS SCHOOL DISTRICT WHARTON BORO OCEAN EAGLESWOOD TWP LAKEHURST BORO LAKEWOOD TWP LITTLE EGG HARBOR TWP OCEAN GATE BORO SEASIDE HEIGHTS BORO SEASIDE PARK BORO STAFFORD TWP TUCKERTON BORO PASSAIC HALEDON BORO PROSPECT PARK BORO SALEM MANNINGTON TWP PENNS GRV-CARNEY'S PT REG QUINTON TWP PITTSGROVE TWP UPPER PITTSGROVE TWP WOODSTOWN-PILESGROVE REG SOMERSET BOUND BROOK BORO FRANKLIN TWP NORTH PLAINFIELD BORO SOMERVILLE BORO UNION HILLSIDE TWP LINDEN CITY RAHWAY CITY ROSELLE BORO SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG |
