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The Build Initiative in NEW JERSEY The Build Initiative is a multi-state partnership that helps states construct a coordinated early care and learning system that responds to the needs of young children from birth to five and their families, so that children are safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed in school. Build serves as a catalyst for change and a national resource on early learning. As a partner in Build, New Jersey receives grant money and technical assistance to support early childhood system building. Background Build New Jersey has benefited from the far-reaching effects of the 1998 New Jersey Supreme Court decision, Abbott v. Burke, which mandated high-quality preschool programs in the state's 30 poorest school districts. The Abbott case resulted in extensive statewide work on preschool access, quality and professional development. It also led to collaboration at the provider, advocate and state agency levels. When Build was launched in 2002, and New Jersey became a state partner, the work that had already been done in the state provided a strong foundation. The lead organization for Build in New Jersey is the Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ). ACNJ is recognized for its strong leadership of statewide child advocacy and its management of projects to improve New Jersey's early learning system. Through Build, the work has become more focused on the system as a whole rather than on individual programs and initiatives. Early Learning Partnerships Build New Jersey is focused on constructing an early learning system that incorporates six fields: early care and education, nutrition, health, mental health, parent support and education, and early intervention/special education. While ACNJ provides leadership and staffing to the statewide Build effort, representatives from all six early learning fields serve on a "Core Team" to help to steer the initiative. This team includes a diverse mix of public agency administrators, service providers, educators, researchers, funders and advocates. System-Building Planning and Progress Build New Jersey has conducted a methodical and participatory strategic planning process in order to create a policy agenda. A critical component of the plan is the formation of a public/private partnership to (1) identify cross-system barriers in funding, design and delivery; (2) identify and fund successful cross-system collaborations; and (3) evaluate them for expansion and replication. Build New Jersey is working on strategic communications to advance the policy agenda and build public will for investments in early learning. A Build New Jersey website recently has been launched: www.earlylearningnj.info. Current New Jersey preschool programs serve only about one-third of the state's four-year-olds. Expanding preschool access is a key component of New Jersey's Build agenda. Working with the state Department of Education, ACNJ developed a blueprint for preschool expansion, called the Early Launch to Learning Initiative (ELLI). The initiative was adopted by the Governor and proposed for funding during the next fiscal year, with a competitive grant process to decide who is funded. The Governor has pledged to increase preschool funding incrementally, with a goal of all four-year-olds having access to public preschool by 2010. A Build committee focused on improving child care quality has made great strides in designing a quality incentive proposal for New Jersey. The Build Core Team discussed and gave feedback on the proposal in July. The next step is to design the rewards and support structure. Because of the uncertainty that has resulted over the Governor´s announced resignation, next steps for advancing the quality incentive proposal are still being planned. A survey of 1300 kindergarten teachers in 30 Abbott districts is being conducted to assess the impact of preschool on kindergarten readiness. It is expected the survey data will support preschool expansion and other investments in early learning. Challenges for the Future New Jersey has created an organizational structure and a broad-based partnership to support its early learning system-building work and has developed a vision for a more effective and efficient early learning system. Keeping partners engaged and committed and persuading leaders of the benefits of systemic improvements will be an ongoing challenge for ACNJ and Build. A strategic communications campaign to generate support among key policymakers and early learning stakeholders will be accompanied by a broader effort to educate the public about the importance of early learning. To learn more about the Association for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) or Build Initiative work in New Jersey, please visit www.earlylearningnj.info or contact: Nancy Sconyers 973-643-3876, x204 nsconyers@acnj.org To learn more about the Build Initiative, please visit www.buildinitiative.org, or contact: Barbara Gebhard, Project Director 304-776-2940 bgebhard@buildinitiative.org