RahwayPreschool

The Rahway Early Childhood Advisory Council (RECAC) is designed to support the efforts of Early Childhood Education in Rahway by promoting community collaborations and strengthening family involvement. The goal of this Council is to support children and families as life-long learners.

The Rahway Early Childhood Advisory Council’s mission is to support an all-inclusive, high quality education for Preschool and Kindergarten children who reside in Rahway. We believe early childhood is a crucial time in development that requires positive experiences from which children can develop and grow. The goal is to provide an all-inclusive, high quality education for preschool and kindergarten children who reside in Rahway. Early childhood is a crucial time in development that requires positive experiences from which children can develop and grow. As such, we will:

• Provide a safe and nurturing environment where children will play, explore, experiment, and develop a lifelong joy for learning
• Utilize developmentally appropriate practice and proven research to guide instruction
• Implement a research-based curriculum with an aligned assessment system
  Intentionally plan lessons, activities, and experiences that promote high expectations, exceed standards, and build a strong academic and social-emotional foundation
• Promote acceptance and understanding of our unique and special attribute
  Provide an inclusive program with appropriate supports and individualized plans as needed for children with special needs or dual language learners
• Develop creative thinkers and problem solvers who make good choices and develop positive self-esteem
• Collaborate and partner with families, health service providers, and community stakeholders
• Provide ongoing, comprehensive professional development to early childhood professionals who educate and support our children and families.

Needs Assessment Committee

One of the core responsibilities of RECAC is to gather feedback on a regular basis from families of preschool students to help ensure the program is meeting their needs. The analysis from the data collected by these regular surveys is delivered to the district and program administrators to incorporate into program implementation. This work is carried out by the Needs Assessment Committee.

Transition Committee

The Transition Committee works to ensure a smooth transition from PreK3 to PreK4 and also onto Kindergarten and beyond through 3rd Grade. One example of the committee’s work will be to create a collaborative partnership with the Rahway Public Library on a “Getting Ready” program a few weeks before the start of the school year to help children and families get excited about moving up to a new grade.

Community Engagement Committee

Finally, the Community Engagement Committee’s focus is on informing the community of activities and accomplishments of the Early Childhood Program. For example, the committee may develop informational material to assist families of children with special needs in getting access to various district and community resources. The committee also engages in community outreach via social media through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.