Free Pre-k in Hackettstown
Botheredbyuu2 If the child is a resident of Hackettstown (not just an H-town mailing address), your friend can contact the Hackettstown BOE and ask for the Director of Special Services. For a child in H-town to receive free services, it's my understanding that they have to be a special needs child and be screened for the program. Among the possibilities for inclusion are speech delays, cognitive delays, social delays, autism, etc.
If the child lives in a neighboring town, Mansfield or Allamuchy, their preschool program has a lottery where non-special needs kids are included in the preschool handicapped class and that might be at a reduced price or sliding fee scale.
Your friend's best bet is to contact the BOE in the town in which they live to see if their child can qualify. I don't know of any free programs in the area that are not tied in to special needs.
sumerrain1 The only "free" preschool is the preschool disabled program which is run through the district. It is only available to children who qualify for special services.
jrsemom I've had 2 children in the district years ago. They got preschool through the district because of learning disabilities. Other than that I was paying a ton of money for my other child. Good luck!
kikinj Children in Hackettstown can only attend the preschool at Hatchery Hill, if they are delayed in one area 33% or I think 25% in two areas. If they child is currently under 3 and receiving service through the county because of delays, they will start the process.
I will say my children attended from 2011 to 2014. All three had the most amazing team of teachers, aides, and therapists working with them. We moved out of the area during my youngest the last year of preschool there. I can not rave about the staff at that time. Most of them that were there at that time have been moved to different positions in the district or left the district.
Great Meadows does offer preschool that will accept non residents without needing IEP too. This one is tuition based for those children with IEP. It's actually not that expensive for 5 days week for half days.
Mommyof3 DO NOT go to Great Meadows or Hackettstown SPED preschool!
Do you Really want your child in with kids who have Rage issues or were Sexually abused? I worked in both districts. The "free" daycare will RUIN your child. Not worth it.
KerriSpecial ed preschool is not free daycare. It is a placement that provides special services in advance of traditional school years, recognizing the need for MORE than daycare for some children. Kerri, what a shame to promote bias against our youngest and most vulnerable. I certainly hope that your "work" in both districts was not in a position to interact with any children. We are talking about three and four year old's for heaven's sake. They are going to "ruin" your child??? Ok, as I write this, I realize that this might be a troll - still, I will leave it here just in case and I apologize if I have just "fed the troll!" lol
pmnsk Did you look into the headstart program? It's kind of late now, but you can call....the main number is in Phillipsburg but they also have a program in Washington. I think they have a program in Hackettstown, but not 100% sure. They provide transportation too, I believe. It's free but the qualification is based on your income. Tell your friend to give it a try....even if they have to be on a waitlist...you never know! Good luck.
Living life boldly.. Kerri - I don't know where you get information from but you are mistaken. I actually am very offended by your comments. I had THREE children in that preschool at Hatchery Hill and let me tell you I got to know the students, parents of students, and staff at the preschool very well. We developed so many close friendships from there!
Rage issues? Sexually abused? Where in the hell are you pulling this non sense? This isn't "free daycare", all three of my children walked away from this program with much more than I could ever dreamt of. The woman who worked with them at that time, loved those kids! Truly loved them, I knew they were cared by them as if they were their own children.
As far as Great Meadows - news flash this is the first year they are having the preschool program. At least the first year since I lived in the area.
Yes, Head Start in Washington. They have a Hackettstown bus. I know they are not full. Call ASAP.
JM Mommyof3 - ALL THREE of your children had issues and developmental delays??? That seems really odd and a little concerning to me to have 3 disabled children in one family.
Heidi Many years ago my children went to Centenary College for Pre-K. I remember it being free. I think the college students were learning to be teachers.
Lily Heid - Qualifying for the preschool program and/or early intervention does not mean they are "disabled" so to speak. It means they are delayed in 1 area 33% or 2 areas 25% each compared to their peers. Here are the facts about my three children and yes ALL THREE qualified.
1. My two oldest are TWINS, they were born 4 weeks earlier. Being twins that put them at greater risk for being delayed. I am actually extremely lucky that the twins weren't micro preemies. I have many friends who have twins or triplets with severe needs.
2. One of the twins was born torticolis which required PT and OT.
3. Other twin has low muscle tone. She sat, crawled, stood, and walked late. She also was delayed in speech but not severely.
4. My youngest who is 1 year and 22 days younger was delayed in everything he did. Sitting, Crawling, Standing, Walking, and Talking. He was diagnosed with a genetic disorder after numerous testing. Look it up, CDG-1A, he has very mild case. This little guy has undergone 6 surgeries all within the first 3 years of his life. The one surgery was when he was 19 days old. My son is true little fighter and has overcome so many things in life. He is now entering 1st grade and yes he still receives all services at school and outside the home.
5. The twins are now entering 2nd grade. Neither of them receive any services or have an IEP.
6. Most people who have met my children, do not have clue that they have/had any of this issues. I could list a ton of posters of this forum who know my children and have since they were babies!
Kerri, your comment was rude, ignorant, and demeaning to the children and the families who benefit from early intervention services. I have known MANY families whose children were part of the Hackettstown School District pre-K handicapped program. I have known children who attended the early intervention programs in neighboring towns, including Mansfield, Washington Twp. (Morris Co). Mt. Olive, and more. These were terrific kids who were developmentally delayed and many, many of them so benefitted from the services that they entered kindergarten or first grade at a level comparable to their peers.
The staff of those programs are loving, caring, and passionate about helping kids with developmental delays. IF you actually were part of such a program, your clear lack of compassion and professionalism speak strongly to the fact that you no longer are involved.
BBY, if your friend's child does have developmental delays, I urge him/her to contact the school district to find appropriate placement for the child.
Finally, I had a child go to Centenary's preschool many years ago, and I assure you, it was not free, at least when my child attended.
No program or schooling is "free." It costs something to operate, and maybe you don't pay for it, but someone else does.
music gal I think the OP is asking about Universal Pre-K which we don't have.. Some states do have free pre k, ours doesn't
Kerri may be referring to the fact that there are many kids that have been involved with DCPP( formerly DYFS) in these special preschool programs that exhibit rage or anger issues as a byproduct of the abuse/neglect they experienced at home. Some of these kids have been sexually abused and will sometimes act out on other children as a result. All cases of child abuse/neglect that have been substantiated or established where the child victim is under the age of 3 gets referred to early intervention and if they qualify for services past the age of 3 they will be going to your local preschool handicapped program. Many of them do qualify so many of them will have these behavioral disorders
Htown mama 
MB Norwescap offers vouchers for free (to the family in need, yes I know there is no such thing as "free" school, before anyone trolling-ly corrects me, lol) pre-k to families who meet the financial qualifications.
Here is the website where I saw the info - http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dfd/programs/child/subsidies/
I think most preschools take it, I know my sons does because we have gotten students from that voucher program in the past.
He goes to full day pre-k at Tranquility Adventist School on rte 517. It's a great program (Montessori based, and a Christian program which I love, but I know is not everyone's cup of tea) my son has so much fun and is learning a ton.
I know they are still accepting fall students. Here is the website if anyone is interested: http://www.tranquilityschool.com/
Best of luck in your search! :)
Sandy Sandy:
I do know that the NORWESCAP vouchers cover the cost of part of the child care/preschool, however, most times the parents are responsible for the price difference depending on the type of voucher.
Good luck to your friend. I suggest touring preschools and ensuring they have a curriculum and staff retention (accreditation is a huge plus too).
LAS Hmmm... I was under the impression the NORWESCAP voucher covered it, but I didn't qualify so I can't verify.
Our program is $5,200 for the year, so maybe it's just that the voucher is enough to cover tuition at our school?
There is a maximum daily payment they make and they can assess the family with a co-pay. I know at our center, the voucher covers between 50%-70% of the cost and the center can charge the difference to the family as well.
On the district website it states that starting in Sept 2019 there will be Pre-K at Willow Grove to immerse children into the public school environment at a younger age and help defray the cost of day care for parents. So is this free universal pre-K open to everyone (Htown residents)not just disabled and handicapped children?
It will be the same as great meadows. Tuition based and I believe a lotto system for children who are not special needs. They won’t be able to take all pre-k kids but will be able to take a certain number.
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