Montclair Pre-K Announces More Financial Aid

The Montclair Community Pre-K will be able to enroll more students for the upcoming school year thanks to a bump in funding from the township, Executive Director Eve Robinson said at Tuesday night's council meeting.

The Montclair Council announced in late April it would restore funding to several community groups, with the non-profit pre-k's budget receiving the biggest boost. The original budget called for $62,500 in funding, which more than tripled to $192,500.   

“We do have more financial aid now thanks to your support,” Robinson said.

Robinson urged Montclair parents of pre-schoolers to contact the school, which offers financial aid and tuition on a sliding scale. She said tours are offered every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. 

Former Montclair Community Pre-K class parent Ira Shor commended the council for restoring funding to the school.

“Thank you very much for your generosity and wisdom,” said Shor, whose son attended the Montclair Community Pre-K. “The staff made a tremendous contribution toward his development.”

Shor cited studies that show student achievement gaps open before children enter school.

“This places a tremendous responsibility on townships to fund pre-k,” he said. “Every dollar you invest in it will come back to us in years to come.”

The Montclair Community Pre-K opened in 1998 on Orange Road in Montclair.

The private, non-profit school offers tuition assistance on a sliding-scale basis and has never turned down a student based on ability to pay, according to the mission posted on its website.