18 / matters magazine / school 2026 Pre-K apply through an annual lottery. Parents submit a lottery entry form from January through March. District leaders encourage families to explore the program early, attend open houses and learn about the district’s preschool options before applying. The most current lottery time line, eligibility requirements and enrollment information are available on the district website (somsdk12.org and search for “Universal Pre-K”). Johnson is quick to point out that although Universal Pre-K has changed early childhood education locally, “it was never intended to be come the only option for families,” he says. “There is no single path to preparing a child for kindergarten.” Morrow Memorial Preschool in Maplewood has welcomed children through its doors for more than 50 years. Although the school is not part of the district’s Universal Pre- K network, that decision had little to do with educational philosophy. Participating would have required significant renovations to the church building to meet state facility require m e n t s , an in vestment c h u r c h leadership ultimately d e c i d e d not to pursue. A f t e r nearly 20 years as a teacher at Morrow, Margaret Gray knows there’s no such thing as one- size-fits-all when it comes to young children. Now serving as the school’s director, she says the conversation has never been about competing with Universal Pre-K. “We’ve certainly felt the impact,” Gray says. “Some families have cho sen Universal Pre-K instead of pay ing tuition for private school.” Yet she doesn’t see public and pri vate education as opposing forces. “I see them as different paths toward the same destination,” she says. On any given morning at Mor row, one child may spend 20 min utes building with blocks while an other quietly turns the pages of a favorite book. Gray has learned not to rush those moments. “Our classrooms are set up for children to learn when they are ready to learn,” she says. That philosophy of child-led, play-based learning has shaped Morrow for more than five decades. Although Universal Pre-K and private preschool may differ in struc ture or curriculum, Gray says, “they ultimately share the same goal: help ing children grow.” The district’s work is far from complete. Based on the state’s fund ing formula, Maplewood and South Orange would ultimately need roughly twice as many preschool seats as it has today. “True univer sal access would require roughly 1,000 preschool seats,” Meyer says. “Reaching that goal will depend on continued state investment.” Johnson has learned to mea sure success differently. “Universal Pre-K has opened doors for more families, strengthened partnerships across the community and created new opportunities for children to begin their educational journey with confidence,” he says. “But perhaps its greatest impact is a community choosing, together, to prioritize its youngest neighbors.” Amy Lynn-Cramer is an executive, leadership and career coach and the founder of Cramer Connect, helping individuals and organizations navi gate growth, transition and change with clarity, confidence and purpose. A child at Morrow Memorial Preschool engaged in child-led, play-based learning. The Adopt a Grandpar ent Program is a tradi tion at Morrow Memorial Preschool. morrowpreschool LIMITED SPOTS LIMITED SPOTS available available LIMITED SPOTS available Play-based learning focus on social and emotional development experienced teachers A commitment to outdoor play Why us? morrowpreschool.org 973-763-5460 REGISTER HERE FOR THE 2026- 2027 SCHOOL YEAR!
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