When Tashara Ford learned that The Chen School — where her youngest child would have attended Pre-K — had closed, she expected a seamless transition for her family.

Instead, she found herself without a nearby Pre-K option that would allow her child to stay on the same path as their siblings at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School’s Downtown campuses.

“I am grateful that my child has a Pre-K seat, but families should not have to choose between access to Pre-K and a school placement that makes sense for their family,” said Ford, who had to enroll her child in the West Ward at Michelle Obama Elementary School. “If there is a strong program, family demand, and available space, families should be able to access that option.”

Despite renting the former Chen School facility — an already approved Pre-K site located in the same building as Great Oaks Legacy’s Downtown Middle School — Great Oaks Legacy Charter School has been unable to expand its Pre-K program after requesting additional Pre-K seats from the New Jersey Division of Early Childhood Services.

The school currently offers 60 Pre-K seats at Legacy Elementary School in Upper Clinton Hill, miles from its Downtown campuses, meaning families like Ford’s must seek Pre-K options outside the school community their children already attend.

Demand Far Exceeds Capacity

Over the past three years, Great Oaks Legacy has received more than 800 Pre-K applications, with 581 families ranking the school as their top choice through the Newark Common App.

This year alone, a total of 95 applications have already been submitted with 63 families selecting Great Oaks Legacy as their first choice. But only 60 seats are available.

Families Take Their Case to the State

Parents, including Ford and Rawle Miller, have brought their concerns directly to the New Jersey State Board of Education, speaking during public comment to advocate for expanded Pre-K access.

“When you find a school community where your child is thriving, you understand the value of a strong and consistent educational foundation,” Miller said. “Newark families should have the opportunity to access that same foundation from the very beginning through a clear, free Pre-K pathway connected to the Downtown campus.”

Why Pre-K Access Matters

A strong Pre-K program is more than early education—it is the foundation for long-term academic success.

At Great Oaks Legacy, Pre-K serves as an important entry point into a Pre-K through 12 pipeline that prepares students for high school graduation, college, and career success. At Legacy Elementary School, where GOLCS’s 60 Pre-K seats are housed, more than 120 students currently enrolled in grades K–4 began their Great Oaks Legacy journey in Pre-K — showing that early childhood access already plays an important role in connecting families to the school community.

Students who begin early benefit from:

• A stronger foundation in early literacy and math
• Continuity in instruction and support as they progress through grade levels
• Stability within a single school community from early childhood through high school

A Clear Path Forward

Great Oaks Legacy is seeking approval to expand its existing Pre-K program by adding seats at the former Chen School facility, an already approved Pre-K site that has served young learners before. For families, the issue is straightforward: there is demand, there is available space, and there are parents who want their children to begin their education within a school community they already know and trust.

To better align preschool access with family demand, Great Oaks Legacy Charter School looks forward to working with the New Jersey Department of Education and the Governor’s office to help ensure that more families can access high-quality early education in the communities and school settings they are choosing.

For Chavela Wellington, whose child currently attends Pre-K at Great Oaks Legacy’s Legacy Elementary School in the South Ward, that early start has already made a difference.

“The belief that education is the key to success was instilled in me early on,” Wellington said. “Enrolling my son in Pre-K at Great Oaks Legacy is my way of giving him a strong foundation as early as possible. I believe every child should have access to that same opportunity.”

About Great Oaks Legacy Charter School

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is a public charter school network serving students in Newark, New Jersey from Pre-K through 12th grade. Across seven campuses, Great Oaks Legacy prepares students for college success through rigorous academics, individualized support, and a strong commitment to community.