OUR HISTORY

Stepping Stones Learning Institute, federally registered as M & M Learning Institutes, Inc., was formulated in December 1998. For those of you who may not know the M & M stands for “MaryAnn & Mom,“ It was the unconditional support from my mom that provided me with the opportunity to follow my dreams. As a result, Stepping Stones Learning Institute opened its doors to the community on April 9, 1999, at 701 Roebling Avenue, Trenton, NJ.

Stepping Stones started as a preschool/child care facility with 12 students in attendance and three staff members. On July 28, 1999, Stepping Stones signed a contract with the Trenton Board of Education to provide half-day preschool, three hours of free preschool five days a week to families who lived in the city of Trenton, regardless of income, known at the time as the Abbott Preschool Program. To register for the Abbott Program families had to show proof that they were residents of Trenton and the child had to be 3 three years of age on or before September 30th.  Class size could not exceed 15 students and children ranged in age from 3 to 4 years. The Abbott Preschool half-day program began September 1999. In December 1999 the State Department of Education regulations allowed for full-day preschool programming, six hours of free preschool. In the year 2000 a before and after school “Wrap-Around” program component was added to the six hour preschool day, allowing for four additional hours of before/after school childcare available to all Abbott eligible families, funded through The Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development. Families eligible to participate in the Abbott Preschool Program had up to 10 hours of free preschool/child care services available five days a week for a 12 month period.

In 2004 Stepping Stones Learning Institute had the privilege of opening a second location at 118 ½ Swan Street in Trenton with 30 full-time preschool children. Finally, in 2007, after the long-awaited renovation of a facility located at 719 Roebling Avenue, Stepping Stones opened its third location servicing an additional 45 full-time preschool children and families. To date Stepping Stones Learning Institute has three preschool locations with 120 children, eight preschool classrooms in total.

The title of the Department of Education’s preschool program may have changed from Abbott to Preschool Initiative but the scope remains the same, to prepare children who may or may not have opportunities within their own surroundings to become immersed in a learning environment rich with developmentally appropriate learning materials and activities that will build success towards future kindergarten and elementary school experiences. Stepping Stones in collaboration with the Department of Education has the mission of creating safe, age appropriate surroundings that broaden the learning environments of young children through the implementation of Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment System. Through these two educational resources teachers will provide children with the necessary materials and activities that encourage exploration; thought provoking challenges and cause children to utilize problem-solving capabilities to build competence and foster self-esteem.

In carrying out our mission Stepping Stones Learning Institute employs a staff of approximately 30 employees both full-time and part-time of varying degrees and credentials. Stepping Stones prides itself on the resources we have been able to provide to our community through the talents and expertise of a wonderful group of staff members. Each of our eight preschool classrooms has a licensed/certified Preschool Teacher and Teacher Assistant. Each location has its own certified Family Worker that serves to address the ongoing needs of the child and family as a unit. On a daily basis Stepping Stones’ dedicated professionals commit their time and resources to supporting a program that is truly about the needs of young children. Please take a moment to meet a core group of professionals that makes Stepping Stones the successful preschool program that it is today!