Facebook Money Will Help Educate Newark’s Youngest

Education programs for Newark's youngest residents are getting a boost.

Mayor Cory Booker announced Wednesday that part of a $100 million grant to Newark schools from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will pay for early childhood education programs.

It will give a $250,000 matching grant to help support education initiatives for children under 5.

The announcement was made the same day the Newark Kids Count report was released. The annual report on the city's children is published by Advocates for Children of New Jersey.

The report says 76 percent of all Newark children 5 years old or younger live in low-income households. It also found 40 percent of the city's expectant moms got late or no prenatal care.

Booker says the lack of comprehensive early childhood education is failing Newark's children.

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