GMW Right Start

To be eligible for the GMW Right Start Voucher, a child must be: 

• The first child in the family to attend a Jewish early childhood program in Greater MetroWest NJ.
• Enrolling in a Jewish early childhood program in GMW for the first time.
• A member of a family where at least one parent or guardian identifies as Jewish, regardless of background, knowledge, family make-up, or observance and whether affiliated, unaffiliated, interfaith, or non-traditional.  
• Enrolling in a GMW Right Start School for the 2023-24 school year beginning September 2023.  
• A resident in Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest’s catchment area (Essex, Morris, Sussex, Union, and parts of Somerset counties).
• Enrolling in 4s/pre-K and younger program where the child attends independently. The program may be half-day or full-day.

Chabad Jewish Center of Basking Ridge
Cheder Lubavitch of Morristown
Cheder Yaldei Menachem
Congregation AABJ&D
Congregation Agudath Israel
Congregation Beth El
Congregation B’nai Israel
Golda Och Academy
Gottesman RTW Academy
IEBECC Suburban Torah
JCC Metrowest
JCC of Central NJ
Jewish Educational Center
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
Morristown Jewish Center Beit Yisrael
Oheb Shalom Congregation
Shomrei Emunah Preschool
Temple Beth Ahm Yisrael
Temple Beth Shalom
Temple B’nai Abraham
Temple B’nai Jeshurun
Temple Bnai Or
Temple Emanu-El
Temple Har Shalom
Temple Ner Tamid
Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel
Temple Sinai
YM-YWHA of Union County

We only have one child, and we are applying for a Jewish infant care program for the first time. How does GMW Right Start work?
If a child is the first in a family to attend a Jewish early childhood program and meets all eligibility requirements, that child will be eligible for the GMW Right Start voucher.

Our family already received the voucher for our oldest child. Are we eligible to receive the voucher for our younger children as well?
Unfortunately, at this time, we are only able to offer one voucher per family.

My older child never received the GMW Right Start voucher. Can his younger brother receive it when he enters Jewish early childhood center for the first time?
The GMW Right Start voucher is only available for families in which the child is the first in the family to attend a GMW school.

If we already received a voucher for one child, can we get another voucher for the same child next year?
Only one voucher per family may be redeemed.

If I already attended a parent/child class together with my child, can I still apply for the voucher if I am planning on enrolling her independently next year?
Yes, a parent/child class does not qualify for a voucher, so you may apply for the voucher when enrolling your child in a class that meets independently.

We just moved to the Greater MetroWest area from out of state/another country, where my child attended a Jewish preschool program. Is my child eligible for the voucher?
Since the GMW Right Start voucher is unique to Greater MetroWest, and families are not eligible in other cities, your child is eligible to receive the voucher.

My child is entering kindergarten at a Jewish day school next year. Is she eligible for the voucher?
A child entering kindergarten is not eligible. The child needs to be enrolling in a 4s/preK and younger program at a participating early childhood center or day school.

My child attended a Jewish preschool for just a few months, but then dropped out and we never received the voucher. Can we apply for one now?
If a child attended a Jewish early childhood program for less than three months and did not redeem the voucher at that time, but then dropped out, that child is eligible for the GMW Right Start voucher if/when that child is applying in a new Jewish early childhood program.

I was never told about GMW Right Start, but I would have applied to it. Can I still get it now that my child is in her second year?
Our community and your Jewish preschool do our best to inform everyone about the program. Unfortunately, this information may not reach everyone. If a family does not apply for a GMW Right Start gift voucher within 3 months of their start date, they cannot retroactively apply for the voucher. Our funding guidelines cannot accommodate these situations.

If my child goes to summer camp at one of the participating schools, would they be eligible for the vouchers?
The voucher does not cover summer camp, so your child would be eligible when applying for the early childhood program at the school.

If this is my first child in a new marriage to attend a Jewish early childhood center, are they eligible for the voucher?
Yes. Yours is considered a new family unit, so your child is eligible as the first child in this family to attend.

My older child attends public pre-K on site at the synagogue where we plan to enroll our 2-year-old in the private program. Is our 2-year-old eligible?
The GMW Right Start vouchers are available for the first child to attend a Jewish early childhood program. If your older child never attended the private program, the next child would be eligible.

I have twins/multiples. Can they receive the GMW Right Start voucher?
Twins/multiples are eligible for the gift vouchers (if they are your first children). If your twins/multiples are not your first children, they are not eligible for gift voucher. When applying for twins/multiples, please fill out a separate application for each child.