New Jersey is facing another year of fiscal instability, and cuts are inevitable.We do not want these cuts to undermine programs with a proven track record of success. Programs like the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra are vital to our students' achievements. Participation in the Newark Early Strings Program helps students to achieve higher test scores, instills a sense of self-discipline, and builds confidence.

In fact, the Center for Arts Education Research at the Teachers College of Columbia University studies this program every year and for the past five years has found that fourth-graders achieve higher math scores than pupils not in the program in Newark and New Jersey, third-graders in the Newark Early Strings Program performed at a higher level in math than other third-graders at the same schools, and second-graders received higher scores than children not in the program on the Developmental Reading Assessment test.

This article, written by Marion Bolden, originally appeared as an op-ed in the June 29th, 2006 publication The Home News and Tribune of East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Published Friday, Jun. 30, 2006