TRENTON, N.J. -
Toya Brown loves listening to her daughter Zykeema learn "1,2,3," but she says she's breaking the bank paying for private school because there's not enough room in Trenton City Schools kindergarten classes.
"When we went in August to fill out the application, the line was so long they said there were no more spots so there's no way to get them into school," explained Brown.
Brown isn't the only parent having problems with the district.
A surge of new kindergartners has caused more than 100-Trenton kindergartners like Amillyon Hughes to start school in October.
That's more then a month late.
Amillyon's mother, Donna Rodgers, is now worried that missing a month of school could mean holding her back.
"I'm very concerned! How are we going to make up over a month," exclaimed Rodgers. You're telling me you might keep her back?"
Trenton Schools Superintendent Francisco Duran issued a statement saying the problem stems from 115 new kindergarten students this year. (You can read the full statement below this story)
Forcing them to open five additional classes on October 10th.
What the statement didn't address is how kindergartners like Amillyon will make up the months worth of lessons she has missed.
"This is deplorable and unacceptable," explained City Councilwoman Kathy McBride.
That's why she's calling for state and federal investigations.
"I'm going to be relentless with this."
B-law kids are required to attend 180-days of school
Statement from Francisco Duran- Superintendent of Trenton Public Schools:
"This school year we had an increase of roughly 115 Kindergarten students up from last year, and as such had to open 5 additional Kindergarten classes after the school year began. The issue arose during the week of September 10 that we did not have immediate space for the newly enrolled children. This issue resulted in 85 general education and 17 bilingual students not receiving an immediate placement when they were registered. All 5 of those classes were officially opened on October 10th. At that time all registered students were placed in a classroom. At no time were any students prevented from registering for Kindergarten, We are currently looking into why there was a time gap for registered students to receive a placement, and we are developing a plan so that in the future all registered students can be immediately placed in a classroom."
