State spending nearly $25 million to expand preschool access in 26 school districts

Acting Gov. Tahesha Way announced today nearly $25 million in funding for 26 school districts across the state to either establish or expand all-day preschool programs by January 2024.

The funding – which totals $24,903,130 – will add over 1,715 preschool seats for three- and four-year-olds in Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties.

“By investing in preschool education, we are investing in our youth and in the future prosperity of New Jersey,” Way said. “Today’s announcement is another step toward Governor Murphy’s goal of providing universal preschool and a brighter future for New Jersey’s youngest learners.”

Way made today’s announcement at the Estelle V. Malberg Early Childhood Center in Cherry Hill, where she was joined by several elected officials and educational leaders.

“This investment not only expands preschool seats but also opens doors to greater educational and life opportunities for our state’s future leaders,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, who is the Acting Commissioner of Education.

Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D-Voorhees) and State Sen. James Beach (D-Voorhees), both in attendance, also praised today’s announcement.

“With the cost of childcare reaching a critical point, expanding pre-k adds to the long list of legislative investments in affordability for our working families,” said Greenwald.

Beach said the funding “will make a real tangible impact on the lives of hundreds of families around New Jersey, giving them access to high-quality preschool at no cost to them.”

Leaders in education also celebrated the additional funding. Karen Bingert, who serves as the Executive Director of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, emphasized the vital importance of investing in early childhood education.

“If breakfast is the most important meal of the day to have the fuel needed for that day, then it only goes to follow that universal pre-kindergarten serves the same purpose in strengthening, energizing, and building confidence in our youngest learners so that they have the preparation and stamina needed to access learning for the duration of their academic careers,” she said.

Today’s announcement underscores the Murphy Administration’s commitment to early childhood education – and the initiative’s growth. The funding today comes from the $110 million allocated for preschool expansion in the state’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

Last year, school districts could only apply for the preschool funding if at least 10% of their student populations were from low-income families – this year, any school district could apply, regardless of their student population’s income level.

So far, the state has spent $1.1 billion on expanding universal preschool education.