Gov. Murphy signs legislation to expand access to early childhood education

NEW JERSEY – Governor Phil Murphy Wednesday signed three bills to bolster early childhood education in New Jersey, building on a multi-year, administration-wide effort to expand access to free, high-quality preschool and full-day kindergarten programs.

These bills will help ensure children in New Jersey can enjoy a strong foundation upon which to build their educational careers.

Since the beginning of his Administration, Governor Murphy has made it a priority to set New Jersey firmly on course to universal, free preschool in all school districts. Over the past seven years, funding for public preschool has increased by nearly $600 million, with New Jersey currently spending $1.2 billion to stand up and sustain programs in communities across the state.

Since year one of the Administration, 229 districts have been added to State-funded preschool programs; meaning now, over half of New Jersey’s elementary-serving school districts offer free, high-quality preschool, whether through strong mixed-delivery partnerships with childcare providers or in elementary schools.

“With today’s bill signing, we are moving forward in making free, universal preschool and free, full-day kindergarten a reality in every corner of our state. We know that access to high-quality early education programs is critical for our children and that it can set the tone for the rest of their academic careers. It is in these settings that our children begin to foster literacy skills and engage in social and emotional development, both of which can positively impact their lives,” said Murphy. “Expanding access to high-quality early childhood education has been the cornerstone of my Administration’s approach to setting our children on a path to lifelong success. We have already seen remarkable success in bringing State-funded preschool to hundreds of New Jersey communities, and today’s action will ensure this trajectory continues so that New Jersey remains the best place in the nation to raise a family.”

“Today’s bill signing cements New Jersey’s national leadership in providing exceptional preschool education,” said Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “By prioritizing access for low-income students, fostering collaboration with community partners, and ensuring all students have access to full-day kindergarten, these bills codify the Administration’s longstanding efforts to expand preschool access and strengthen our state’s commitment to early childhood education. This step marks an important milestone in advancing New Jersey’s dedication to families and the long-term success of our youngest learners.”

“Quality childcare is a critical tool for working families,” said Department of Children and Families Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. “These new laws prioritize the interests of children and their families by securing the state’s vital child care provider network, while expanding access and options for pre-K services now, and into the future.”

“Every child deserves a strong start, and these bills reflect New Jersey’s commitment to making high-quality early education more accessible, transparent, and equitable. By centralizing information on preschool opportunities, we are strengthening the foundation of the early childhood system. A robust mixed-delivery system that includes public schools, child care centers, and community-based providers is essential to meeting the diverse needs of families,” said Department of Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “Human Services is ready to play a role in building a more coordinated, inclusive early childhood system that works for families, providers, and communities across the state.”

The first bill – S3910/A5717 – codifies New Jersey’s preschool funding formula into statute. It also modifies various statutes governing early childhood education to help build and sustain universal access to high-quality, State-funded preschool programs.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Requiring the DOE to provide annual preschool expansion grants;
• Codifying and revising the requirements for preschool education aid;
• Establishing a three-year Preschool Cost-Sharing Pilot Program;
• Establishing a Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee, which will be composed of representatives of various State agencies and the New Jersey Legislature;
• Requiring the DOE, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) to maintain and annually update certain information regarding preschool and child care providers on their respective websites;
• Requiring the DOE, the DCF, and the DHS to annually submit a report to the Legislature on the status of preschool education in the state and the efficacy of the mixed-delivery method of preschool education; and
• Requiring State agencies to publish guidance on a variety of topics related to expanding access to high-quality preschool education in areas of greatest need.

The bill also sets the State firmly on course to provide free, full-day kindergarten for all New Jersey families by 2030 by requiring each elementary-serving school district in the state to establish a full-day kindergarten program no later than the beginning of the 2029-2030 school year. Attendance at the kindergarten program will be free. School districts not providing full-day kindergarten by the effective date of the bill may satisfy this requirement by entering into a send-receive relationship with an adjacent school district.

The second bill – S4476/A5780 – permits the awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of a board of education and extends the maximum contract length for preschools to three years.

The third bill – A5908/S4695 – amends the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Act to revise various language provisions concerning Preschool Education Aid to align that language with legislation (S3910/A5717) that modifies the allocation of Preschool Education Aid.