While Governor Murphy Works Toward Universal Pre-K, Republican Jack Ciattarelli Wrongly Says We Can’t Afford It

Extreme GOP Candidate Refuses to Invest in NJ’s Children, State’s Future by Expanding Access to High-Quality Early Childhood Education

TRENTON, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy announced a commitment today to further expand New Jersey’s public preschool programs with a goal of reaching universal access to essential early childhood education, but his Republican opponent has a far different view on the topic. Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli has said that “We cannot afford, nor do we need to ‘fully fund pre-K.’”

Pre-K is one of the smartest investments we can make in our future. Numerous studies have demonstrated that funding preschool programs has a positive return on investment and a tremendous impact on student achievement. Once again, Assemblyman Ciattarelli is playing only to his extremist Republican base — universal pre-k is supported by 68% of voters nationally and New Jersey is a recognized leader in expanding access to early childhood education under Governor Murphy’s leadership.

“Jack Ciattarelli is so out-of-touch that he doesn’t want to invest in our most important asset — our children,” said NJDSC Executive Director Saily Avelenda. “This is just another example of Assemblyman Ciattarelli playing to his extreme Republican base by refusing to support Governor Murphy’s commitment to providing universal preschool, a priority strongly supported by a bipartisan majority of New Jerseyans. On issues from gun safety to abortion rights to voting rights and more, Jack Ciattarelli is clearly too extreme for New Jersey.”