Ruiz, Turner ‘New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act’ Heads to Governor’s Desk

TRENTON – To continue expanding New Jersey’s nation-leading early childhood education ecosystem and give children in every zip code a solid academic start, the Senate passed legislation titled the “New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act,” sponsored by Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner.

Majority Leader Ruiz has been a steadfast advocate for early childhood education, working closely with the Department of Education to expand opportunities for young learners and their families. She was instrumental in securing $25 million in the 2018 state budget to broaden access to Pre-K programs. In 2024, Governor Murphy signed two of Majority Leader Ruiz’s bills into law, which created a statewide initiative to improve literacy rates among schoolchildren and established the Office of Learning Equity and Academic Recovery. The “New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act” deepens this commitment to supporting New Jersey’s youngest learners and families.

“Nurturing a child’s natural desire to explore and learn early in life is one of the most transformative forces we have to create a more equitable and prosperous New Jersey, but the rising cost of child care – now rivaling college tuition – has kept these programs out of reach for many families. Early learning jumpstarts a child’s academic achievement, supports parents in raising thriving families, and improves financial outcomes, which is why it is critical to continue bringing affordable early education programs to every community in our state,” said Majority Leader Ruiz (D-Essex/Hudson). “The ‘New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act’ builds on our progress and charts a path toward true universal access by codifying standards, strengthening state support for districts, providers, and educators, and centering the needs of the working families and children who will benefit most. Our youngest minds represent our greatest opportunity for a brighter future, and this investment will provide a solid foundation for their success.”

“If we want to break cycles of poverty, close achievement gaps, and create a fairer society, we must start where it matters most in early childhood. The ‘New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act’ is not just an education bill; it is an equity bill. It ensures that no matter a child’s ZIP code, race, or family income, they have access to the academic, social, and emotional foundation that sets them up for lifelong success,” said Senator Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “I am proud to sponsor legislation that puts our youngest learners and their families first, and that strengthens New Jersey’s commitment to being the national leader in early childhood education.”

The bill, S-3910, codifies New Jersey’s preschool funding formula into statute, ensuring programs are funded and can continue to grow across the state. Any preschool aid remaining after full programmatic implementation would be available to the district, as allowed by the Commissioner of Education, to be used for additional purposes such as summer preschool programming, professional development, facilities improvements, and transportation services.

Preschool Expansion Grant Pilot Program and Application Process

The act creates a three-year preschool expansion grant pilot program for districts creating new programs and codifies the existing preschool expansion application process. Within the limits of funds appropriated, at least one opportunity to award preschool expansion grants would be provided annually. To be eligible, districts must offer full-day kindergarten and meet commissioner-established criteria.

Applications for preschool expansion grants would include:

·        Detailed plants for preschool operations

·        Projected pupil enrollment

·        Curriculum for students

·        Strategies for the inclusion of children with disabilities

·        Outreach to at-risk families

·        Plans for collaboration with local child care providers and Head Start programs

·        A five-year strategy to serve 90 percent of the district's three and four-year-olds

The pilot program would function through a cost-sharing model between the state and the school district, with preference for funding given to neighborhoods with higher concentrations of at-risk students.

Districts expanding preschool programs must submit an annual program plan to the Department of Education (DOE) outlining the status of their preschool program implementation and participate in a self-assessment system for continuous quality improvement. A state validation visit would be required at least once every three years.

Strengthening Our Mixed-Delivery Preschool Ecosystem

To preserve the state’s mixed-delivery preschool ecosystem, school districts receiving preschool expansion aid must demonstrate due diligence in partnering with all ready and able licensed child care providers and Head Start programs in their communities. The bill also removes preschool from the statute governing public school facilities to simplify the process for private providers to meet facility requirements.

The Department of Education, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Department of Human Services (DHS) would be required to submit an annual report to the Legislature assessing the status of preschool education in New Jersey and the effectiveness of the mixed delivery model. Based on this report, DOE, in consultation with DCF, would develop a Mixed Delivery Model Preschool Handbook, including all relevant state requirements and guidance on funding, staffing, and curriculum to maintain infant and toddler care access through contracted child care providers.

Supporting Families and Early Childhood Educators

To ensure families are informed on the availability of preschool programs, the bill requires the DOE, DCF, and DHS to publish clear, regularly updated information about preschool programs on their websites to improve transparency and access, including lists of school districts receiving or eligible for preschool funding and contact information for all local preschool programs, licensed child care providers, and Head Start centers.

To build a strong pipeline of qualified, well-compensated early childhood educators who can support student growth, it also requires New Jersey’s public colleges to streamline credit transfers between two- and four-year programs, making it easier for aspiring educators to complete their degrees and enter the field.

Committee to Lead the Way on Expanding and Strengthening Preschool in New Jersey

The “Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee” within the Department of Education will guide the future of preschool in New Jersey. Made up of representatives from key state agencies and the Legislature, the committee will develop long-term funding recommendations and evaluate the success of pilot preschool programs launching over the next three years. The committee’s work will focus on building a fair and sustainable funding model, expanding partnerships with child care and Head Start providers, exploring centralized enrollment systems to give families more choice, and recommending ways to grow and support the early childhood workforce. It will begin meeting within 90 days of the bill becoming law and will create local subcommittees to gather feedback from educators and providers across the state.