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Join the ECEA Now for 2026!

Welcome to Early Childhood Education Advocates, Inc. (ECEA)

The ECEA is a non-profit, tax-exempt entity that is engaged, steadfast, and passionate about promoting smart policy that benefits the community child care industry in New Jersey. ECEA comprises leaders in the child care industry, directing activities that promote positive change each and every day.

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ECEA Collecting Facility Project Data to Support Advocacy on New Square Footage Rules

As New Jersey prepares for changes to child care facility requirements, Early Childhood Education Advocates (ECEA) is working to ensure that private providers and community-based programs have a strong voice in the process.

ECEA is actively engaging with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) regarding new square footage regulations and their impact on centers with projects already underway. To support this advocacy, ECEA is collecting information from providers involved in development, expansion, renovation, or transfer discussions.

This information will help ECEA continue pressing DCF to grandfather eligible projects under the current 35-square-foot standard beyond the August 3, 2028 deadline.

If your center is planning or undergoing an expansion, renovation, new development, ownership transfer, or related project, please share your project scope, timeline, and any Pre-K partnership feedback with Policy Director Jacy Lance at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (609) 789-3064.

Stay connected and strengthen our collective voice by joining or renewing your ECEA membership today.

ECEA Collecting Facility Project Data to Support Advocacy on New Square Footage Rules

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, members of the Early Childhood Education Advocates (ECEA) and representatives from the Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC) gathered in Trenton for a powerful day of action. The group met directly with state legislators and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy at the NJ State House to discuss the critical challenges facing child care providers. By providing public testimony in front of the New Jersey State Board of Education, these advocates took a collective stand on issues impacting the industry and the families they serve, successfully bridging the gap between center owners and state policymakers.

2O26 ECEA ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Happy New Year! We are grateful for your support and participation as we fight for the community childcare industry in New Jersey. We expect many changes in 2026, as we welcome a new governor, a new cabinet and some new members to the state Legislature.

As such, it is more important than ever for you to be involved, as more voices amplify our concerns and ensures our concerns are heard. 

Below are just some examples of how ECEA was effective in 2025, as we chart a roadmap for 2026.

Restored Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funding. In August, the state stopped funding new applicants and raised copays for enrolled families. ECEA worked with its friends and supporters to highlight the issue, as well as published an opinion-editorial in the USA Today News Network to further highlight an issue that forced some parents to reduce work hours or leave jobs because they could no longer afford child care. Recently, the administration lifted the freeze, indicating that new applications will be allowed in January up to 75,000 enrollees. 

Passage of the New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act in July, sponsored by Sen. Teresa Ruiz, which established clear standards and aims to provide free full-day kindergarten for all New Jersey children. The legislation – with the vocal support of the ECEA – also establishes the Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee and annual reporting on preschool education mixed delivery partnerships.

Adoption of legislation in July that permits multi-year contracting with school districts for preschool education services and extends the maximum contract length from one year to three years. Through ECEA’s advocacy, the state signed off on a major policy shift aimed at providing stability for community-based child care providers, while reducing bureaucratic red tape for private preschool providers and strengthening the mixed-delivery early education system where public schools partner with community child care centers.

Help us grow ECEA in 2026! We need to be constantly vigilant, ensuring we have a seat at the table when key decisions affecting our livelihood is being considered in Trenton.

If you are not a member, click here to join.

For More Information or Questions Please Contact Us

Early Childhood Education Advocates, Inc.
10 West Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608

609-928-2169

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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