2025 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.

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