Governor Murphy Announces New Proposals to Expand Access to Early Childhood Education and Support Working Families

Office of the Governor – Jan. 21, 2025

Murphy Administration Has Expanded State-Funded Preschool Programs to an Additional 229 School Districts Over the Past Seven Years

Administration Releases Phase II of the Strategic Plan for Preschool Expansion

TRENTON – During his 2025 State of the State Address, Governor Phil Murphy announced his support for two policy initiatives that will ensure more families than ever can enjoy the benefits of expanded access to early childhood education. Today – joined by Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley – the Governor visited Maurice Hawk Elementary School in West Windsor to underscore his continued commitment to furthering access to free, high-quality preschool and kindergarten programs, enabling young learners in communities across New Jersey to start their educational careers on strong footing. Senator Shirley Turner and Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli also joined the announcement.

“One week ago, during my State of the State Address, I announced that our Administration will be taking a new step to ensure that every school district in New Jersey offers free, full-day kindergarten. Paired with a second initiative to codify preschool funding, we are paving the way for both universal pre-k and free full-day kindergarten in our state,” said Governor Murphy. “By working with our partners in the State Legislature, including Majority Leader Ruiz and Assembly Members Katz and Stanley, we are going to strengthen early childhood education, alleviate the burden of child care costs on parents, and ensure all children in New Jersey benefit from the same strong start when it comes to their education. We owe it to the children and families that call New Jersey ‘home’ to continue building a public education system that lifts up every single one of our state’s children – no matter their zip code or their family’s socioeconomic status.”

“The research is clear: access to early childhood education is an educational imperative, crucial for the development of our youngest learners while providing relief to our state’s working families,” said Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “These legislative initiatives will provide every child access to full-day kindergarten and detail the continued expansion of preschool to all of our communities – this underscores our commitment to ensuring every student has the strong foundation they need to thrive academically and beyond. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for all New Jersey children.”

Since the beginning of his Administration, Governor Murphy has made it a priority to set New Jersey firmly on course for achieving universal, free preschool in all school districts. Over the past seven years, funding for public preschool has increased by over $550 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 additional districts have been added to State-funded preschool programs; meaning now, 293 or about half of New Jersey’s elementary-serving school districts offer free, high-quality preschool, whether that is in partnership with childcare providers or in elementary schools.

The Governor’s Office is coordinating with legislative partners, including Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz, and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, on legislation to advance the following initiatives:

• Codify Preschool Funding: Preschool Education Aid is currently distributed through budget language. By enacting separate legislation, we are making the program more reliable for the future;
• Require access to full-day kindergarten: All five-year-old students will be ensured access to free, full-day kindergarten; 
• Strengthen Mixed Delivery: The Department of Education will develop a mixed delivery handbook to clarify and standardize the process of forming agreements between school districts and private providers;
• Create the Preschool Teacher Pipeline Investment Program: The Office of the Secretary of Higher Education would have to publish guidance on dual admission programs for Early Childhood Education studies. The Departments of Human Services and Children and Families would have to publish joint guidance for childcare centers to implement graduated salary scales for private teachers working towards preschool certification.

These initiatives are informed by Phase II of the Strategic Plan for Preschool Expansion, which was released today.

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