Press Release: 8/1/2025

In quotes: New Jersey paves the way for universal pre-K by 2030

 

Alyssa Haywoode

AUGUST 1, 2025

 

“Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation this week that will expand free preschool in New Jersey, as well as full-day kindergarten to the few remaining districts that don’t yet offer it by 2030.

“Early childhood education has been a Murphy priority, with his administration adding 20,000 new free preschool seats in 229 districts since he took office in 2018. Still, almost half of New Jersey’s school districts don’t have public preschool and 10 don’t have all-day kindergarten.

“Legislation Murphy signed Wednesday mandates full-day kindergarten in all districts by 2030.

“It also codifies the state’s preschool funding formula into statute and requires the state Department of Education to provide annual preschool expansion grants. It establishes a three-year preschool cost-sharing pilot program, creates a committee to guide preschool expansion, and requires state agencies to post preschool information on their websites and annually report on expansion efforts and preschool efficacy to legislators.”

“’With the steps we are taking today, we’re going to ensure that every parent in New Jersey will eventually be able to enroll their child in a high-quality pre-K program at no additional cost,’ Murphy said. ‘The very future of our state, our economy, our workforce, our quality of life, you name it, hinges on the health, success and well-being of our children.’”

— “Free pre-K, kindergarten expanded under new law signed by governor,” by Dana DiFilippo, New Jersey Monitor, July 11, 2025