The New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act aims to enhance early childhood education by mandating that all school districts provide free access to full-day preschool for at-risk pupils and ensuring that all districts implement full-day kindergarten by the 2029-2030 school year. The bill establishes a Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee within the Department of Education to oversee the implementation of these provisions and emphasizes the importance of high-quality preschool education, particularly for economically disadvantaged children and multilingual learners. Key amendments include the introduction of a new formula for calculating preschool education aid based on projected full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, as well as the establishment of a three-year pilot program for cost-sharing preschool education between the state and participating districts.

Additionally, the legislation codifies preschool education aid provisions previously enacted through annual appropriations and outlines requirements for school districts receiving aid, such as partnering with licensed child care providers and submitting annual program plans. The bill also introduces new definitions, including "full-day preschool," and includes provisions for preschool expansion grants to eligible districts. Notably, it removes preschool students from the population used to determine approved area for unhoused students in school facilities projects, streamlining the administration of these projects. Overall, the act seeks to strengthen the early childhood education system in New Jersey, ensuring that all children have access to quality preschool and kindergarten education.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:7F-38, 18A:7F-45, 18A:7F-54, 18A:7G-8