Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer has announced that New Jersey will allocate over $42 million in federal grant funding to help 22 school districts build, expand, and renovate preschool facilities.
The funding, part of the second round of the Universal Preschool Facilities Expansion Grant program, aims to address the growing demand for high-quality early childhood education in the state.
According to Dehmer, many school districts have expressed the need for additional facilities to accommodate expanding preschool programs, and this initiative represents a significant step toward increasing access to preschool for children across the state.
The $42 million is part of a broader $120 million allocation through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, specifically the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund. This funding is designed to support New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to provide universal preschool by expanding both district-run preschool programs and partnerships with licensed childcare providers and Head Start programs.
The grants were awarded based on several priorities. These included increasing the number of preschool seats in a district by at least 10%, enhancing existing preschool facilities by expanding classroom capacity or improving restroom facilities, expanding programs from half-day to full-day preschool, and expanding overall classroom capacity to accommodate new preschool programs and ensure additional preschool seats.
In the second round of grants, the following school districts and projects were awarded funding:
In Atlantic County, Hamilton Township School District received $2,788,643 to add 60 preschool seats at Joseph C. Shaner Memorial Elementary School, while Hammonton School District received $2,757,805 for 120 new preschool seats at the Hammonton Early Childhood Educational Center.
In Bergen County, Palisades Park School District was awarded $2,040,061 to add 105 seats at the Charles R. Smith Early Childhood Center.
Burlington County saw Cinnaminson Township School District receive $150,000 to add 45 seats at Cinnaminson Memorial School, while Palmyra Public School District received $1,050,000 for 86 new seats at Delaware Avenue School.
Camden County’s Pennsauken Township School District received $7,672,922 for 120 preschool seats at Baldwin Elementary School.
In Cumberland County, the Commercial Township School District was awarded $1,028,105 to add 30 seats at Commercial Township School, and in Essex County, West Orange Public Schools received $1,456,000 for 66 new preschool seats at Mount Pleasant Elementary School.
Hunterdon County saw Clinton Township School District awarded $232,000 for 48 new seats at Spruce Run Preschool and Readington Township School District awarded $208,363 for 30 new seats at Three Bridges School.
Middlesex County received significant allocations, with Carteret Public School District awarded $5,858,632 to add 120 seats at Columbus Elementary School, and Dunellen Public School District received $3,463,300 for 120 new seats at John P. Faber Elementary School. Highland Park Borough School District received $573,240 for 30 seats at Irving Primary School, while Piscataway Township School District was awarded $2,268,500 for 135 new seats at Fellowship Farms Elementary School.
Monmouth County saw the Township of Ocean School District receive funding for three projects, totaling $280,986 for 62 new seats across Wayside, Ocean Township, and Wanamassa Elementary Schools.
Ocean County saw Lacey Township School District awarded $1,350,000 for 75 new preschool seats at Mill Pond Elementary School. Point Pleasant Borough School District received $93,702 for Ocean Road Elementary School, although no additional seats will be added.
Passaic County’s Wayne Township Public Schools received $5,014,070 for 103 seats at Preakness Early Childhood Center.
In Sussex County, Franklin Borough School District was awarded $211,069 for renovations, but no additional seats, at Franklin Borough School, while Sandyston-Walpack Consolidated School District received $400,000 for 15 new seats at Sandyston Walpack School.
Union County’s Rahway Public School District received $1,102,366 for 23 new seats at Franklin Elementary School and $1,070,664 for 25 seats at Roosevelt Elementary School.
Finally, Warren County’s Great Meadows Regional School District received $1,037,550 for 75 seats at Liberty Elementary School.
The total estimated cost for these projects is $87,822,193, with the state contributing $42,107,979 in grants. These projects are expected to add a total of 1,493 new preschool seats across the 22 districts.
This funding is part of New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to expand access to high-quality early childhood education. Expanding preschool programs ensures that more children have access to the foundational skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
The grants reflect the state’s continued commitment to early childhood education as a critical tool for addressing educational inequality and providing children with a strong academic foundation.