A Major Step Toward Supporting Preschool Expansion

Governor Murphy Unveils Proposal to Align Preschool and Child Care Facilities Standards, Bolstering State’s Mixed Delivery Model

TRENTON — February 26, 2025 —  Governor Murphy announced a plan to remove longstanding barriers that prevent many New Jersey child care centers from participating in publicly funded preschool expansion. The plan will align classroom size requirements for public schools and community-based providers offering public preschool, and allow classrooms to operate with fewer than 15 students per class. This marks an important step in recognizing community child care providers as key partners in expanding access to publicly funded preschool and strengthening New Jersey’s mixed delivery system. This policy will give New Jersey’s families more options for public preschool and will provide a critical stable funding stream for many community providers.

We congratulate First 1,000 Days Policy Coalition partners Advocates for Children of New Jersey and New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children,  whose advocacy led to this important win.