Governor Phil Murphy is announcing the first round of expanded funding for preschool programs in New Jersey.
Murphy says the $20.6 million for 31 school districts will increase or enhance pre-school programs for more than two thousand 3-and-4-year-olds in the Garden State.
“In some cases, improving or expanding means going from part day to full day or providing more services. In other cases, you’re going from not having it at all to a reality.”
The Governor says high-quality pre-K programs provide kids with the support and skills they need to reach their greatest potential.
The funding was included in the state budget and is distributed based on the number of low-income students in a school district.
Carteret is one of the districts getting the money. Katie Santoro teaches 3-and-4-year-olds there. She says the state aid will make a difference.
“Becoming a full day program gives us the opportunity to provide children a safe space where they are educated with the most up to date curriculum and developmentally appropriate practices to ensure that they not only have a strong academic foundation, but they have the social and emotional skills to become successful citizens.”
The Department of Education is talking applications for the second round of expanded preschool aid. That $26.7 million will benefit an additional two thousand children.