Murphy promises expansion to universal pre-K in New Jersey

PALISADES PARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey will institute universal pre-kindergarten across the state for all 3- and 4-year-olds, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.

Murphy, a Democrat running for reelection this year, has increased state funding for pre-K since he took office in 2018 by 35%, but the pledge Thursday will expand the availability of early childhood education.

So far in the state, 140 of New Jersey's roughly 600 districts have state-funded pre-K programs.

“While we still have a long way to go to achieve pre-K for all, today’s expansion further demonstrates our commitment to reaching as many students as possible,” Murphy said.

It's unclear how long the expansion will take and how much it would cost. Murphy didn't specify a timeline, but he tasked the state Department of Education with making a plan to meet the goal.

Florida, Vermont and the District of Columbia have “truly universal pre-K programs,” meaning they're not capped based on income or enrollment levels, according to the nonpartisan Education Commission of the States. New Jersey would join that list under Murphy's proposal.

New Jersey already funds some pre-K, stemming from a nearly two-decade-old court case that led to pre-K program funding in cities and towns with high poverty rates.

Thursday's announcement won praise from lawmakers as well as from the state's biggest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association.

The announcement comes just as mail-in ballots are about to go out to voters who opted to get them in the Nov. 2 election. Murphy faces Republican challenger former Assembly member Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli has called for expanding pre-K through private daycare providers.