Bill Text: NJ S502 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in certain school districts; appropriates $5 million.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S502 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-S502-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator OWEN HENRY
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes one-time grant program to support implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in certain school districts; appropriates $5 million.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a grant program to support kindergarten programs in certain school districts.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a one-time grant program to support the implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in school districts that, at the time of application pursuant to subsection b. of this section, do not offer free, full-day kindergarten.
b. A school district that seeks to participate in the grant program shall submit for approval an application to the commissioner in a manner and form to be determined by the commissioner. The application shall, at a minimum, include a plan detailing how the district will implement the free, full-day kindergarten program and estimate the costs associated with the program.
c. Contingent on the commissioner's approval of a school district's application submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section, grants shall, within the limit of funds appropriated pursuant to section 2 of this act, be evenly distributed to the following school districts:
(1) Moorestown Township Public School District;
(2) Haddonfield School District;
(3) Metuchen Public School District;
(4) Monroe Township School District;
(5) Millstone Township School District;
(6) School District of the Chathams;
(7) Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District;
(8) Hillsborough Township Public School District;
(9) Cranford Public School District; and
(10) Westfield Public School District.
2. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Education the sum of $5,000,000 for the implementation of the grant program established pursuant to section 1 of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Commissioner of Education to establish a one-time grant program to support the implementation of free, full-day kindergarten programs in school districts that do not currently offer the programs.
The most recent information for the 2024-2025 school year indicates there are 10 school districts that do not offer free, full-day kindergarten: Moorestown Township Public School District; Haddonfield School District; Metuchen Public School District; Monroe Township School District; Millstone Township School District; School District Of The Chathams; Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District; Hillsborough Township Public School District; Cranford Public School District; and Westfield Public School District.
The bill requires school districts to submit an application to the commissioner that includes a plan on how the district will implement free, full-day kindergarten and the costs associated with doing so.
The bill appropriates $5 million for the grant program, and the grants would be evenly distributed to the eligible districts.
