Murphy says federal dollars will be channeled to these NJ pre-K projects

Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com
·2 min read
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During an appearance at the New Jersey teachers' union convention in Atlantic City on Thursday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that federal grant funding will be spent on preschool facilities throughout the state.

There are 30 projects in 23 districts that will receive money for the creation, expansion and renovation of preschool facilities. The 2023 fiscal year budget included $120 million for grants from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

“This funding will enable more districts to expand their capacity to offer full-day preschool programming to more students, building upon our efforts to provide every 3- and 4-year-old child in our state with access to high-quality pre-K,” Murphy said in a statement. “Equitable access to early childhood education across the board is key to ensuring the long-term success of our children and our state as a whole.”

What will the initiative cost?

(STILL FOR VIDEO) Governor Phil Murphy is shown in Glen Rock where he signed bill (S-3275 A-4829) to provide reproductive rights information for residents of the Garden State. The signing of the bill, which came at approximately 11:40AM, launched the website, nj.gov/reproductivehealth which will help answer residents questions on the subject. Tuesday, October 24, 2023

The projects have an estimated need of nearly $113.5 million for project costs. The state Department of Education will be on the hook for about $51.9 million as the state’s share of preschool facilities in those districts — or a minimum of 40% of the total estimated project costs.

Acting Commissioner of Education Angelica Allen-McMillan said in a statement that the funding will “increase capacity, a barrier that some communities have faced in the effort to bring high-quality preschool to each community.”

What projects could be included?

Preliminary award amounts including both the state and local share for each project range from about $113,000 to over $13 million.

  • Egg Harbor Township – Davenport Elementary interior alterations.

  • Linwood – Seaview Elementary preschool additions.

  • Elmwood Park – Gantner Avenue School preschool addition.

  • Elmwood Park – Gilbert Avenue School preschool addition.

  • Elmwood Park – 16th Avenue preschool addition.

  • Englewood – Quarles School conversion.

  • Englewood – Grieco Elementary toilet rooms.

  • Glen Rock – Glen Rock Middle/High School interior alterations.

  • Teaneck – Bryant School preschool addition.

  • Teaneck – Bryant School interior alterations.

  • Riverside – New early childhood center.

  • Cherry Hill – Malberg ECC addition.

  • Cherry Hill – Malberg construct toilet rooms.

  • Cherry Hill – Kilmer preschool addition.

  • Lower Township – Douglas School interior renovations.

  • Upper Deerfield – Seabrook School preschool addition.

  • West Orange – St. Cloud renovations.

  • Jamesburg – JFK addition and alterations.

  • Piscataway – Eisenhower Elementary preschool addition.

  • South River – Preschool addition to administration building.

  • Holmdel – Village Elementary interior alterations.

  • Keyport – Central School preschool playground.

  • Matawan-Aberdeen Regional – Cambridge Park renovations.

  • Manchester Township – Ridgeway Elementary preschool addition.

  • Plumsted Township – Woehr interior alterations.

  • North Plainfield – East End Elementary preschool addition.

  • Somerville Borough – Van Derveer preschool addition.

  • Somerville Borough – Van Derveer interior alterations.

  • Montague Township – Montague Township School preschool addition.

  • Washington Township – Brass Castle School interior alterations.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ pre-K funding: Phil Murphy pledges federal dollars