Approp.
An Act to amend the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Assembly Bill No. 5800 and Senate Bill No. 2026).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The following language provisions in section 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Assembly Bill No. 5800 and Senate Bill No. 2026), the annual appropriations act for Fiscal Year 2026, are amended to read as follows:
34 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
30 Educational, Cultural, and Intellectual Development
31 Direct Educational Services and Assistance
STATE AID
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, amounts hereinabove appropriated for Preschool Education Aid shall be allocated based upon 2025-2026 projected FTE enrollments, and multiplied by the per pupil allocations, minus 25 percent of the total amount of Preschool Education Aid carryover funds identified in the district’s fiscal year 2024 audit summary, as set forth in the February 2025 State Aid notice issued by the commissioner that remain unspent in the 2024-2025 school year. A school district that receives Preschool Education Aid for the first time in the 2025-2026 school year shall demonstrate, in its application, due diligence in establishing partnerships to provide its preschool program through a mixed-delivery system in all licensed child care providers and Head Start programs in its community or neighboring communities that are willing and able to meet all preschool program requirements. A school district that has unspent Preschool Education Aid funds from prior school years may use those funds [to support transportation costs for resident students enrolled in the preschool program, or for other purposes that may be approved by the commissioner, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The amount of Preschool Education Aid used for transportation purposes shall not exceed the total cost of providing transportation services to preschool students minus the amount of Transportation Aid attributable to preschool students, as calculated pursuant to section 15 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-57)] for the purposes set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 3910 (SCS/1R) and Assembly Bill No. 5717 (2R)).
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law or regulation to the contrary, of the amounts hereinabove appropriated for Preschool Education Aid, an amount not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be allocated in amounts determined by the Commissioner of Education pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 3910 (SCS/1R) and Assembly Bill No. 5717 (2R)): (1) for the provision of preschool expansion grants to be allocated by the commissioner to districts in total additional preschool funding for the purpose of expanding free access to full-day preschool for resident three- and four-year old children in accordance with the preschool quality standards issued by the commissioner and based on a district’s demonstration of its readiness to operate a preschool program consistent with those standards and; (2) to the Department to address workforce preparation and training and other ancillary needs related to preschool expansion. [In allocating grant funds to school districts, the commissioner shall give preference to districts that demonstrate in their preschool expansion grant applications a planned preschool program that includes a mixed-delivery model of preschool education. A district applying for a grant that does not have a planned mixed-delivery model of preschool education shall demonstrate in its application due diligence to partner with all ready, willing, and able licensed child care providers and Head Start programs in their communities and neighboring communities] The commissioner shall administer grant funds and other requirements as set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 3910 (SCS/1R) and Assembly Bill No. 5717 (2R)). Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a district receiving a grant may enter into contracts with licensed child care providers for the provision of preschool education services, which shall be stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity for preschool expansion grants posted by the department.
The Department of Education, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Human Services shall maintain the following lists on the departments’ Internet websites as set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 3910 (SCS/1R) and Assembly Bill No. 5717 (2R)): current districts with State-funded preschool; districts eligible to apply for Preschool Education Aid and licensed child care providers and Head Start programs in each eligible district’s community and in neighboring communities, including contact information for the providers and programs. The Department of Education, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Human Services shall update such lists each year [by April 1st] as set forth in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as Senate Bill No. 3910 (SCS/1R) and Assembly Bill No. 5717 (2R)).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill amends the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations act.
The bill amends various language provisions concerning Preschool Education Aid to align that language with legislation that modifies the allocation of Preschool Education Aid.
Amends FY2026 appropriations act to revise various language provisions concerning early childhood education.