ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5218

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 15, 2026

      The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5218.

      As amended, this bill permits a parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in preschool in a public school to select shared or separate classroom placements for their children. The bill additionally permits the parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples to request that the twins or higher order multiples be treated as one unit in a public preschool lottery system or open enrollment.

      Under current law, a parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples enrolled in grades kindergarten through 8 at the same public school may request that the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms. This bill extends that provision to twins or higher order multiples enrolled in a public preschool program operated by a school district, a Head Start Program, or a licensed child care provider. The bill stipulates that if the twins or higher order multiples enroll in a public preschool program, the parent or guardian may request that the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the program maintains multiple preschool classrooms.

      The bill also requires a public school that utilizes a lottery system or open enrollment to award seats in a preschool program to treat twins or higher order multiples as one unit in the lottery system or open enrollment upon the request of their parent or guardian. The twins or higher order multiples will either be selected or waitlisted for seats in the preschool program as one unit. If the number of available seats in a public preschool program is less than the twins or higher order multiples being treated as one unit for the purpose of a lottery or open enrollment, the twins or higher order multiples will all be waitlisted.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

· allow a parent or guardian to request whether the twins or higher order multiples are treated as one unit for the purpose of a preschool lottery or open enrollment;

· clarify that if the number of available seats in a public preschool program is less than the twins or higher order multiples being treated as one unit for the purpose of a lottery or open enrollment pursuant to the bill, the twins or higher order multiples will all be waitlisted; and

· stipulate that the parent or guardian of twins or higher order multiples selected for enrollment in a public preschool program through a lottery or open enrollment may request that the children be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms.