3 Middlesex County School Districts are Supposed to Get Free Pre-K. But They're Not

SOUTH RIVER, NJ - If you live in South River, South Amboy or Carteret, did you know you're technically supposed to be getting free pre-K? That's according to a 2008 bill signed into law by then-Gov. Jon Corzine, which greatly expanded free pre-K programs throughout the state.

The problem is there just isn't enough money to fund it.

There used to be just 35 districts in the state of New Jersey that were able to receive full-day, free pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds. Those were low-income, high-need school districts formerly known as "Abbott districts," and included low-income cities such as Newark, Jersey City, New Brunswick and so on. Interestingly, even well-do Red Bank was part of those 35, because the borough was able to demonstrate that 40 percent or more students receive a free or reduced lunch. Then in 2008, Gov. Jon Corzine passed the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), which greatly expanded access to free pre-K. As part of the law, 102 additional districts were added to the list. They became designated as "expansion districts."

In Middlesex County, those towns include Carteret, South Amboy and South River. In Monmouth County, Keyport, Highlands and Freehold were added to the list. A full list of all the towns in New Jersey eligible for pre-K can be found here.

"The problem is the expansion was never funded so that's where we are today," said Sam Crane, president of Pre-K Our Way, an advocacy group that is trying to get all 102 extra districts funded. "It was in part due to the recession, which really hit in 2009, right after the bill was signed. All public budgets were stressed. I really believe there would have been a phase-in if we didn't have the great recession."

Crane also used to be New Jersey's state treasurer.

However, now that New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney wants to fully fund the SFRA, Crane thinks the time is right to get pre-K finally paid for.

There is political will, he says. Even outgoing Gov. Chris Christie, who has cut back school funding dramatically, has said he wants to keep funding for pre-K programs. In addition to Sweeney, Assembly speaker Vincent Prieto supports the expansion districts. And with the New Jersey governor's race right around the corner, Crane said his group is meeting with all the prospective candidates to see their willingness to fund pre-K.

"We think the right time has come," said Crane. "What we need more than anything else is people in these towns to pick up their phones, call their legislators and say, 'Hey, we want this, too.' The time to do this is now."

Photo: Lochoaymca/Wikimedia Commons