Universal Full-Day Preschool Forum Set For Lacey Schools

LACEY, NJ — It appears that free preschool may be coming to the Lacey Township School District. An update shared on the district website invites parents to a forum on universal full-day preschool in Lacey.

A question and answer session will be held on March 16 at 5 p.m. at the Lacey Township High School Lecture Hall, prior to the Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.

Few details are available regarding Lacey's program; more information is likely to be shared at the forum and the following school board meeting.

Gov. Phil Murphy, a champion of universal full-day preschool in New Jersey, recently announced that $120 million in grants will be made available for districts to expand preschool facilities. The funding will come from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — a federal COVID-19 stimulus package. Read more: NJ's Universal Pre-K Goals Getting Jolt With $120M For Facilities

Lacey does currently offer a preschool program for 3-to-5-year-olds at Mill Pond Elementary School. There are two Communication and Learning Support programs ,three Preschool Disabled programs and one Inclusion program.

The inclusive program, which serves general education students, has a monthly tuition of $350 and no district-provided transportation.