Murphy Highlights Preschool Funding With Jersey Shore School Visit

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — To highlight increased funding for pre-K programs, Gov. Phil Murphy joined public officials and educators at the Betty McElmon Elementary School in West Long Branch in early October. He also released phase 1 of the New Jersey Strategic Plan for Preschool Expansion.

West Long Branch was one of 27 districts to receive a portion of more than $26 million in the FY23 budget to establish or expand " high-quality preschool programs" for local children, according to Murphy's office. Read More: $26M For NJ Schools Expanding Preschool Access: Here's Where

The funding is to implement preschool programs that are inclusive of children with special needs, offer small class sizes, and have both a certified teacher and an aide.

"Full-day, high-quality preschool programs offer students a jump start on academic and social-emotional development, and the Governor's proposed plan for expansion would leverage New Jersey’s network of more than four thousand licensed child care centers in partnership with our schools to create a continuum of early childhood education that benefits children and families," said Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Christine Norbut Beyer.

Murphy toured a pre-K class of 3- and 4-year-olds at the school to highlight the funding.

The students sang a song about identifying colors, according to his press office.

"If you’re wearing blue, touch your shoe," one lyric went.

Murphy, who was singing along and slapping his knees, touched his shoes because he was wearing a dark blue suit. "I'm wearing blue, I've got to touch my shoe," he said.

He told reporters that he had a "magical" time with the kids.

"We have a goal to be the No. 1 state in America with universal pre-K," Murphy said. "It's gonna take us a few years to get there. We want to make sure we get that road map really well done."