Murphy Visits South Brunswick, Announces Preschool Facility Expansion Program

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy visited South Brunswick on Wednesday to celebrate the preschool grant to the school district and announce the expansion of the state’s free preschool program.

In March, the Department of Education will launch a $120 million grant funding opportunity from the Federal American Rescue Act Funds for preschool facility expansion. Murphy also highlighted pre-K program funding received by 16 school districts.

The governor, along with state and local officials were at Brooks Crossing and Deans Elementary School.

The new facilities expansion program would be a “game changer” in the state, Murphy said. The expansion will happen in South Brunswick and other school districts.

“Year after year we are relentlessly pursuing our goal of achieving universal access to quality pre-K programming for every 3-and-4-year-old in our state and the numbers reflect that determination," Murphy said.

Over 12,000 additional preschoolers have been able to benefit from the state’s program, Murphy said.

“This funding is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our state.”

The increase in general knowledge and vocabulary among children before they enter school is directly related to their future success, Murphy said.

Childcare is one of the biggest expenses for working parents, and expanding access to pre-K in tandem with the state’s support to private childcare providers as well as other federal programs “will make life more affordable for New Jersey’s working parents,” Murphy said.

Last year, South Brunswick School District was awarded $2 million by the state to run a full-day preschool program. More: $2M For South Brunswick Schools To Run Full-Day Preschool Program

Sen. Andrew Zwicker, whose three children attended South Brunswick School District, said he was beyond thrilled with the announcement.

“By expanding access to preschool, we aren’t just providing access to critical education, we’re changing lives,” Zwicker said.

Mayor Charlie Carley thanked the school district staff and Superintendent Scott Feder for their work.

“This program will build upon the governor’s commitment to early childhood education and will give kids the education they deserve,” Carley said.

“At the same time, it will reduce hardship many families face when they seek affordable alternatives. It does two things 0 it’s an investment in the future, it’s an investment in the present.”

During his visit, Principal Jaime Maccarone took Murphy on a tour of the new pre-K classrooms. They stopped first at a classroom led by teacher Karen Delcampe and then at Rachel Kline’s classroom.

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