Schools
South Brunswick District Plans To Have 800 Preschool Seats In 5 Years
However, there's a long road ahead to ensure the plans are successful, school Superintendent Scott Feder said.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — If all goes according to plan, South Brunswick School District’s preschool program will include 800 seats for 3-to-4-year-olds in five years.
During the recently-held Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Scott Feder outlined plans for the district’s preschool program.
Beginning Jan. 17, full-day preschool programs begin in the township.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Well, this year is certainly a haul to get us open and do it the way we're doing it. We hope to be able to move to within five years, 800 seats for preschool,” Feder told the community.
With free preschool offered to district students, families are expected to save upward of $10,000.
Find out what's happening in South Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Feder said young families moving into town or are planning a move, can now decide to relocate knowing that the first two years of early education will be completely free.
“It's worth everything to a community. It gives us a chance to have our families and get to know our kids two years early,” Feder said.
Despite the “tremendous opportunity,” there’s a long road ahead to ensure the plans are successful.
“Like any road that has a good reward, we have a hard road to go. It has not been easy to get us open by Jan. 17, but we are doing it. And it will be successful,” Feder said. “It comes with some bumps in the road, but we'll get through them.”
The district plans to increase its number of preschool seats from 150 to 250 next year.
Feder said many community members were curious about how the district would decide on which child gets in. “We're working through a process for that,” he said.
“Right now, all of our focus is on getting the doors open on Jan. 17. Our next movement will be how this is going to develop and our lottery system for September. We are very excited about this.”
In September 2022, New Jersey announced $26 million to expand access to preschools in some school districts.
The funding comes as experts say New Jersey lacks enough access to quality, affordable child care — an issue the pandemic worsened.
Many New Jersey residents live in child care deserts — areas without enough access to affordable, quality childcare — according to childcaredeserts.org's map.
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