STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Senator NILSA I. CRUZ-PEREZ
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cryan and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Requires school district to provide majority of preschool pupil placements at licensed child care provider programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning preschool programs and supplementing P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-43 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. A school district that receives preschool education aid pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2007, c.260 (C.18A:7F-54) shall ensure that no less than 50 percent of preschool pupil placements are provided at licensed child care provider programs. The remaining preschool pupil placements shall be provided in district programs and Head Start programs.
b. Upon application, a school district may be granted a waiver by the Department of Education of the requirements of subsection a. of this section if sufficient preschool pupil placements are not available at licensed child care provider programs within the school district. A school district that requests a waiver shall provide such information as the Department of Education specifies to justify the request.
2. This act shall take effect in the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a school district receiving preschool education aid through the "School Funding Reform Act of 2008" (C.18A:7F-43 et al.) to provide no less than 50 percent of preschool pupil placements at licensed child care provider programs. The remaining preschool pupil placements will be provided in district programs and Head Start programs.
The bill permits, upon application, a school district to be granted a waiver by the Department of Education of the bill's requirements if sufficient preschool pupil placements are not available at licensed child care provider programs within the school district. A school district that requests a waiver is required to provide such information as the Department of Education specifies to justify the request.