This summer, the nonprofit Advocates for Children of New Jersey released a policy brief on its federal preschool development grants.

It’s an upbeat story – but one with an unknown ending. New Jersey has successfully expanded preschool programs. But it’s not clear what will happen to this growth once federal funding runs out.

The state made preschool history thanks to two New Jersey Supreme Court rulings that required officials to “provide quality preschool in 31 low‐income towns so that young children had the best opportunity to succeed in kindergarten and beyond,” the brief explains.

This investment paid off. “Three studies by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) found that children who attended the state‐funded preschools showed significant progress in language, literacy, math and science and were substantially less likely to repeat grades.”

But after a small amount of additional expansion, progress on pre-K stalled. 

Fortunately, in 2014 New Jersey was awarded a federal Preschool Development Grant. And by the 2016-17 school year, “16 communities served approximately 1,900 4‐year‐olds thanks to this federal funding. Administrators and teaching staff witnessed first‐hand the successes that young children achieved as a result of this strong start,” the brief says, adding:

“When asked to identify the reasons why they applied for the funding, responses from school administrators were nearly unanimous. ‘Improving program quality’ was identified in 15 out of the 16 districts as the primary reasons for their participation.”

The federal grants produced numerous benefits, including:

• boosts in children’s school readiness

• improved family engagement

• more support for students with disabilities, and

• a stronger pre-K to third grade continuum

And thanks to a different federal grant, “that supports Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s statewide, state‐sponsored initiative to raise the quality of child care and early learning, staff are benefiting from supports and resources that were previously beyond reach.”

Sadly, state and federal funding still do not fund enough preschool spots to meet the need, so many children who would benefit from these programs do not get to go. And time is running out on the federal grant: It ends on December 31, 2018.

Without funding, communities will have to make do.

“When asked to describe what districts might do if the federal funds were no longer available, every response indicated a reduction in educational services for young children.”

Most districts said, “they would return to the programs that existed before the funding was provided.” The “two most likely recourses” would be to “decrease the number of classes and/or return to half‐day preschool programs.” Districts could also possibly eliminate staff or only provide preschool to those children who are most in need.

The brief also points to a number of pending solutions, including:

• “In 2008, a new school funding formula became law and included a significant increase to preschool access throughout the state.” Now all New Jersey has to do is fund this law.

• New Jersey has a statewide preschool expansion campaign called Pre‐K Our Way, and

• New Jersey’s legislators and gubernatorial candidates have been discussing preschool expansion

And, obviously, more federal funding would also help New Jersey – and other states – expand their preschool programs.

“There is no question that a quality preschool education can result in substantial gains in children’s learning and development. The dilemma remains as to how we provide such access for all young children—and particularly for low ‐income children who could benefit the most,” the brief says, concluding:

“We need to be committed to future 4‐ year‐olds in those communities, as well as thousands of others throughout the state, in order for them to have the best chance of succeeding in kindergarten and beyond.”