Gov. Phil Murphy announced Jan. 8 that New Jersey will receive $10.6 million in federal funding for a new initiative – The New Jersey Preschool Development Collaboration. The initiative will advance cooperation among state and local childcare resources and early childhood education programs. The aim, the governor said, is to improve coordination, consistency and quality of preschool programs.
Funding for the initiative will come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Preschool Development Grant, Birth Through Five (PDG B-5). Under the New Jersey program, the state will assess the availability and quality of existing early childhood education. The state will develop a strategic plan to improve coordination among existing programs and local educational agencies, specifically to create an easier transition from early education programs to elementary school.
“We are grateful,” said Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet, that “this grant will help track the effectiveness of early intervention programs to children from high-need populations.”