Pre-K Our Way

Pre-K Our Way officially sunset at the close of 2021 and conducted its final operations through February 28, 2022. Since its inception in 2015 as a unique targeted advocacy effort with a clear, strategic focus, Pre-K Our Way’s goals remained simple: make NJ’s state-funded, full-day pre-k a state-wide priority, and have NJ’s elected leaders fund a long-existing law for pre-k expansion which had not been funded.

Pre-K Our Way's most lasting achievement is that NJ's state-funded, full-day pre-k became and remains a statewide priority. When Pre-K Our Way started, there were 35 school districts with NJ’s state-funded, full-day pre-k – only the original districts funded by state-law; there had been zero movement or new funding for nearly 20 years. As of February 28, 2022, there are 180 school districts with NJ's Pre-K. Pre-K Our Way's advocacy expanded the eligibility for state-funded pre-k from the initial number of 75 districts to a total of 305 and increased the number of eligible students within each district. As they stated in a September 2021 press conference and since, the governor and NJDOE are committed to universal pre-k.

Pre-K Our Way set the conversation and provided the targeted, strategic advocacy for New Jersey's advances in pre-k expansion - and early education.

"(W)e will continue to grow pre-K with a goal of ensuring universal preschool for every young learner in every community," said Gov Murphy in his 2nd Inaugural Address (Jan 18 2022).

Within the next few weeks, Gov Murphy and NJDOE will announce the newly funded pre-k expansion districts! Pre-K Our Way will share award info on social media and our website. Until then (and their fingers are crossed…) here’s what one district is doing to prepare…. https://www.hammontongazette.com/post/full-day-pre-k-coming-112421.

Happy Hanukkah!