Securing Pre-K’s Legacy

Securing Pre-K’s Legacy: Issues and Opportunities for New Jersey’s Next Governor examines the current challenges facing New Jersey’s state-funded preschool program as it expands toward universal access. Drawing on decades of research documenting the program’s strong impacts on school readiness and long-term achievement, the paper identifies gaps in state capacity, outdated funding formulas, under-enrollment, and uneven implementation that threaten program quality and effectiveness. The authors outline five priority areas where targeted action could strengthen oversight, improve enrollment and attendance, rebalance funding, and support mixed-delivery partnerships. The analysis provides evidence-based options for restoring and sustaining New Jersey Pre-K as a national model for high-quality preschool education.