Bill
S 3910
Mandates universal, free full-day kindergarten by 2029-30 and expands state-funded preschool via grants and pilots, promoting mixed-delivery partnerships with districts, providers.
Note on title discrepancy
- The bill number you provided (S-3910) in the documents is the New Jersey "New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act" addressing preschool and kindergarten policy. The short title in your prompt (about electric vehicle maintenance and repair) does not match the bill documents. This summary covers S-3910 as shown in the provided legislative documents (early childhood education), which was enacted as P.L.2025, c.100.
Summary
- S-3910 (Sen. Kevin S. Parker)—the New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act—codifies and expands State policy on State‑funded preschool, creates grant and pilot programs, establishes a steering committee, and requires universal full‑day kindergarten. The bill was reported with amendments, passed both houses (Senate 28–10; Assembly 53–25‑2), and approved as P.L.2025, c.100 on July 9, 2025.
Purpose / intent
- To enshrine in statute the State’s approach to expanding access to high‑quality State‑funded preschool; to promote mixed‑delivery partnerships (districts, licensed child care, Head Start); to require and fund preschool expansion; to evaluate delivery models; and to require free full‑day kindergarten statewide by 2029–30.
Key provisions
- Preschool expansion grants: DOE must offer annual grants to expand free, high‑quality preschool for resident 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds in districts that currently do not provide State‑funded preschool. Applicants must show due diligence to partner with “ready, willing, and able” licensed child care and Head Start providers; districts may document extenuating circumstances for not using mixed delivery.
- Preschool education aid: Codifies recent appropriations practice, revises the aid allocation formula to remove District Factor Groups and use projected FTE enrollment, and requires recipient districts to meet partnership, planning, and self‑assessment criteria.
- Three‑year cost‑sharing pilot: For districts receiving preschool aid for the first time in 2025‑26, 2026‑27, or 2027‑28, preschool aid is calculated by multiplying the district’s district aid percentage (the greater of the State school construction district aid percentage or 40%) by the amount that would have been calculated under the 2024‑25 preschool aid formula.
- Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee: Established in DOE with state agency and legislative representatives; required to form local subcommittees.
- Data, reports, guidance: DOE, DCF, and DHS must maintain updated online lists and annually report on preschool status and the mixed‑delivery model; several agencies must issue guidance to support expansion.
- Kindergarten requirement: Every elementary‑serving district must provide free full‑day kindergarten by the 2029‑2030 school year; districts may enter sending‑receiving arrangements if unable to provide locally.
- Technical and statutory adjustments: Amendments to tax levy growth limitation rules allow certain levy increases to cover the local share of preschool costs for participating pilot districts; preschool students are excluded from some facilities‑planning unhoused‑student counts.
Who is affected
- Local school districts (all elementary‑serving districts must implement full‑day kindergarten); resident 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds and their families; licensed child care and Head Start providers (partnership expectations); DOE, DCF, DHS and other State agencies; taxpayers (local/state costs may change).
Procedural / timeline notes
- Introduced Nov 18, 2024; reported by Senate committees May–June 2025 with amendments; passed both houses June 30, 2025; approved and enacted as P.L.2025, c.100 on July 9, 2025.
- Full‑day kindergarten compliance deadline: by the beginning of the 2029‑2030 school year.
- Pilot cost‑sharing applies to districts newly receiving preschool aid in 2025‑26 through 2027‑28.
Fiscal impact (summary)
- Office of Legislative Services: indeterminate State and local cost increases. Some provisions codify existing practice and are not expected to raise costs; preschool expansion grants cost depends on future appropriations. Requiring universal full‑day kindergarten and other implementation items will create additional, but presently unquantified, State and local costs; some districts may be allowed to exceed the tax levy cap to cover preschool local costs under the pilot.
Sponsors and related legislation
- Primary sponsor: Sen. Kevin S. Parker.
- Related/companion bills: A5717, A4257; prior‑session bills S-372, S‑9255.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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