From the Ground Up
By: Jane McConnell | Published: 2026-01-20 01:28:00 | Source: www.capemaycountyherald.com
In the past 20 years, the educational landscape has changed dramatically in New Jersey with the addition of free universal prekindergarten in the public schools.
In July of 2025, the state enacted the “New Jersey Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act.” This pilot program will expand free universal pre-K by the 2028-29 school year.
There are five high-quality state-approved pre-K curriculums, all of which focus on developmentally appropriate, play-based learning, an approach where children learn essential skills (cognitive, social, emotional, physical) through purposeful, hands-on play, exploration and experimentation, guided by teachers who act as facilitators rather than just instructors.
Studies have shown that children who have experienced a high-quality…
