WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Public School District has been awarded $1.45 million in federal funding to expand its preschool program, officials announced on Wednesday.
Governor Phil Murphy and acting education commissioner Kevin Dehmer revealed that more than $42 million in federal grant money would be distributed to 22 New Jersey school districts for the development and expansion of preschool facilities.
West Orange/Mount Pleasant Elementary School in Essex County is the only district in the area to receive a portion of this funding. The school will receive $1,456,000 to help fund a project estimated to cost $3.64 million. The project will create 66 new pre-kindergarten seats for students.
According to Governor Murphy’s office, this funding is part of the second round of the Universal Preschool Facilities Expansion Grant, which is part of a $120 million allocation from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. This funding is intended to expand access to preschool as part of New Jersey’s efforts to provide universal preschool statewide.
The first round of funding, which provided over $74 million for preschool facilities, was announced in November 2023, with additional projects approved afterward.
The funding is part of the state’s broader initiative to meet the goal of offering universal preschool. Governor Murphy emphasized that access to high-quality preschool can significantly improve a child’s future. “We have made it our mission to expand access to these critical programs,” Murphy said.
West Orange has been steadily expanding its preschool programs in recent years with the help of such funding.
In addition to preschool expansion, Governor Murphy recently visited West Orange to announce new funding for affordable child care programs across the state. The Kids Palace II in West Orange was approved for a $189,300 grant to install sprinkler and alarm systems, allowing the center to expand its license to accept infants.
This funding comes as part of a larger effort to improve child care facilities and address ongoing issues like high child care costs and low worker wages in New Jersey.
Related topics: