N.J. is ending half-day kindergarten forever. It could save some parents thousands. [View all]

By Liz Rosenberg | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a series of laws this week that will end the era of half-day kindergarten in New Jersey for good and continue a massive expansion of pre-K across the state long after he leaves office.

The three bills Murphy signed into law Wednesday include a new requirement for full-day kindergarten in every school district and a new state funding formula for preschools.

The legislation also includes a new law that extends the maximum length of contracts for outside providers of preschool programs in school districts to three years.

The new rules mean every school district must establish a full-day kindergarten program by the start of the 2029-2030 school year, Murphy administration officials said.

https://www.nj.com/education/2025/07/nj-is-ending-half-day-kindergarten-forever-it-could-save-some-parents-thousands.html