How New State Requirements for “Mixed-Delivery” Partnerships and At-Risk Prioritization Will Shape Local Districts.
New Jersey’s Department of Education (NJDOE) recently published a manual and memo connected New Jersey’s Universal Preschool and Kindergarten Act. Both clarify actions, documentation requirements and expectations for Districts choosing to receive Preschool Education Aid. The state DOE is emphasizing what districts must do, what they must document and what expectations apply to districts receiving Preschool Education Aid (PEA).
Not Just About the District
PEA districts are expected to partner with licensed child care providers and Head Start programs that are “ready, willing and able” to meet program requirements. They can also include providers in neighboring communities as long as eligibility and program requirements are met. – this isn’t intended to be something that exists in a vacuum within District corridors.
Partnerships aren’t optional and aren’t limited to a District’s catchment area.
If District’s aren’t able to secure partnerships they must demonstrate that due diligence was applied in their attempts – which usually means there needs to be documentation to back up the efforts made including outreach logs and a clear paper-trail documenting why partnerships weren’t possible.
Redistribution and Cost Sharing:
Districts can’t play musical chairs between district-run and private settings on their own- it requires Commissioner approval through formal letter and justification.
Newly funded districts can expect the state to pay only a percentage (the District Aid Percentage -DAP), which is at least 40% with Districts covering the rest through local taxes or reserves and they can’t charge tuition to bridge the gap.
“At Risk” Preschool Students are the Priority
Politics, convenience, and cash can’t decide who gets a slot and enrollment shouldn’t be based on informal rules. This is important because capacity is limited, however this is NJ so it will be interesting to see how and if this will be enforced.
Limited Funding Flexibility and a Focus on Stability
PEA funds can be used for other preschool purposes under certain conditions – Districts can’t treat the money as a ‘free-for-all’ and will likely need to justify any variance from traditional classroom expansion.
The guidance also points to multi-year contracting (up to three years), which promotes continuity and stability.
Local
Preschool and FDK will impact space, staffing, contract services, transportation and documentation. If a District is taking PEA cash it needs to follow the state’s framework.
Back in July, we reported how local districts were already grappling with the logistical ‘growing pains’ of expansion. Communities like Chatham and New Providence spent years planning reconfigurations to create the physical footprint needed for full-day programs. By codifying the ‘mixed-delivery’ model and requiring outreach to neighboring providers, the NJDOE is effectively telling districts they can’t solve space shortages through internal reshuffling alone and must use a collaborative approach to ensure that local private providers aren’t sidelined as districts race to meet the 2029-30 full-day kindergarten deadline.
If your District moves forward with accepting PEA dollars here are some questions you can ask…
- What steps have been taken in connecting with eligible preschool providers? Who were they and did they include Head Start? Were providers in neighboring communities contacted?
- What’s the split between district and provider operated preschool seats? Is there a plan for expansion?
- How will “at-risk” preschool students be defined and prioritized when it comes to recruitment and enrollment?
- Will the district use multi-year contracts and what reporting will be required to track performance and compliance?
- Will the district publish its’ due diligence documentation so families can see what was explored and the logic behind its’ decisions?
- For Newly Funded Districts – what is our District Aid Percentage (DAP), and what ‘other sources’ (tax levy or reserves) are going to cover the local cost share?
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