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Unpacking the NJ State FY26 Budget on New Jersey’s Kids and Families

Posted on July 16, 2025

Highlights of FY26 State Budget Spending on Children and Families

The State Fiscal Year 2026 Budget was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Murphy before the June 30th deadline, with total appropriations of $58.8 billion and a projected surplus of $6.7 billion. The budget allocates resources, programs, and services that will benefit New Jersey residents in the upcoming year.

Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) engaged throughout the process, advocating for critical investments that support children and families. Below are key highlights.

Child Care

  • $565.8 million in the NJ Child Care Assistance Program to help low-income families cover the cost of child care for children ages 0 - 13.

Public Preschool Expansion

  • $34.6 million in new funding to expand free, universal pre-K across New Jersey communities.
  • $10 million specifically to help launch new preschool programs.

K-12 Education

  • Fully funds New Jersey’s schools under the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) for the second year in a row, with an additional $386 million in aid for FY 2026—the largest school aid contribution in state history.
  • $3 million in incentive grants to help school districts transition to phone-free learning environments, supporting academic success and student well-being.
  • $7.5 million in new grant funding for school districts to provide high-impact tutoring for students needing extra academic support.

Hunger and Food Insecurity

  • $30 million to maintain a minimum monthly $95 in SNAP benefits for approximately 40,000 households.
  • $85 million in aid for the state’s food banks and emergency feeding organizations.

Maternal Health

  • $10 million to ensure State employees can take parental leave at full pay to care for a newborn.
  • Nearly $36 million to expand Family Connects NJ, offering free home visitations for postpartum mothers and newborns.
  • Over $50 million—the single largest investment in New Jersey history—for women’s health care programs beyond state-sponsored insurance. This will provide safety-net family planning services, upgrade family planning facilities, and grow the reproductive health care workforce.
  • $5.2 million for the newly created Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority.

Child Health

  • Continued funding for Cover All Kids and NJ FamilyCare, projected to provide free health insurance coverage to up to 867,000 children.

Mental Health

  • Building a statewide system of mental health resources with $43 million for the NJ Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) Network.

Positive Youth Development and Other Supports

  • Approximately $20 million to maintain the Alternative Responses to Reduce Instances of Violence and Escalation (ARRIVE) Together program, which pairs police officers with mental health professionals when responding to mental health crises.

ACNJ will continue to provide post-budget updates as additional information becomes available. Stay tuned!

Update NJ Preschool Expansion

Governor Phil Murphy signed significant legislation to expand access to early childhood education on July 11, 2025.

“I Need to Go to Work, But I Can’t Find Child Care!”

Posted on July 11, 2025

cindy shields
Cindy Shields
Senior Policy Analyst for Early Childhood Education

This is a common cry across the country, and New Jersey is no exception. Families are struggling to find quality child care, and when they do, the cost is often unaffordable. What’s driving this crisis, and how do we begin to fix it?

A Broken Market

In other industries, companies might cut staff or raise prices to cope. But in child care, cutting staff isn’t an option due to licensing regulations. You need ample staff to maintain safe and nurturing learning environments. And raising tuition? Many families are already financially stretched to the limit.

Worse yet, there's no room to trim wages. Early educators, mostly women and disproportionately women of color, earn less than dog walkers, with a national average of just $15.41/hour according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Burned out and underpaid, many early care educators are leaving the field for less stressful, better-paying jobs in retail or warehouses. That means fewer open classrooms, longer waitlists, and even more pressure on parents trying to access and afford child care.

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The Cost of Child Care to Families

Wages account for about 80% of a child care center’s budget, leaving razor-thin margins to cover everything else. The pandemic pushed the child care industry past its breaking point.
Today, New Jersey families face impossible choices. The average cost of center-based care is:

  • $20,213 per year for an infant
  • $19,448 per year for a toddler

For a dual-income family earning the NJ average of $167,018, that’s 12% of their income; more than they might spend on housing or even college tuition. For a single parent earning the state average of $44,800, child care eats up 45% of their income.

NJ working class left behind high child care costs

By comparison, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that families spend no more than 7%of their income on child care. Clearly, something is wrong.

A Squeeze on the Middle Class

In New Jersey, only families earning approximately $300,000 or more can afford the average annual cost of center-based infant care—about $20,000—without spending more than 7% of their income.

For families earning less than 185% of the federal poverty level (roughly $64,300 for a family of four), the New Jersey Child Care Assistance Program offers vital help covering child care costs for children up to age 13.

But New Jersey’s working middle class is being left behind. These families earn too much to qualify for assistance, yet far too little to absorb the staggering cost of child care. They’re falling through the cracks.

The burden often lands hardest on mothers, many of whom are pushed out of the workforce entirely. Parents are forced into impossible choices: pay for housing and food, or pay for child care. Too often, they are working multiple jobs just to get by, with no good options in sight.

Child Care Is Essential Infrastructure

New Jersey’s economy cannot function without child care. Without a stable child care system, the workforce suffers, and so does the economy.

But here’s the good news. By investing in early care and education, New Jersey could save upwards of $3.6 billion annually. With a return on investment of $7–$13 for every dollar spent, child care is not just a moral imperative; it’s a smart financial strategy.

Our children deserve safe and enriching child care environments with well-compensated educators. Our working, economically contributing families deserve choices, not compromises.

This Election Year: Ask the Candidates
As we head to the polls, child care must be a central issue in every candidate’s platform. We urge every voter to ask:

  • What will you do to ensure equitable access to high-quality early care and education for all working families in New Jersey?
  • How will you support the child care workforce to ensure they are qualified, respected, and fairly compensated?
  • What policies will you champion to preserve and grow options for families, especially given the challenges child care providers face today?

New Jersey’s children, families, and economy are depending on it.

Read our latest updates on maternal and infant health.

Child Care Providers: Urge Legislators to prioritize funding for the NJ Child Care Assistance Program

Posted on July 23, 2025

Child Care Providers Act Now!

Critical changes to New Jersey’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) will take effect beginning August 1, 2025. These changes will directly impact both providers and families, which include co-payment increases and a pause on new applications.

Despite strong advocacy—including public education, meetings with legislators, public testimony, and widespread media coverage—New Jersey’s final state budget fell $30 million short of the amount needed to fully fund CCAP and maintain open enrollment for eligible families.

To help you understand what’s changing and what actions you can take, we prepared a detailed summary. Read the update.

Why your voice still matters:
Even though the budget is finalized, sharing your stories and concerns with legislators can help lay the groundwork for future funding opportunities.

Email your State Assemblymembers and Senators today. Let them know how these changes affect your program, your staff, and the families you serve.

Governor Murphy’s Historic Early Childhood Education Legislation Marks Critical Progress with Room for Improvement

Posted on July 11, 2025

UPDATE: New Jersey Universal Preschool

This week, Governor Murphy signed significant legislation expanding access to early education, addressing several policy priorities ACNJ has long advocated for, while also leaving areas of opportunity for further improvement.

The centerpiece legislation (S3910/A5717) codifies New Jersey's preschool funding formula into statute, strengthening and sustaining the state’s pre-K expansion effort, while also setting the course to provide full-day kindergarten by 2030. This represents the culmination of decades of advocacy, beginning with ACNJ’s involvement in the Abbott v. Burke Supreme Court decision more than 25 years ago, which mandated high-quality public preschool for children in high-poverty districts.

The other two bills include:

  • The authorization of three-year contracts between school districts and community childcare providers, providing much-needed stability for community providers (S4476/A5780).
  • Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Act, updating various language provisions concerning Preschool Education Aid to align with legislation (S3910/A5717) that modifies the allocation of Preschool Education Aid ( A5908/S4695). 
Gov Murphy bill signing 7-11-2025

Governor Phil Murphy signed significant legislation to expand access to early childhood education on July 11, 2025.

Key Provisions Aligned with ACNJ Priorities

  • Ensuring Universal Preschool Expansion: The law codifies annual preschool expansion grants and revises preschool education aid requirements, providing the predictable investment our early learning system needs to thrive.
  • Enhanced Stability for Providers: Recognizing that community-based providers are essential partners, the legislation extends contract terms from one to three years. Multi-year contracts makes it easier for providers to secure funding for facility upgrades and new program start-up costs, as well as planning. The previous one-year contract agreements created uncertainty about program continuation, not knowing if they would be renewed another year. Extended contract terms now offer the stability needed for meaningful facility investments and stronger partnerships. 
  • Comprehensive Coordination: The legislation also addresses the fragmentation ACNJ has long identified as a barrier to effective preschool delivery, improving coordination and transparency by:
    • Establishing a Universal Preschool Implementation Steering Committee with representatives from key State agencies and the Legislature.
    • Requiring the Departments of Education, Children and Families, and Human Services to maintain and annually update public information on preschool and child care providers.
    • Mandating annual reports to the Legislature on the status of preschool education and the effectiveness of the mixed-delivery model.
    • Directing State agencies to publish guidance on expanding access to high-quality preschool in high-need areas.

ACNJ thanks Governor Murphy for keeping his promise to expand early education to New Jersey’s youngest learners. Since taking office, 229 districts have been added to state-funded preschool programs. And more recently, in February 2025, the state announced that the Department of Education and Department of Children and Families would amend their rules to align state-funded and licensed child care centers to the same minimum space requirement of 42 square feet of usable space per child. This critical regulatory change, which ACNJ has long advocated for, removes a significant barrier that often prevented child care providers from participating in preschool expansion.

New Jersey’s public pre-K program is a nationally recognized model, demonstrating the profound impact of quality early education. Research by the National Institute for Early Education Research confirmed that students who attended Abbott preschools continued to excel through 10th grade, with a 15% reduction in grade retention and 7% decrease in special education placements.

Critical Gaps That Require Continued Attention

Although this legislation is a big step forward, the state can still do more to build a stronger, comprehensive early education system.

We know that a robust mixed-delivery model -public schools partnering with community child care centers- is essential to meeting the diverse needs of families. However, the legislation stops short of mandating it. Declining participation by private child care providers threatens the viability of the broader early care and education system. In former-Abbott districts, enrollment in the community decreased by 25% from 2009 to 2022, while in expansion districts, only 17% of preschoolers are served by private providers. The loss of preschool-aged children from community-based centers threatens the entire birth-to-five system by undermining the financial viability of infant and toddler care. This creates "infant toddler care deserts" that ultimately harm working families and the broader economy.

In addition, the legislation does not establish the pathways and timeframes to help existing early childhood educators meet the certification requirements, potentially exacerbating the teacher shortage crisis.

Conclusion

ACNJ commends Governor Murphy, Senate Majority Leader Ruiz, Assemblywoman Katz, and all the legislative sponsors for their leadership. As we work toward implementation, ACNJ remains committed to ensuring this legislation achieves its full potential by strengthening the mixed delivery system that serves as the backbone of quality early childhood education in New Jersey.

The promise of universal preschool is within reach. With continued advocacy and thoughtful implementation, New Jersey can build an early childhood system that truly serves all children and families.

For more information on this topic, contact Winifred at wsmith-jenkins@acnj.org.

Read our latest updates on preschool expansion.

Midwifery Saves Lives: Why New Jersey Must Expand Access to Midwifery Care

Posted on July 3, 2025

winifred headshot
Winifred Smith-Jenkins
Director of Early Childhood Policy and Advocacy

Too many mothers and babies in New Jersey are dying, and it doesn’t have to be this way. Midwifery care is a proven, life-saving solution. But outdated laws, systemic barriers, and a lack of awareness are limiting access to this vital care.

A Forgotten Legacy of Care

For centuries, midwives were the primary providers of childbirth care in the United States. Before hospitals became common, childbirth happened at home with the help of skilled midwives. Many of these midwives were enslaved African women, Indigenous women, and immigrants who passed down knowledge through generations and provided trusted care in their communities.

Known as “granny midwives,” Black women in the South cared for mothers in rural and low-income communities well into the 1940s.These midwives provided prenatal education, labor support, delivery, and postpartum care at a time when hospitals were not accessible or welcoming to everyone. Their care kept communities alive and mothers safe.

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Starting in the early 1900s, hospitals and male doctors began to take over childbirth care. Public health campaigns and new licensing rules, often shaped by racism and bias, pushed midwives out by calling their work outdated or unsafe, without much proof. As a result, trusted community-led models of maternal care that worked for generations were lost.

Bringing midwives back into the center of maternity care isn’t just a return to tradition. It’s a matter of equity, cultural respect, and saving lives, especially for the families most at risk.

It's a Matter of Justice - Maternal death

What Exactly Is a Midwife?

A midwife is a highly trained clinical professional who specializes in healthy pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum care. They provide holistic, respectful, and culturally responsive care that centers around patient autonomy, trust, and informed decision-making.

Midwives are different from other birth workers: 

  • Midwives are not doulas – Doulas offer emotional and physical support, not clinical care.
  • Midwives are not OB-GYNs – OBs are trained as surgeons to manage high-risk pregnancies and complications.
  • Midwives are essential to a modern, integrated maternity care system that meets the needs of diverse families.

The Research is Clear: Midwives Save Lives

Research overwhelmingly shows that midwife-led care improves outcomes for mothers and babies; especially for Black families, who face the highest rates of maternal and infant mortality in New Jersey.

  • States with stronger midwifery integration have:
    • Lower rates of neonatal death, preterm birth, and low birthweight
    • Better outcomes for Black mothers and infants
  • Midwife-led continuity of care reduces fetal loss and neonatal death by up to 16%
  • Countries with strong midwifery systems (e.g., the UK, Norway) have significantly lower neonatal mortality than the U.S.
  • Midwifery practices—like delayed cord clamping, early breastfeeding, and reduced unnecessary interventions—support healthier newborn transitions

Barriers in New Jersey

Considering the benefits of midwives, New Jersey makes it hard for them to practice. The result? Families lose access to choices and the care they need.

Some of the biggest barriers: 

  • Restrictive laws prevent midwives from practicing independently
  • Midwives face burnout and a lack of supportive infrastructure
  • There is a shortage of racially and culturally diverse midwives
  • Aspiring midwives lack accessible training and mentorship pathways
  • Consumers, especially in underserved areas, lack access to midwifery care

New Jersey recognizes three midwifery credentials:

  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) – Must be an RN and complete graduate midwifery training
  • Certified Midwife (CM) – Similar to CNM but with a non-nursing health science background
  • Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) – Trained through accredited programs or apprenticeship, often focused on home and birth center deliveries

Only CNMs and CMs can work in hospitals, but under the supervision of doctors. CPMs often cannot get paid or included in care networks, even though they are qualified. These limits make it harder for families to access the care they need.

Policy Solutions We Need Now

To improve maternal and infant health outcomes, New Jersey must:

  • Grant full practice authority to CNMs and CMs
  • Integrate and reimburse CPMs fairly
  • Establish an independent midwifery licensing board
  • Improve home-to-hospital transfer protocols
  • Expand pathways and scholarships for future midwives, especially midwives of color
  • Raise public awareness about the midwifery model of care

It’s a Matter of Justice

These outcomes are not inevitable. They are the result of systemic failures that we have the power to change. Expanding access to midwifery care is a critical, evidence-based solution.

What to Ask Candidates This Election Year

This election year, ask every candidate for governor:

  • What will you do to expand access to midwives?
  • How will you improve maternal and infant health for all families in New Jersey?

The future of maternal and infant health depends on bold, inclusive leadership, and midwifery must be part of the solution.

Read our latest updates on maternal and infant health.