The number of school districts that only offer free half-day kindergarten is slowly shrinking in New Jersey, and could become even smaller if a referendum is passed in one South Jersey town this week.
In Haddonfield, a referendum will be up for a vote Tuesday to approve the funds needed for more kindergarten classroom space. Previous efforts to refurbish old buildings did not pan out.
The vast majority of districts in New Jersey offer free-full day kindergarten as the standard option, an N.J. Advance Media analysis of state data shows. Several are even offering it for the first time this school year.
But 10 districts still have either half-day only programs, or require parents to pay for a full-day option.
Several of those districts are working to expand their kindergarten offerings, with one actively working on construction this year. Another two are halfway through a two-step ballot measure process to get funds approved.
Space constraints and funding for teacher salaries are almost always the reasons cited for districts sticking with half-day programs, or for charging parents for full-days.
Kindergarten is not required by law in New Jersey, and districts that do offer kindergarten can offer half-day programs. Districts are also allowed to charge parents for kindergarten programs.
Half-day programs used to be the norm.
Roughly half of all districts had half-day kindergartens for the 1998-1999 school year, the earliest available state Department of Education data shows.
While there are benefits to full-day kindergarten programs, it won’t harm a child in the long-run to attend a half-day program, said Tabitha Dell’Angelo, the interim dean of the school of education at The College of New Jersey.
“I don’t think that it puts kids at an academic disadvantage, but I do think that it’s hard on parents,” Dell’Angelo said.
Some kids might see advantages at first, but “by third grade, things seem to even out in terms of development,” Dell’Angelo said.
Full-day schedules do make things much easier on working parents, which is no small consideration, she said. Having a free-full day option makes childcare easier to sort out, and reduces the financial burden on families.
“I think that half-day kindergarten, academically, in the long run, is not going to hurt kids, but I don’t think it’s great for families,” Dell’Angelo said.
These 10 school districts don’t offer free, full-day kindergarten:
Moorestown Township Public School District, Burlington County
Free half-day kindergarten, paid full-day option
About 90% of students attend full-day kindergarten in the district, but they pay tuition, Superintendent Joe Bollendorf said. The district has not publicly stated any plans to expand into a free full-day program.
Haddonfield School District, Camden County
Only half-day kindergarten
A referendum being voted on Tuesday asks Haddonfield voters to approve the classroom additions necessary to make space for full-day kindergarten, Klaus said.
A previous proposal to refurbish an old school to use for full-day kindergarten had to be abandoned, Superintendent Chuck Klaus said.
Metuchen Public School District, Middlesex County
Only half-day kindergarten
Voters in the borough passed three referendums in 2022 with the goal of offering full-day kindergarten, but will still only have half-day for the 2024-25 school year, Superintendent Vincent Caputo said.
The district is working on upgrades and additions across the district with the goal of having full-day kindergarten in the 2025-26 school year, he said.
Monroe Township School District, Middlesex County
Only half-day kindergarten
It would cost Monroe $15 million to create the space to offer full-day kindergarten, funds the district does not have, Monroe school board President Chrissy Skurke has said previously.
Voters have rejected three school construction bond referendums in the past five years, Skurke said.
She has also blamed a lack of state funding for the continued half-day kindergarten.
Millstone Township School District, Monmouth County
Free half-day kindergarten, paid full-day option
There are no plans to expand into a free-full day option, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table.
“One of the 2024-2025 school year district goals is to investigate the financial impact, required staffing and necessary resources required for the district’s implementation of full day kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year,” interim Superintendent Patricia Blood said.
School District Of The Chathams, Morris County
Paid, full-day only, no free or half-day option
Chatham is a bit of an outlier. The district only offers full-day kindergarten, but it’s on a tuition basis. There is no free or half-day option in the district.
More than 90% of parents in the district paid for full-day when free half-day was an option, Superintendent Michael LaSusa has said previously.
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, Somerset County
Only half-day kindergarten
This is set to be one of the last years without full-day kindergarten in the regional district. Voters approved a referendum to fund a full-day kindergarten program, which is expected to start in the 2026-27 school year.
Hillsborough Township Public School District, Somerset County
Free half-day kindergarten, paid full-day “play” extension option
The district is in the early stages of starting full-day kindergarten. Board members voted to start soliciting bids to conduct a redistricting study, something they say is necessary before the required construction work can begin.
There’s no timeline for when full-day kindergarten might become a reality.
Cranford Public School District, Union County
Free half-day kindergarten, paid full-day option
Cranford is halfway through a two referendum process they say is needed to fund full-day kindergarten. The first, a $75 million construction bond, was passed in January. A second referendum to fund teacher salaries is planned for November 2025.
District officials hope to start full-day classes in the 2026-27 school year.
Westfield Public School District, Union County
Only half-day kindergarten
Full-day kindergarten remains a far-off goal in Westfield. The district is preparing to submit a referendum to the state Department of Education for approval for an April 2025 vote.
If that vote makes the ballot and is approved, the district is looking for a post-2027 start date, and FAQ on the district website says.
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Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch.
