More of Lawrence Township’s youngest learners will have access to free, full-day preschool in the 2025–2026 school year, as the district more than doubles its classroom capacity through its expanding Cardinal Kids program.
The Lawrence Township Public Schools announced it will operate 17 preschool classrooms funded by New Jersey’s Preschool Expansion Aid (PEA), serving approximately 255 students — up from 110 students and eight classrooms during the 2024–2025 school year. The program includes children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
“Thanks to [Superintendent] Dr. Klim prioritizing this goal, along with expanded state funding, the district will more than double that number in the coming school year,” said Egnita Pardo, LTPS Early Childhood Supervisor.
The district will also continue to operate three Preschool Disabled classrooms that provide individualized instruction for children who need additional developmental support.
For the first time, LTPS has partnered with Lawrence Day School (LDS) as a community provider site. The partnership helps meet state requirements and broadens preschool access beyond district-owned buildings while supporting a local business.
In total, Cardinal Kids classrooms will be located at:
Lawrenceville Elementary School (LES): 4 classroomsSlackwood Elementary School (SWS): 3 classroomsEldridge Park School (EPS): 3 classroomsBen Franklin Elementary School (BF): 2 classroomsLawrence High School (LHS): 1 classroomLawrence Day School (LDS): 4 classrooms
“This expansion brings LTPS closer to our ultimate goal: serving 90% of our ‘total universe’ of age-eligible preschool students in Lawrence — a number that equals approximately 475 children,” Pardo said.
The district anticipates it will reach 54% of that population in 2025–2026 — a critical milestone in its efforts to ensure all children in Lawrence receive access to high-quality early childhood education.
Updates on the program’s continued growth will be shared as LTPS works to serve even more local families.
The LTPS Cardinal Kids logo.,
