Beverly will receive $498,242, Burlington Township will receive $213,006 and Edgewater Park will receive $478,287 as part of the state’s latest expansion of early childhood education programs and funding across the state.

Three Burlington County school districts are among 28 across the state that will share in an additional $20 million in state funding to expand their pre-kindergarten programs.

Beverly will receive $498,242, Burlington Township will receive $213,006 and Edgewater Park will receive $478,287 as part of the state’s latest expansion of early childhood education programs and funding across the state.

All three school districts already have preschool programs, but the state funds will help them expand in order to educate more children or to extend their classes from half day to full day.

The awards were announced Tuesday afternoon after Gov. Phil Murphy visited a Union City school on its first day of classes. Some districts, including Evesham and Moorestown, also started classes Tuesday, but most Burlington County public schools are due to begin classes later this week.

“The future looks bright,” Murphy said about the early childhood education grants. “These school districts are located all across New Jersey, from Stillwater and Seaside Heights to Burlington.”

Murphy, who is in the midst of his second year as governor, has set a goal of making preschool available for all New Jersey children and his first two budgets have ramped up funding for districts to either expand or launch programs.

His first budget last year included $53 million in additional funds for preschool programs and provided extra funding to Willingboro, Mount Holly, Maple Shade and North Hanover.

This year’s grant awards to Beverly and Edgewater Park is in addition to the $230,206 and $76,275 in respective early childhood aid those districts were already receiving. Burlington Township wasn’t expected to receive any early childhood funding from the state before the grant was announced.

Burlington Township Superintendent Mary Ann Bell said the district was hoping to expand its existing 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs to more full-day and part-day students. While the district received less funding than officials had applied for, the award should allow the district to create a full-day program for at least an additional 15 students.

“I’m happy we’re getting the chance to expand,” Bell said. “This should allow us to have a full day for our 4-year-olds.”

Details about Beverly’s and Edgewater Park’s plans for the grants were not immediately available.

Murphy touted the funding as a sound investment in both education and middle-class families. He cited national studies that indicate every $1 spent on early education program winds up recouping $9 in improved outcomes.

“Every single dollar we invest in pre-K helps make New Jersey a more affordable place for our diverse middle-class and working families,” the governor said. “Investing in pre-K is how we keep New Jersey a national leader in education. It starts here ... with building stronger foundations for lifelong learning.”

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