New Jersey Bill Targets Preschool Placement for Multiples

Proposed legislation would allow parents to request that multiple-birth children stay together in public preschools.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Child Care

Bold vector editorial illustration of two small preschool chairs side-by-side, representing sibling placement policy in public education. — New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow parents of twins and other multiples to request they be placed in the same preschool classrooms. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should parents have the right to override school lottery outcomes for twin preschool placements?

New Jersey lawmakers are moving to grant parents of multiples more control over preschool classroom assignments. The proposed bill, A5218, would allow parents to request that multiple-birth children be kept together during lottery processes in public preschools.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to close a gap in existing state law that currently limits classroom placement rights to children in kindergarten through 12th grade. By extending these protections, the bill seeks to prevent the separation of young siblings in public preschool programs.

Bill A5218 targets public preschool programs, Head Start programs, and licensed child care providers across New Jersey. The legislation follows a specific case in Brick Township involving the lottery separation of three-year-old twins.

The players

Assembly Education Committee

The legislative body tasked with reviewing and advancing education-related bills in New Jersey.

Jackie Anderson

A parent whose advocacy regarding the separation of her twin daughters during a preschool lottery inspired the new bill.

The details

The proposed measure allows parents to request that multiple-birth children be treated as a single unit during preschool enrollment lotteries. This mechanism aligns preschool enrollment with the existing 2008 law that allows parents of multiples in grades K-12 to request placement in the same or separate classrooms. The bill is intended to standardize how school districts and licensed providers manage the logistics of families with twins, triplets, or other multiples.

2008: Parental classroom placement rights were established for K-12 students.
October 2026: Jackie Anderson testified before the Senate Education Committee.
October 15, 2026: The Assembly Education Committee advanced bill A5218.

The Home Front

The proposed legislation extends the state's existing 2008 classroom placement rights for multiples into the early childhood education sector. This shift marks a broader move to align preschool enrollment logistics with the established policies currently governing grades K-12.

If you have multiples and are planning to enroll them in a New Jersey public preschool, monitor the progress of bill A5218 to see if it becomes law before your enrollment window. You may want to contact your local school district administration to ask about their current policies regarding lottery placement for siblings.

The takeaway

Parents of multiples should keep an eye on upcoming legislative sessions to see if these placement rights are finalized. If the bill passes, check your specific district or Head Start provider to ensure your family's preferences are noted during the next enrollment cycle.