Multiples' Parents Gain Preschool Placement Say
If signed, New Jersey parents of twins and other multiples could ask that siblings be treated as one unit in public preschool lotteries.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Child Care
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New Jersey lawmakers advanced a bill that would give parents of multiples more say over which public preschool classrooms their children are placed in, and it has been sent to the governor's desk. The measure would extend to preschool a placement right that already applies to kindergarten through eighth grade.
Why it matters
Under current New Jersey law, parents of twins and other multiples in public kindergarten through eighth grade can request same or separate classrooms, but that right does not reach preschool. The bill, prompted in part by a Brick Township mother whose identical twins were split by a preschool lottery, would close that gap for families choosing early-childhood programs across the state.
Bill A5218/S4349 was sent to the governor's desk in late October 2026, sponsored by Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (R-Ocean) and Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex/Morris/Warren). It would apply to school district preschool programs, Head Start programs, and licensed child care providers.
The players
Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (R-Ocean)
New Jersey assemblyman representing Ocean County and co-sponsor of the bill extending multiples placement rights to preschool.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-Sussex/Morris/Warren)
New Jersey assemblywoman representing Sussex, Morris, and Warren counties and co-sponsor of the bill.
The details
The bill would let parents of multiples ask that their children be treated as a single unit during preschool lottery systems or open enrollment. Parents of twins in public kindergarten through eighth grade already hold the right to request same or separate classrooms under the 2008 law, and this bill would carry that right down to preschool. The change was pushed by Jackie Anderson, a Brick Township mother of identical twin girls, after one daughter was admitted to a district preschool by lottery while the other was not.
Timeline
2008: New Jersey law gave parents of twins and other multiples a greater voice in classroom placement decisions.
Late October 2026: The bill advanced to the governor's desk, awaiting action.
The Home Front
The bill follows New Jersey's 2008 law giving parents of multiples a say in classroom placement, carrying that protection into early childhood. It moves a family-logistics rule that already governs grades K through 8 into the preschool years, where lottery and open-enrollment systems decide placements.
If you are a parent of multiples applying to a public preschool in New Jersey, ask the district how its lottery or open-enrollment process handles requests to keep siblings together. Keep copies of your children's birth records and enrollment paperwork ready, since placement requests are typically documented at registration.
The takeaway
A 2008 New Jersey protection for parents of multiples is poised to reach preschool if the governor signs the bill. Families with twins or triplets should ask their local district early how multiples are handled in its preschool placement process.
Further reading
For more on how families navigate preschool options, see Child Care coverage across New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRNJ Radio.
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