Full-Day Kindergarten Coming to Hillsborough as District Prepares for Boundary Changes

Hillsborough Township Public Schools will introduce full-day kindergarten next September, a huge academic change in decades. Hillsborough will join other New Jersey schools with full-day programs, a major milestone for families and teachers.

Next year, the district must adjust attendance limitations due to the expanded kindergarten timetable. District officials aim to limit these changes while increasing classroom use and student balance. Thankfully, all six elementary schools will remain open, preventing closures or severe changes.

After months of debate and community involvement, school authorities chose the current design. Hillsborough has long offered free half-day kindergarten and a paid, optional full-day play-based extension. Some families liked the arrangement, but others wanted a fully integrated, free full-day school that meets state standards and surrounding districts.

District officials studied school use reform. One idea was to turn Triangle Elementary into a preschool and kindergarten. Growing enrollment was predicted to fill the school in a year. Hillsborough Elementary School’s fourth-grade-only conversion was divisive and financially unsustainable.

Authority said future growth influenced the decision. Demographic projections show the municipality may add 240 children, making a long-term strategy crucial. Before beginning, community input, enrollment, and space analysis were considered.

Families may prepare for January kindergarten. By spring break, district managers will advise parents of boundary changes, giving them months to prepare for fall.

Many parents welcome full-day kindergarten as a long-awaited improvement. Full-day programs, especially free ones, are recommended for early reading, math, and social development.

District leaders emphasize transparency and communication as Hillsborough begins this new chapter. Boundary changes can upset families, but officials prioritize high-quality education with little disruptions.

Hillsborough focuses early childhood education to fulfill parent and state goals. Families should expect more information when district plans are finalized next September.

Sources
New Jersey Department of Education
Hillsborough Township Public Schools
Statements from Hillsborough school district leadership and demographer assessments