FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — July 28, 2025
Advocacy in Action: NJ DOE Extends Deadline for $94 Million in Lead Remediation Grants for Schools
Thanks to Statewide Advocacy, Districts Now Have Until August 31 to Apply for Critical Funding to Remove Lead from Drinking Water
TRENTON, NJ (July 28, 2025) — In response to urgent calls from advocates, educators, and community leaders across New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has extended the deadline for school districts to apply for over $94 million in funding to address lead in drinking water. Applications are now due by August 31, 2025, a full five weeks later than originally announced.
Jersey Water Works (JWW) and Lead-Free New Jersey (LFNJ) applaud the decision, which came after a groundswell of advocacy from coalition members, community hubs, and residents pushing for more equitable access to the grant.
“This is a major win for New Jersey’s children, especially those in under-resourced communities,” said Yvette Jordan, Co-Chair of Lead-Free NJ Advocacy Coordinating Committee. “Thanks to the voices of advocates and educators across the state, we now have a fairer timeline to protect students from the irreversible harms of lead exposure.”
On June 25, NJDOE released the application for the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act (SOCFBA) Water Infrastructure Improvement Grant, offering funds to remediate lead and other contaminants in school drinking water systems. With only $6.6 million spent since the Bond Act was passed in 2018, this release made the remaining $94 million finally available for action—but originally set a tight July 25 deadline that posed serious challenges for districts.
“The original timeline risked leaving behind the very districts that need this funding the most,” said Deandrah Cameron, New Jersey Future Policy Manager. “This extension gives schools a realistic shot at tapping into these critical dollars—especially those serving Black and Brown students in older buildings with a higher risk of lead contamination.”
JWW and LFNJ continue to urge school districts that discovered lead through this year’s required testing cycle to apply immediately. Priority should be given to:
- Elementary schools, where children are most vulnerable to lead’s toxic effects
- Older school facilities, more likely to contain lead plumbing
- Communities with the highest blood lead levels, including Trenton, Irvington, East Orange, Plainfield, and Paterson
Eligible projects include replacing water fountains and outlets, installing point-of-use treatment devices, upgrading well systems, and replacing lead service lines.
“This extension is proof that advocacy works,” said Jordan. “Now we must use this moment to act. Every school deserves safe drinking water. Every child deserves a healthy future.”
About Lead-Free NJ
Lead-Free NJ strives to achieve lead-free policy wins through a solutions-oriented, collective-action approach that amplifies the voices of affected communities and individuals. Lead-Free NJ is a collaborative, community-driven coalition working to ensure that New Jersey is free from lead in homes, water, soil, and consumer products, especially in communities historically overburdened by environmental hazards.
[email protected] | www.leadfreenj.org
About Jersey Water Works
Jersey Water Works is a collaborative effort of many diverse organizations and individuals who embrace the common purpose of transforming New Jersey’s water infrastructure through sustainable, cost-effective investments and policies that support healthy, resilient, and equitable communities.