Preschool in New Jersey Department of Education Division

Preschool in New Jersey Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Education March 3, 2009

Agenda Where we started Where we are going

Abbott v. Burke, 1998 “Intensive preschool and full-day kindergarten enrichment programs are necessary to reverse the educational disadvantages these children start out with. ”

Critical Program Components Early learning standards and program guidelines; Evidence-based curricula; A certified teacher and assistant in each class; Maximum class size of 15 students;

Program Components Full-day (6 hour educational day), 180 -day program; Support for English language learners; Support for potential learning difficulties; Professional development for key staff.

In the beginning … Piecemeal curricula Low enrollment- 19, 000 out of an estimated 54, 000 Few certified teachers Low classroom quality

Monitoring Progress

Continuous Improvement Cycle Measure and Assess Implementation Make Modifications Analyze and Plan

Levels of Evaluation Child Classroom District Statewide

Child Screening of all preschool children upon entry Performance assessment to drive instruction Tracking children’s progress

Classroom Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale. Revised Supports for Early Literacy Assessment Preschool Classroom Mathematics Inventory Supports for English Language Learners Classroom Assessment Curriculum Implementation Tools

District Self Assessment Validation System (SAVS) District administered classroom evaluations

Self Assessment Components Administration and Fiscal Recruitment and Outreach Staff Qualifications Family Involvement Community Collaboration Curriculum and Program Professional Development

Self Assessment Components Program Evaluation Transition Intervention and support Inclusion English language learners Head Start Child Assessment

Statewide: (the 31 Abbott Districts) Analyze district self-assessment data Annual snapshots of classroom quality Watch the numbers Follow children’s progress

Where we are …

Enrollment (general education preschool children)

Percentage of Children by Age Group: 74% of 3 -year-old children 87% of 4 -year-old children

Where children are served: 65% are in provider settings 35% are in school district buildings Inclusion of children with disabilities in all settings

Teacher Qualifications All teachers have a bachelor’s degree (BA) and appropriate certification. As of December 2007, the Praxis for the P-3 Certificate was required.

Classroom Quality The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (Harms, Clifford and Cryer) 1= Inadequate 3= Minimal 5= Good 7= Excellent

Classroom Quality The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (Harms, Clifford and Cryer) In 2000, the average the preschool program was 3. 86 In 2008, the average for the preschool program was 5. 20* *No difference between providers and indistrict classrooms

Space & Furnishings designed for access (5. 03)

Personal Care Routines to support independence and learning (4. 29)

Interactions that extend Language & Reasoning (5. 46)

Ample time with developmentally appropriate materials and Activities (4. 85)

Warm, responsive Interactions support social skills (6. 44)

Program Structure/schedules that maximize learning and minimize transitions (5. 41)

Opportunities for Parent Involvement & Staff Development (5. 59)

How are the children doing? Children who attended the program performed significantly better on language and math measures than those who did not.

The Future …

Preschool Expansion All at-risk 3 - and 4 -year-olds to attend high-quality preschool programs. Universal preschool programs: 3 - and 4 -year-olds in “A” and “B” districts & “CD” districts with at-risk concentrations of at least 40%. Targeted preschool programs: All at-risk three- and four-year-olds in all other districts

Preschool Expansion ◦ Universal preschool programs = 1 st grade times two ◦ Targeted preschool programs = 1 st grade times two times % of free and reduced (k 12)

Goal ◦ 30, 000 more children, bringing preschool enrollment to 70, 000 children over 5 years ◦ Reach at least 90% of the eligible population in all districts.

Expansion Estimates Universal programs: ◦ 117 districts, 57, 000 enrollment Targeted programs: ◦ 366 districts, 16, 000 enrollment

Program Elements (N. J. A. C. 6 A: 13 A) Full day, 6 hours, school calendar Mixed delivery system/local agreements For 3’s and 4’s One certified teacher and teacher assistant for every 15 children (max)

Program Elements A comprehensive curriculum and assessment Classroom observation tools to drive improvement Transition activities from entry through grade three An annual self-assessment of the preschool program