N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-3.1

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 6A:13A-3.1 - Program planning

(a) School districts formerly known as Early Childhood Program Aid (ECPA) school districts, pursuant to repealed N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-16, that submitted a One-Year Preschool Operational Plan by May 30, 2008, and received approval from the Department to expand their preschool program in the 2008-2009 school year, and subsequently submitted and received Department approval for a five-year preschool program plan commencing September 2009, shall implement the preschool program plan and any update(s), and shall adhere to this chapter.

(b) Any other former ECPA school district, pursuant to repealed N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-16, shall adhere to its Department-approved 2008-2009 ECPA operational plan and any update(s) and shall adhere to N.J.A.C. 6A:13A-2.1(b) through (j) and to (b)1 through 10 below until the school district receives approval to implement its preschool program through Department approval of its three-year preschool program plan and is provided with full Preschool Education Aid at the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) funded per pupil amount determined by the formula established at N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-54. A school district that receives approval, as set forth at N.J.A.C. 6A:13A-2.1(b) through (j) and (b)1 through 10 below, to implement its three-year preschool program plan shall adhere to all other rules in this chapter.

1. The district board of education shall serve at least 75 percent of the universe of four-year-old children in a preschool program prior to any spending of Preschool Education Aid for kindergarten through grade three.

2. The district board of education shall implement programming for the following components:

i. Districtwide planning;

i. Districtwide planning;

ii. Community collaboration and planning;

iii. Parent involvement;

iv. Curriculum development and implementation;

v. Inclusion of children with disabilities in general education classrooms to the maximum extent possible; and

vi. Professional development and training.

3. The district board of education shall demonstrate that programs are based on a districtwide assessment that includes a needs and resource assessment for each school in the school district's comprehensive strategic plan.

4. The district board of education with an ECPA-funded program shall ensure that the preschool program:

i. Maintains classroom enrollments of no more than 18 children with one certified teacher and one appropriately qualified assistant;

ii. Is developmentally appropriate to the age and skill level of the young child;

iii. Is designed to meet the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards of Quality, the New Jersey Preschool Program Implementation Guidelines and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards;

iv. Includes transition activities, programs, and services between early intervention and preschool programs, and between preschool and kindergarten programs;

v. Coordinates with all other relevant school district programs, such as special education and bilingual education; and

vi. Includes an annual program evaluation.

5. The district board of education shall base preschool programs and curricula on student needs, strengths, and interests that focus on all aspects of development: cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. Curriculum and assessment strategies and/or resources shall be developmentally appropriate and include performancebased assessment measures.

6. The district board of education shall ensure that instructional methods and/or strategies are congruent with the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills of the young child. Instruction shall balance teacher-directed and child-initiated experiences.

7. The district board of education shall provide professional development and training specific to preschool education for all early childhood education administrators, teachers, and teacher assistants.

8. The preschool program may be offered by the district board of education within a mixed delivery system that includes in-district, private provider, and local Head Start agency settings provided the private provider and/or local Head Start agency program(s) with which the district board of education contracts comply with the school district's program requirements, including the employment of appropriately licensed and qualified teaching staff.

9. The district board of education shall include parent education activities in the preschool program with specific, identified strategies that assist parents in remaining actively involved in their child's education throughout their school years.

10. The district board of education shall demonstrate that community health and social service agencies have been included in the preschool program's planning, operations, and, if appropriate, fiscal support.

(c) In addition to implementing preschool, each district board of education with a high concentration of low-income students shall be subject to the following:

1. School districts in which at least 20 percent and less than 40 percent of students are "at-risk" as defined at P.L. 2007, c. 260 shall maintain all existing full-day kindergarten programs for all five-year-olds as determined by the enrollment date set by each district board of education pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:38-5 and 6.

2. School districts in which 40 percent or more of students are "at-risk" as established at P.L. 2007, c. 260 shall follow the provisions at N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.2 and this section for full-day kindergarten programs, including the class size requirement to not exceed 21 students.

(d) Each school district receiving funds equal to its 2007-2008 Early Launch to Learning Initiative (ELLI) award shall adhere to its 2007-2008 ELLI Operational Plan and any update(s) until the school district receives approval to implement its preschool program through Department approval of its three-year preschool program plan and is provided with full Preschool Education Aid provided at the SFRA funded per pupil amount determined by the formula established at N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-54. A school district that receives approval, as set forth in this subsection, to implement its three-year preschool program plan shall adhere to the rules of this chapter.

(e) The district board of education may offer the universal and targeted high-quality preschool program within a mixed delivery system that includes in-district, private provider, and local Head Start agency settings.

(f) The district board of education shall annually submit projected enrollment, the three-year preschool program plan, and/or an annual update.

1. The district board of education providing universal preschool shall submit its projected enrollment data for the next school year and the three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update(s) on or before November 15 of each year.

2. The district board of education providing targeted preschool shall submit its projected enrollment data for the next school year and the required three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update(s) on or before November 15 of each year.

(g) The required three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update shall adhere to Department preschool program and budget planning document guidance for school districts, private providers, and local Head Start agencies, including, but not limited to:

1. The strategies to address the elements in this chapter for high-quality preschool programs;

2. A rationale for the type of delivery system chosen and, for school districts seeking to change the delivery system or expand the preschool program, a justification for not contracting with every willing and able private provider and local Head Start agency;

3. The programmatic needs of students, programs, private providers, and local Head Start agencies; and

4. The information collected annually from the self-assessment and validation, beginning with the initial year of preschool program implementation.

(h) The Department shall issue a determination approving or disapproving the three-year preschool program plan no later than April 1 of each year.

(i) The Department-approved three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update shall be directly connected with, and be the primary basis for, the school district preschool budget for each school year.

(j) Any appeal of a Department decision pursuant to (h) above shall be expedited pursuant to provisions set forth at N.J.A.C. 6A:13A-11.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-3.1

Administrative Change, 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 1595(b), effective 8/15/2022