N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-4.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 6A:13A-4.2 - Preschool instructional coaches

(a) The district board of education shall provide preschool instructional coaches at a ratio of no more than 20 preschool classrooms for each preschool instructional coach to ensure coaching and classroom support for classroom teachers. The district board of education shall provide additional preschool instructional coaches to assist novice teachers, and to provide professional development that supports multilingual learners and children in inclusive classroom settings. For school districts with fewer than 20 preschool classrooms, the preschool instructional coach position, described in the school district's three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update, may be fulfilled in one of the following ways:

1. Combine the preschool instructional coach position with another in-district position, provided that the preschool instructional coach is not a classroom teacher and all preschool instructional coach qualifications established in this chapter are met;

2. Collaborate with one or more school district(s) to share the services of a preschool instructional coach; or

3. Contract for preschool instructional coach services with a county or regional educational services commission approved by the State Board to do so.

(b) The preschool instructional coach shall have the following qualifications and experience:

1. A bachelor's degree and preschool through grade three (P-3) teacher certification;

2. At least three years of experience teaching in general education preschool programs;

3. Experience in implementing developmentally appropriate preschool curricula;

4. Experience with a range of appropriate early childhood assessments, including performance-based and classroom-quality assessment instruments;

5. Experience providing professional development to classroom teachers; and

6. Preschool Professional Development Fellow status.

(c) A preschool instructional coach appointed prior to September 1, 2007, shall hold, at a minimum, a preschool through grade three standard instructional certificate or an N-8 standard instructional certificate, as set forth at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B.

(d) A preschool instructional coach appointed on or after September 1, 2007, shall hold, at a minimum, a preschool through grade three or equivalent preschool certification, as set forth at N.J.A.C. 6A:9B.

(e) In addition to the requirements at (b), (c), and (d) above, depending on the population served by the district board of education, a preschool instructional coach shall demonstrate one or more of the following:

1. Certification that includes an endorsement for bilingual education or English as a second language;

2. Certification that includes an endorsement for teacher of students with disabilities or teacher of the handicapped;

3. A graduate degree in early childhood education with an emphasis on early literacy and/or early mathematics; and/or

4. A graduate degree in educational supervision and/or leadership.

(f) The responsibilities of the preschool instructional coach shall include, at a minimum:

1. Visiting classrooms regularly to model, coach, informally observe using structured observation instruments, and provide feedback to teaching staff in preschool programs based on the reflective cycle to assist with the implementation of the comprehensive curriculum and the Preschool Standards;

2. Providing staff development based on systematic classroom observations consistent with a classroomquality assessment instrument;

3. Making recommendations to administrators or supervisors of preschool programs to provide additional professional development as needed;

4. Ensuring systematic early childhood program assessment occurs in the preschool program;

5. Collaborating with the preschool intervention and referral specialists (PIRSs) to ensure systematic curriculum supports in social-emotional development;

6. Ensuring implementation of the comprehensive performance-based assessment system that is connected to the comprehensive preschool curriculum as part of the three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update;

7. Participating in parent involvement programs with district board of education and private provider staff; and

8. Supporting transition activities, programs, and services between and among preschool through grade three programs.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-4.2

Amended by R.2009 d.334, effective 11/2/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 2530(a), 41 N.J.R. 4077(a).
Section was "Master teachers--coaching". In the introductory paragraph of (a), inserted ", described in the school district's five-year preschool program plan and/or annual update, as required, and approved by the Department,"; in (b)2, inserted "general education"; in (f)1, substituted "Preschool Standards" for "Expectations"; in (f)3, deleted "early childhood" preceding "preschool"; and in (f)5, deleted "and approved by the Department" following "curriculum" and substituted "and/or annual update as required and approved by the Department" for "and annual updates".
Administrative change.
See: 46 N.J.R. 1743(a).

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

Administrative Change, 56 N.J.R. 890(a) effective 4/22/2024