Transcript Preschool Expansion in New Jersey

New Jersey
Department of Education
Division of Early
Childhood Education
March 3, 2009

Where we started

Where we are

Where we are going
“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;

Full-day (6 hour educational day), 180-day
program;

Support for English language learners;

Support for potential learning difficulties;

Professional development for key staff.


Piecemeal curricula
Low enrollment- 19,000 out of an
estimated 54,000

Few certified teachers

Low classroom quality
Measure and Assess
Implementation
Make
Modifications
Analyze
and Plan

Child

Classroom

District

Statewide



Screening of all preschool children upon
entry
Performance assessment to drive
instruction
Tracking children’s progress

Early Childhood Environment Rating ScaleRevised

Supports for Early Literacy Assessment

Preschool Classroom Mathematics Inventory


Supports for English Language Learners
Classroom Assessment
Curriculum Implementation Tools

Self Assessment Validation System (SAVS)

District administered classroom evaluations

Administration and Fiscal

Recruitment and Outreach

Staff Qualifications

Family Involvement

Community Collaboration

Curriculum and Program

Professional Development

Program Evaluation

Transition

Intervention and support

Inclusion

English language learners

Head Start

Child Assessment

Analyze district self-assessment data

Annual snapshots of classroom quality

Watch the numbers

Follow children’s progress
45,000
40,463
37,16838,32937,63838,818
40,000
35,674
34,369
35,000
28,228
30,000
22,020
25,000
20,000 17,331
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09

74% of 3-year-old children

87% of 4-year-old children

65% are in provider settings

35% are in school district buildings

Inclusion of children with disabilities in all
settings

All teachers have a bachelor’s degree (BA) and
appropriate certification.

As of December 2007, the Praxis for the P-3
Certificate was required.
1= Inadequate
3= Minimal
5= Good
7= Excellent
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)

Children who attended the program
performed significantly better on language
and math measures than those who did not.


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
◦ Universal preschool programs = 1st grade
times two
◦ Targeted preschool programs = 1st grade
times two times % of free and reduced (k12)
◦ 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.

Universal programs:
◦ 117 districts, 57,000 enrollment

Targeted programs:
◦ 366 districts, 16,000 enrollment

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)




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