Abbott Preschool Program Implementation Guidelines

This document provides guidance from the Department of Education to enable Abbott school districts to fully execute the order imposed by the New Jersey Supreme Court. These guidelines will help Abbott school districts plan, develop, and realize high-quality preschool programs for three- and four-year-old children. The guidelines provide recommendations in an effort to accommodate local conditions, contexts, and needs. The New Jersey Supreme Court set out the following basic standards for quality preschool education: (1) a certified teacher and an assistant for each class; (2) maximum class size of 15 students; (3) developmentally appropriate curriculum; (4) adequate facilities; and (5) transportation, health, and other related services, as needed. High-quality preschool programs with these standards produce substantial improvements in the school success of disadvantaged children, and, in particular, low-income urban children. Research conducted on the effects of the Abbott preschool program shows that children who attended scored higher on oral language and reading as a result of the program.