Scaling Up Quality in Early Childhood Programs: New Jersey's Story

Abstract

Preschool systems changed significantly in New Jersey in 1998 when the State's Supreme Court required the poorest school districts to implement high quality, intensive preschool programs for all three- and four-year-olds. Since the first year of implementation in 1999, New Jersey's Abbott districts have been providing preschoolers with access to quality early childhood programs defined by state certified teachers, class size of 15 with two teachers, master teachers who serve as mentors, professional development opportunities, and state contracted facilities. As ordered by the Court, the State has adequately funded program implementation. This article discusses the steps New Jersey took to scale up the quality of these programs within a short four-year time frame; and presents remaining challenges to quality which include maintaining a diverse teaching force, fostering collaboration between school districts and community-based programs, aligning early childhood pedagogy across the P–3 range, and upgrading facilities.