(a) On May 21, 1998, New Jersey’s Supreme Court mandated that children in New Jersey’s Abbott districts receive a high quality preschool education beginning at age three, which is an essential element in achieving the goal of early literacy. The preschool program shall be well articulated with the kindergarten through grade three curriculum. The purpose is to prepare these children to enter kindergarten with skills and abilities more comparable to those of their wealthier suburban peers and thus to prepare them to succeed in school and life. The Court’s mandate has a strong scientific basis. Intensive, high quality preschool programs can close much of the early achievement gap for lower income children. This substantially increases their school success and produces a host of life-long benefits including increased school achievement and social and economic success as adults. The Court set out a few 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.

(b) These rules will assist the Department in reaching its goal to ensure that all preschool children in Abbott districts enter kindergarten ready to succeed. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that high quality preschool programs are established.