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What is the Abbott Preschool Program?
The Abbott vs. Burke , NJ Supreme Court case established the rights of children in urban communities to a “thorough and efficient” education under our State Constitution. The Plainfield School District is an Abbott School District. The Supreme Court established basic standards for high quality preschool in Abbott. Preschool education must be provided in classes of (15) children, by a well trained teacher possessing or working toward NJ Certification, and as assistant teacher using an age-appropriate curriculum. Preschool facilities must be safe and educationally appropriate. |
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All three and four-year old children living in the city of Plainfield whose birthday comes on or before October 1 st of the enrolling school year are entitled to free preschool. Students are offered 6 hours of instruction for 180 days and 4 hours of wrap around services for 180 days 5 days a week. Ten hours of wrap-around services are offered for 65 days. Normal hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
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Preschool Curriculum
New Jersey Department of Education has established the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS) as a way to provide all school districts with a framework for Pre K-12 curriculum development. The CCCS and the Early Childhood Expectations/Standards are aligned to support and prepare preschool children to meet the New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards. The Early Childhood Expectations/Standards present developmentally appropriate practices that are included in early childhood curricula (i.e. High Scope). You may view the Standards on the following Department of Education website, www.nj.gov/njded/ece. |
| The High/Scope approach to preschool education has been tested and researched for over 40 years. Young children in High/Scope programs develop the academic and social skills they need to succeed in school. The approach is an open framework that organizes the children and teacher’s environment, daily routine, and interactions. The High/Scope approach incorporates five elements within the open framework philosophy: |
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- Active Learning- Learning through active involvement with people, materials, events and ideas.
- Adult-Child Interaction- Adults observe and interact with children at their level.
- Learning Environment- Each classroom is arranged in several defined interest areas that enable children to find, use, and return the materials they need in order to explore, invent, and learn about their world.
- Daily Routine- Each day follows a similar schedule of events, providing consistency for children and adults. A daily “plan-do-review” process allows children the opportunity to pursue their own interests, make plans, follow through on them, and reflect on their experiences with peers and adults. Large-group and small-group activities are also part of the daily routine.
- Assessment - Teachers record notes on the children’s behaviors, experiences, interests, and interactions. They use these notes to assess each child’s development and to plan daily activities. These notes may also be used in parent meetings to help parents better understand their child’s development. Parents will receive two parent reports during the school year (January and May).
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