Official Site of The State of New Jersey
The Division of Early Childhood Services is committed to advancing a comprehensive and seamless educational continuum from preschool through grade three (P – 3) in New Jersey’s school districts. Our collated resources reflect current research-based best practices and our efforts to ensure developmentally-informed, rigorous and joyful learning experiences to all children in preschool to third grade.
“P–3 is the term used to define approaches that are intentionally designed to align children’s learning experiences before formal school entry (Preschool) with those in the primary grades of elementary school (K–3). The vision for P–3 approaches is to improve the quality and coherence of children’s learning opportunities, from the experiences children have before they enter the K–12 system and extending through elementary school. Ultimately, comprehensive P–3 approaches hold the potential to improve child outcomes and to prevent or close achievement gaps.” - Kristie Kauerz, National P-3 Center
This video series was created by the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, the Foundation for Educational Administration and in consultation with New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Early Childhood Services. This video series is a result of the efforts of the Transforming Early Childhood Leadership Institutes (TECLI) which have supported school districts in their efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of their Preschool to third grade programs.
The purpose of the guidelines is to outline and provide insight into multiple dimensions of professional practice for early childhood educators and to assist them in applying professional competencies and instructional methods that are both developmentally appropriate and academically challenging for 3- and 4-year-old children.
New Jersey’s Kindergarten Implementation Guidelines were developed as an essential tool in building continuity from preschool age programs to grade three. The guidelines provide school districts knowledge and resources to implement developmentally appropriate kindergarten practices as part of a high-quality kindergarten program. The Kindergarten Implementation Guidelines are intended to maximize the impact of universal preschool by advancing a comprehensive and seamless educational continuum from preschool through grade three (P – 3) in New Jersey’s school districts.
Kindergarten Implementation Guidelines
Additional resources:
The New Jersey Department of Education’s First through Third Grade Implementation Guidelines reflect current research and best practices to provide administrators, teachers, instructional coaches, families, and other educators guidance and resources to effectively implement the components of an equitable, developmentally appropriate and New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) aligned educational program for first through third grades.
These guidelines seek to provide educational practitioners with developmentally appropriate practices and resources supported by evidence to support improvements in their 1st-3rd grade classrooms. The First through Third Grade Implementation Guidelines were developed as an essential tool in building continuity from preschool age programs to grade three. These guidelines will provide stakeholders knowledge and resources to implement developmentally appropriate first through third grade practices as part of a high-quality program.
