N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-4.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 23, December 2, 2024

Section 6A:13A-4.6 - Family and community involvement

(a) The district board of education shall ensure that a coordinated system of social services is provided to families of enrolled preschool children and shall describe the system in its three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update. Services may be offered by:

1. Coordinating the social services and/or social services functions described in this section among the school district, contracting private providers, and local Head Start agencies; or

2. Contracting for social services functions described in this section with a county or regional educational services commission approved by the State Board to do so.

(b) The services shall be provided by a combination of social worker(s), family worker(s), and community parent involvement specialist(s) (CPIS) as part of the school district's three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update.

1. A school district shall provide a social worker holding the appropriate credentials in social work, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-14.5, for every 300 preschool children enrolled at in-district settings. In school districts with fewer than 300 preschool children enrolled at in-district settings, the social worker position may be combined with another position with the same qualifications. The social worker shall, at a minimum:

i. Collaborate with all relevant preschool instructional staff, administrators, and support personnel to support the school district family services program;

ii. Coordinate with other available school district resource staff to reach out to families, determine individual family needs, advocate on their behalf, and obtain appropriate community services;

iii. Provide follow-up, including a review of child needs, when necessary;

iv. Facilitate access to community social services, when appropriate;

v. Collaborate with assigned school district personnel to design and provide a parent involvement program based on identified needs and parent survey responses; and

vi. Help parents learn about child development, nutrition, safety, and how to support their child's learning.

2. A contracting private provider or local Head Start agency shall provide a family worker for every 75 children. In a private provider or local Head Start agency with fewer than 75 preschool children, this position may be combined with another position. The family worker shall, at a minimum:

i. Collaborate with the school district staff to ensure family involvement and social services activities occur;

ii. Coordinate participation in health and social services designated by the school district to serve the needs of the children and their families;

iii. Provide all requested data to the school district; and

iv. Report to the center director and coordinate social services activities with appropriate school district social services staff.

3. Each school district shall provide one CPIS with a minimum of a bachelor's degree in social work, or a related field such as sociology, psychology, or education. School districts with fewer than 750 enrolled preschool children may combine the CPIS with another position as described in the school district's three-year preschool program plan and/or annual update. The CPIS shall, at a minimum:

i. Coordinate the early childhood advisory council;

ii. Evaluate the needs of families;

iii. Coordinate systematic parent involvement plans and activities;

iv. Coordinate work with other community agencies; and

v. Coordinate work with other social service personnel.

(c) The district board of education shall establish a preschool through grade three early childhood advisory council (ECAC) to review preschool program implementation and to support transition as children move from preschool through grade three.

1. The council's membership shall consist of stakeholders in the community, as well as parents, contracting private providers, and the local Head Start agency, if applicable, with new representation added as needed; and

2. Elected co-chairs shall preside at quarterly council meetings.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:13A-4.6

Amended by R.2009 d.334, effective 11/2/2009.
See: 41 N.J.R. 2530(a), 41 N.J.R. 4077(a).
In the introductory paragraph of (a), substituted "update, as required and approved by the Department" for "updates,"; in (a)1, deleted "sharing and/or provision of" following "Coordinating the", and inserted "and/or social services functions described in this section" and "contracting"; in (a)2, substituted "in this section" for "below"; in the introductory paragraph of (b), deleted ", as approved by the Department" following "(CPIS)", inserted "/or" following "plan and" and substituted "update as required and approved by the Department" for "updates"; rewrote the introductory paragraph of (b)1 and the introductory paragraph of (b)3; in the introductory paragraph of (b)2, inserted "contracting"; and in (c)1, inserted "parents,", and substituted "and" for a comma following "providers" and "if applicable," for "and parents".
Administrative change.
See: 46 N.J.R. 1743(a).
Modified by Executive Order No. 103(2020), effective 6/15/2020.
See: 52 N.J.R. 1361(a). Terminated effective 8/31/2021. See 53 N.J.R. 1655(a).

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 1595(b), effective 8/15/2022