N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:26-6.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 6A:26-6.4 - Educational facility planning standards for school facilities housing preschool students

(a) The educational facility planning standards delineated in this subchapter shall apply to the design and construction of school facilities housing preschool students. Any standards not addressed in this section are addressed in N.J.A.C. 6A:26-6.3, in conjunction with the UCC. For community providers, the requirements of this section shall supplement but not supplant the requirement manual mandated by the Office of Licensing in the Department of Human Services, for community provider licensure. If this section's requirements exceed the requisites of the Department of Human Services' manual, the requirements of this section shall apply.

(b) General design and construction requirements shall be as follows:

1. School facilities for preschool students shall afford space for instruction, administration, and student services, as set forth in the facilities efficiency standards in (h) below;

2. Preschool classrooms shall be no higher than the second floor of a school facility;

3. Preschool classrooms shall have a minimum of the square footage of usable space per child as set forth in the facilities efficiency standards, and usable space per child shall exclude storage, equipment, or furnishings that are either built-in or not easily movable;

4. Each preschool classroom shall have an attached toilet room designed to accommodate the needs of physically handicapped students with features sized for the use of preschool students;

5. Preschool classrooms shall have a resilient floor covering;

6. Separate from the toilet room, each preschool classroom shall have access to an additional sink with a flood rim height no greater than 26 inches from the floor;

7. Preschool classrooms shall be equipped with a bubbler or water fountain; and

8. Preschool classrooms shall be designed to modulate interior noise and minimize exterior noise.

(c) Entrances, egress, and security requirements shall be as follows:

1. All preschool classrooms shall have operable windows with inside locks and shall be equal to at least four percent of the floor space.

(d) The outdoor play area requirement shall be sufficient to support the achievement of the New Jersey Preschool Teaching and Learning Standards of Quality as defined in N.J.A.C. 6A:13A and by the educational specifications under N.J.A.C. 6A:26-5, and evidenced by a sufficiency standard such as the following: 100 square feet of outdoor play space for each child using the space at one time.

(e) The electrical power and communications requirement shall be as follows:

1. Child-safety receptacles shall be used throughout preschool classrooms and bathrooms and elsewhere in the school facility where applicable.

(f) Lighting requirements shall be as follows:

1. Subject to the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:26-6.3(g), preschool classroom lighting shall be adjustable and varied across the space with a mixture of both natural and artificial light; and

2. Preschool classrooms shall have child-safe windows to maximize natural light.

(g) Plumbing requirements shall be consistent with N.J.A.C. 6A:26-6.3(h) 4 except as follows:

1. Preschool classrooms toilet facilities shall be open to view as a safety precaution;

2. Toilet facilities for preschool students shall be designated for their exclusive use and shall be so identified; and

3. Preschool facilities shall provide a diaper/clothes changing area in the classroom.

(h) The facilities efficiency standards for early childhood schools are the following:

Early Childhood School Model
For Three and Four Year Old Students
Enrollment	294	FTE*
Utilization Factor	100%	1
Room Designations	Net	#of	#of	#	Net SF Description
SF**	students	students	of
per room	per rooms	room
Instructional Spaces Preschool	950	270	15	18.00	17,100 See notes below
Classroom
Preschool
Classroom
Special Education	950	24	12	2.00	1,900
19,000 Subtotal Net SF of Instructional Spaces
1.00 Utilization Factor Subtotal Net SF for Instructional Spaces
19,000 w/Utilization Factor
Specialized
Spaces
Kitchen	1,200	1.00	1,200
Multi-Purpose
room/
Gross motor	3,400	1.00	3,400
skills
Small Group
Instruction
Room (SGI)	400	2.00	800
5,400 Subtotal Net SF for Specialized Spaces
Administrative
Spaces
Nurse	400	1.00	400
Reception/Main	400	1.00	400
Office
Principal/Director	200	1.00	200
Office	125	2.00	250
Conference Room	300	1.00	300
Teacher Work Room	300	1.00	300
1,850 Subtotal Net SF for Administrative Spaces
26,250 Total Net SF
89.29 Net SF per student
1.4Grossing Factor* *
*
125.00 Gross SF per student
36,750 Total Gross SF for population of 294 FTE
$ Area Cost Allowance
143.00 per SF
$ Cost of new Early
5,255,250 Childhood School for population of 294 FTE

*7** Full time equivalent (FTE) *7*** Square Feet (SF) *7**** Grossing factor = 40% of Total net SF for circulation, toilet rooms, *7*storage, mechanical, receiving, communications, electrical, adult handicapped *7*accessible bathroom, etc. *7* *7*Notes: *7*750 SF of floor area provided, 150 SF of casework and 50 SF of toilet *7*room *7*

A. Indoor Storage: There shall be varied and ample types of storage that meets the general classroom needs of both children and staff. Each classroom shall have open, accessible storage, such as cubbies for each child for coat storage, personal papers, and change of clothing.

B. Teacher Storage: Each classroom shall have a space allocated for the teacher's coat and personal items.

C. Classroom Storage: Additional storage shall include an area, inaccessible to children, to store cots, bedding, and storage of classroom materials such as manipulatives, puzzles, and art supplies. Hanging mats are a reasonable option for small storage spaces.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:26-6.4

New Rule, R.2004 d.214, effective 6/7/2004.
See: 36 N.J.R. 243(a), 36 N.J.R. 2733(a).
Amended by R.2007 d.81, effective 3/19/2007.
See: 38 N.J.R. 4533(a), 39 N.J.R. 899(a).
In (d)1, substituted "Preschool Teaching and Learning Expectations: Standards of Quality" for "Early Childhood Education Program Expectations: Standards of Quality" and "N.J.A.C. 6A:8-2.1 and 6A:26-1.2" for "the Preschool Programs for Abbott districts under N.J.A.C. 6A:10A"; and rewrote the introductory paragraph of (h).
Amended by R.2013 d.145, effective 12/16/2013.
See: 45 N.J.R. 1026(a), 45 N.J.R. 2557(a).
Rewrote the section.