2414 PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH POVERTY AND IN HIGH NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS (M) 
High poverty school districts are required to provide programs and services that address class size and Kindergarten programs.  High need school districts are required to provide programs and services that focus on improving instruction in literacy and mathematics. 
A high poverty school district for the purposes of this policy means a school district in which forty percent or more of the students are “at risk” as defined in N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-45.  Class size in high poverty school districts shall not exceed twenty-one students in grades Kindergarten through three, twenty-three students in grades four and five, and twenty-four students in grades six through twelve.  However, if the district chooses to maintain lower class sizes in grades Kindergarten through three, class sizes in grades four and five may be equal but not exceed twenty-five students.  Exceptions to these class size requirements are permitted for some physical education and performing arts classes, where appropriate.  High poverty school districts shall maintain all existing full-day Kindergarten programs with a teacher's aide for each classroom.  Class size for these Kindergarten classrooms shall not exceed twenty-one students. 
High need school districts for the purpose of this policy are high poverty school districts that are below proficiency levels on State assessments as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.3(a).  The New Jersey Department of Education shall identify the list of high need school districts based on State assessment results and shall promptly notify the districts that are classified as high need.  In the first school year immediately following such identification as a high need school district, the district shall begin planning for implementation of, and shall implement where possible, the designated program(s).  In the subsequent year following identification as a high need school district, the district shall fully implement the designated program(s).  High need school districts, once identified, shall remain in that status and shall continue to implement the designated program(s) for a minimum of three years.
High need school districts where less than eighty-five percent of total students have achieved proficiency in language arts literacy on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) 3 shall provide an intensive early literacy program for preschool to grade three to ensure that all students achieve proficiency on State standards in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.4(a).

High need school districts where less than eighty percent of total students have achieved proficiency in language arts literacy on the NJ ASK 8 shall implement an intensive literacy program for grades four through eight in accordance with the requirements of N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.4(b). 
High need school districts where less than eighty percent of total students have achieved proficiency in language arts literacy on the high school State assessment shall implement a language arts literacy program aligned with college preparatory English I, II, III, and IV for grades nine through twelve that incorporates the elements in N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.4(b) with the exception of providing a double period of language arts literacy. 
High need school districts in which less than eighty-five percent of total students have achieved proficiency in mathematics on the NJ ASK 4 shall implement a comprehensive program for mathematics education that prepares students in grades three through four for success in higher order mathematics including the components as outlined in N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.5(b). 
High need school districts where less than eighty percent of total students have not achieved proficiency in mathematics on the NJ ASK 8 shall implement a comprehensive program for mathematics education that prepares all students in grades five through eight for success in Algebra at the high school level and that incorporates the elements in N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.5(b). 
High need school districts where eighty percent or more of total students have not achieved proficiency in mathematics on the high school State assessment shall implement a comprehensive program for mathematics education for grades nine through twelve which incorporates the elements in N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.5(b) and that is aligned to course expectations as required to meet graduation requirements.

N.J.A.C. 6A:13-3.1; 6A:13-3.2; 6A:13-3.3; 6A:13-3.4; 6A:13-3.5
 
Adopted:  3/19/85
Revised:  1/19/87, 8/21/89, 3/18/91, 5/17/93, 8/21/95, 5/18/98, 2/21/11