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Overview
Louisiana provides funding for prekindergarten through a number of initiatives.
The original program, established in 1988, was the Model Early Childhood Program,
which served four-year-olds through voluntary district programs. When funding
for this program ended in 1993, public schools began using, and continue to
use, allocations from the 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program to operate
full-day district preschool programs for at-risk students.
The largest preschool program in the state is LA 4, also known as the Early
Childhood Development Program. Through a combination of state and federal monies,
LA 4 funds public schools to provide preschool to four-year-olds who qualify
for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program. LA 4 offers six hours
of instruction and up to four hours of extended hours per day. The state also
funds the Starting Points Program, which is similar to LA 4, although it does
not offer a program beyond six hours a day. There is also a small set-aside
for early childhood services provided by non-public providers, known as the
Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development Program (NSECD).
Collectively these programs served approximately 22% of Louisiana’s four-year-olds
in 2005-2006, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research
(NIEER). State funding for all of the programs was approximately $69 million
in 2005-2006, much of which was derived from TANF monies. The LA 4 Program
received an additional $20 million in funding for the 2005-2006 school year.
Due to the post-Katrina decline in enrollment, the 2006-2007 appropriations
for
the LA 4 program were reduced by $2 million.
State Policy
The legislature has stated its "intention … that every at-risk preschool
child in Louisiana should have access to an educationally appropriate early
childhood program…." This state policy derives
from an awareness of the research on the benefits of high quality early childhood
programs for such children. Governor Blanco has repeatedly stressed the connection
between high quality preschool and school readiness, and the 8(g) Program’s
focus on prekindergarten is premised upon "the link between effective
early childhood education and later academic success."
Eligibility Criteria
Funds available under the 8g block grant program may
be used by local public school systems to provide a preschool program for at-risk
four-year-olds, with priority given to children from low-income families.
The LA 4 and Starting
Points programs
each serve at no cost to families four-year-olds who qualify for the federal
free or reduced-price lunch program. The
non-public school program, NSECD, serves four-year-olds
in families with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
LA 4 also allows school districts to serve children who
are not eligible for the federal lunch
program on a tuition basis.
Program Length/Duration
The LA 4 and NSECD programs are full day programs of
not less than ten hours per day that follow the public school year calendar.
Six
hours of the day are for "a program of early
childhood education" (LA 4) or "developmentally appropriate educational/instructional
services" (NSECD), and the remaining four hours are for "a program
of high quality enrichment activities during the before and after school session
time." Starting Points and the 8(g) program
offer a full school day program without extended hours, following the
regular school year calendar.
Funding
Funding for preschool in Louisiana comes from an amalgam of federal, state
and local resources. The LA 4 Program is funded by state appropriations, as
well as by TANF funds. LA 4
also charges tuition on a sliding scale basis to
children who do not meet the income guidelines for the federal lunch program.
Federal
TANF and block grant funds are also allocated for Starting Points and NSECD.
Other state resources for preschool include tobacco settlement proceeds and the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund,
which collects revenue from mineral production and other activity on public
lands.
Quality Standards
In a national survey
of quality standards, the National Institute for Early Education Research
(NIEER) gave Louisiana’s
LA 4 and Starting Points Programs a rating of 8 out of 10. Both programs require
teachers to have a bachelor’s degree, although the state
does not mandate specialized training in early childhood
education. Nor does the state require that assistant teachers have a CDA credential,
as recommended by NIEER. According to NIEER, LA 4 and Starting Points meet
its other benchmarks for a high quality program, including meals and site visits
for monitoring purposes. Both programs mandate a maximum class size of 20 and
meet NIEER’s benchmark for a staff-child ratio
of 1:10. The LA 4 program
has explicit statutory requirements regarding other
pre-k quality standards,
including meals, health services
and parent supports. The Starting Points regulations,
in contrast, are less comprehensive, but do provide for vision and hearing
screening and parental participation.
NIEER rated pre-k programs provided under Louisiana’s 8(g) block grant program
a 7 out of 10. Similar to LA 4 and Starting Points, teachers are required to
have a bachelor’s degree, but no specialized training in early childhood education,
and assistant teachers are not required to have a CDA credential. Pre-k programs
operated with 8(g) funds do not have to provide vision, hearing or health screening.
Meals and site visits are required. Unlike LA 4 and Starting Point, there are
no statutes or regulations governing the quality of 8(g) programs, but the
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has issued program guidelines for
pre-k programs operated under 8(g) block grants.
Louisiana’s NSECD program was rated 9 out of 10 by NIEER. Similar to the
8(g) block grant program, there are no statutes or regulations governing quality
standards in the NSECD program, but the Governor’s Office of Community Programs
has issued NSECD program guidelines.
Louisiana has comprehensive curriculum standards that
apply to all state-funded pre-k programs. The state has also developed detailed
pre-k program quality standards for all state-funded prekindergarten programs.
The standards are contained in a non-binding Department of Education guidance
document, Louisiana
Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children.
Delivery of Preschool Services
The 8(g), LA 4 and Starting Points programs are administered by the Department
of Education with funds flowing directly to public school systems. The LA 4
program encourages schools participating in the program to share resources with
other publicly funded providers and agencies for the delivery of services and
to
enter into consortiums to facilitate shared responsibility for provision of
services.
The Office of Community Programs within Louisiana’s Governor’s Office
administers the NSECD program for preschool programs provided by non-public
providers.
Requirements for Student Assessment
and Program Evaluation
Every school board must develop a plan for evaluating the
results of any prekindergarten program it operates. LA
4 requires
an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in improving children’s school
preparedness in elementary school, particularly in reading, as well as the
long-term effects
on school success. Starting Points and 8(g) programs
are required to assess students’ developing skills "pretest" and "posttest," and
to report to the Louisiana Department of Education documenting
the
effectiveness of the program and how the funds were spent. In addition, Starting
Points and 8(g) programs are subject to site visits to monitor program effectiveness.
NSECD programs must report to the state and are subject to
monitoring.
Education Clause in State Constitution
The state constitution requires the legislature to "establish and maintain a public educational
system." It also directs the legislature to "annually appropriate
funds sufficient to fully fund the current cost to the state of such a program
as determined by applying the approved formula in order to insure a minimum
foundation of education in all public elementary and secondary schools."
Summary of Case Law on School Finance System
In the Charlet case,
the state appellate court dismissed plaintiffs’ equal protection and adequacy
claims. It found that the state was complying with its constitutional mandate
to provide a "minimum
foundation program" of education, which the court framed as merely developing
a process for providing funding. The Court noted that the Louisiana Constitution
did not contain language requiring "adequate" or "sufficient" education funding.
In December 2002, a new case was filed
alleging that the state school funding formula’s omission of capital funding
for schools violates the state education clause as well as plaintiffs’ right
to equal protection under the state and federal constitutions. The state appellate
court dismissed this case in 2005.
Summary of Case Law on Preschool
No cases have addressed the right to preschool.
Preamble. The goal of the public educational system is to provide
learning environments and experiences, at all stages of human development,
that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential.
§1. The legislature shall provide for the education of the people
of the state and shall establish and maintain a public educational system.
§13(B) Minimum Foundation Program. The State Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education, or its successor, shall annually develop and adopt
a formula which shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation
program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well
as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems. Such
formula shall provide for a contribution by every city and parish school system.
Prior to approval of the formula by the legislature, the legislature may return
the formula adopted by the board to the board and may recommend to the board
an amended formula for consideration by the board and submission to the legislature
for approval. The legislature shall annually appropriate funds sufficient to
fully fund the current cost to the state of such a program as determined by
applying the approved formula in order to insure a minimum foundation of education
in all public elementary and secondary schools. Neither the governor nor the
legislature may reduce such appropriation, except that the governor may reduce
such appropriation using means provided in the act containing the appropriation
provided that any such reduction is consented to in writing by two-thirds of
the elected members of each house of the legislature. The funds appropriated
shall be equitably allocated to parish and city school systems according to
the formula as adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education,
or its successor, and approved by the legislature prior to making the appropriation.
Whenever the legislature fails to approve the formula most recently adopted
by the board, or its successor, the last formula adopted by the board, or its
successor, and approved by the legislature shall be used for the determination
of the cost of the minimum foundation program and for the allocation of funds
appropriated.
(C) Local Funds. Local funds for the
support of elementary and secondary schools shall be derived from the following
sources:
First: Each parish school board, Orleans Parish excepted, and each municipality
or city school board actually operating, maintaining, or supporting a separate
system of public schools, shall levy annually an ad valorem maintenance tax
not to exceed five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation on property subject
to such taxation within the parish or city, respectively.
Second: The Orleans Parish School Board shall levy annually a tax not to
exceed thirteen mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of property within
the city of New Orleans assessed for city taxation, and shall certify the amount
of the tax to the governing authority of the city. The governing authority
shall have the tax entered on city tax rolls. The tax shall be collected in
the manner, under the conditions, and with the interest and penalties prescribed
by law for city taxes. The money thus collected shall be paid daily to the
Orleans Parish School Board.
Third: For giving additional support to public elementary and secondary schools,
any parish, school district, or subschool district, or any municipality or
city school board which supports a separate city system of public schools may
levy an ad valorem tax for a specific purpose, when authorized by a majority
of the electors voting in the parish, municipality, district, or subdistrict
in an election held for that purpose. The amount, duration, and purpose of
the tax shall be in accord with any limitation imposed by the legislature.
NOTE: The education funding provision of the Louisiana Constitution was amended
in 1987. The information here does not include cases asserting violations of
the provision in effect prior to the amendment. See Charlet v. State, 713
So.2d 1199, 1204 (La. App. 1998), citing cases.
Is Education a Fundamental
Right under the State Constitution?
No determination to this effect.
School Finance Cases in Favor
of Plaintiffs:
None.
Standard for a Constitutionally
Adequate Education:
None.
School Finance Cases against
Plaintiffs:
Charlet v. State, 713 So. 2d 1199 (La. App.), writ denied 730 S.2d 934
(La. 1998)
The state appellate court dismissed plaintiffs’ claim that the state’s system
of school funding violated their state constitutional right to equal protection
and their claim that the state had failed to provide sufficient funding to
satisfy the state constitutional requirement of a "minimum foundation
program" of education. The court found that the state was complying with
its constitutional mandate, which the court defined as merely developing a
process for providing funding. It noted, "The Louisiana Constitution does
not require that the educational funding provided by the state be "adequate" or "sufficient," or
that it achieve some measurable result for each pupil or each school district.
Article VIII, Section 13(B) requires only that BESE annually develop and adopt
a formula; this is being done." The state supreme court denied plaintiffs’ writ
of review.
Jones v. State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Educ., 927
So. 2d 426 (La. App. 2005)
Plaintiffs filed a petition in December 2003 seeking a declaratory
judgment and injunctive relief, alleging that the state school funding formula’s
omission of capital funding for schools violates the state constitutional provision
for a minimum foundation program and equitable funding among school districts,
and violates their rights to equal protection under the state and federal constitutions.
Because the state constitution did not require the funding formula to include
any particular items or to be based on actual costs, the Court of Appeal dismissed
plaintiffs’ education clause claim. The court also dismissed the equal protection
claim, finding that the funding formula was rationally related to a legitimate
state interest
Decisions Ruling School Finance
Issues Were Non-Justiciable:
None.
Cases Related to State-Funded
Preschool:
None.
Pending School Finance Cases:
None.
Louisiana Revised Statutes (La.R.S.) § 17:24.8, Prekindergarten programs
Louisiana Revised Statutes (La.R.S.) § 17:24.10, Early childhood development
and enrichment activity classes (LA 4 Classes)
Louisiana Revised Statutes (La.R.S.) § 17:3801, Louisiana Education
Quality Trust Fund
Louisiana Revised Statutes (La.R.S.) § 39:98.3, Appropriations from
the Health Excellence Fund, the Education Excellence Fund, and the TOPS Fund
Louisiana Administrative Code (L.A.C.) § 28:XXI.101 et seq., Starting
Points Preschool Program*
Louisiana Administrative Code (L.A.C.) § 67:III.5505 et seq., Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families Initiatives*
Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development Program, 2007-2008
Eligibility & Enrollment Procedures and Provider Responsibilities (cited
below as "NSECD Program Guidelines")
Guidelines for the Submission
of 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Proposals 2007-2008 (cited
below as "8(g) Program Grant Guidelines")
FY 2007-2008 8(g) Student
Enhancement Block Grants Attachment A, Prekindergarten Programs for At-Risk
Four-Year-Olds (cited below as "8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines")
Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old
Children. Guidance document containing detailed program quality standards and prekindergarten curriculum content standards for all state-funded prekindergarten programs.
* Note: Louisiana provides funding to prekindergarten through four
separate initiatives: 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program; LA 4 Program;
Starting
Points Program and Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development Program
(NSECD). The following materials are
separated
by
prekindergarten program, where applicable. These programs are administered
by the state education agency but supported with federal funds.
Provisions Expressing State Policy on Preschool:
La.R.S. § 17:407
A. The legislature finds and declares as follows:
(1) Developmentally appropriate early childhood programs have produced sizeable
gains in the skill levels of educationally disadvantaged and at-risk children.
(2) Early childhood education programs facilitate the development of educationally
at-risk young children and increase the chances that they will be more successful
students and ultimately more productive citizens.
(3) Funding successful and innovative programs is required to increase the
learning opportunities of at-risk children and provide for their optimal development.
(4) Many preschool children live in families in which both parents or the
primary caregiver are employed such that these children require full day care
in a developmentally appropriate environment.
B. Therefore, it is the intention of the legislature that every at-risk preschool
child in Louisiana should have access to an educationally appropriate early
childhood program which shall include but not be limited to parental involvement,
center-based programs, and before and after care.
Non-Public School Program
L.A.C. § 67:III.5505.B
These [non-public school early childhood education services] meet the TANF
goal to reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock births by placing
children in learning environments at the pre-school level to foster an interest
in learning, increase literacy levels, and increase the likelihood of developing
responsible behavior.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines
Recognizing the link between effective early childhood education
and later academic success, the Board [of Elementary and Secondary Education]
continues to focus its 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant funding on Prekindergarten
programs for at-risk four-year-olds, thus confirming its commitment to this
important initiative.
LA 4 [Early Childhood Development Program]
Governor Blanco, State of the State Address, April
30, 2007
Put $30 million into expanding the proven LA-4 Pre-K program.
All at-risk four year-olds deserve access to a rich learning experience that
gets them off to a right start.
Studies show that quality Pre-K impacts a child’s readiness
to succeed in the classroom. Just two weeks ago, Louisiana was one of only
two states recognized as a national champion of Pre-K. By taking this next
step, we will send our students to the head of the class!
L.A.C. § 67:III.5523.B
These [early childhood education services] meet the TANF goal to encourage
the formation and maintenance of two-parent families by giving parents of these
children an opportunity earlier in the children's lives to become active partners
in their education and increase their own literacy level by participating with
their children in school programs and also meet the TANF goal to prevent and
reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock births.
Governor Blanco, Legislative Package Speech, March 28, 2005
On the front end, I remain fully committed to early childhood education. Last
year, I fought to maintain $49 million in funding for LA-4, our pre-k program
for at-risk kids. This year, I am pushing to significantly expand this successful
program by another $20 million dollars. Study after study shows that reaching
and teaching children at an early age equals success in school and later in
life.
Eligibility Criteria for State Preschool Program:
La.R.S. § 17:24.8.A
. . . . The youngest age at which a child may enter prekindergarten provided
for by this Section shall be two years younger than the age required for that
child to enter first grade as provided by R.S. 17:222(A) or, two years younger
than the age required by the city or parish school board pursuant to R.S. 17:222(C).
LA 4
La. R.S. § 17:24.10
…B.(1) LA 4 classes shall be made available to every child in the school system's
jurisdiction who will be eligible to enter public school kindergarten pursuant
to R.S. 17:151.3 in the following year, who meets the requirements of law for
immunization documentation required for regular school enrollment, and who
is consistently and regularly in attendance for the early childhood education
program portion of the day.
(2)(a) LA 4 classes shall be provided at no cost, except for the applicable
lunch cost, to the child or his family for any eligible child who is eligible
to receive free or reduced price meals pursuant to the federal child nutrition
program as documented by a completed application for such meals whether or
not such meals are sought.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.301.A
In order to qualify for the Starting Points Preschool Program, participants
must:
1. be one year younger than the age eligible for kindergarten;
2. meet the requirements of law for immunization and documentation required
for regular school enrollment; and
3. qualify for free or reduced price meals pursuant to the federal child
nutrition program.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Grant Guidelines
The project participants must be Pre-K (four-year-olds) …
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines at iii
… children eligible to enter kindergarten the following year and who are
at risk of being insufficiently ready for the regular school program, based
on screening results. Priority should be given to participants from low-income
families.
Non-Public School Program
L.A.C. § 67:III.5505.C
Eligibility for services is limited to at-risk families in which the child
is one year younger than the eligible age for public school kindergarten and
who have earned income at or below 200 percent of poverty level.
Program Length/Duration:
La.R.S. § 154.1
A.(1) The minimum school day for grades one through twelve in every public
school in the state shall consist of three hundred sixty minutes of instructional
time, exclusive of all recesses. The minimum school year shall consist of one
hundred seventy-seven days of instruction. …
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10.C
Each LA 4 class shall include or have provided all of the following:
(1)(a) A full day program of not less than ten hours per day for each day
that the regular school program in the school system is in session that includes
a program of early childhood education during the period of the day that school
is normally in session and a program of high quality enrichment activities
during the before and after school session time.
(b) The precise start and end times of the full day program shall be determined
by each school system and may vary at different school sites in each system
according to the needs of the community served by the program at each site
as determined by an assessment of those needs done and documented by the school
system.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.511.A
The length of the school day and the school year shall follow the provision
established in R.S. § 17.154.1. The school day that systems operate shall be
a full day with a minimum of 360 minutes of instructional time per day exclusive
of lunch, recess, and planning. Instructional days will be based upon the school
calendar of each local school system with a minimum of 177 days of instruction.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines
The length of the school day and the school year shall follow the provision
established in R.S. 17.154.1. The school day that systems operate shall be
a full day, with a minimum of 360 minutes of instructional time per day exclusive
of lunch, recess and planning. Instructional days will be based upon the school
calendar of each local school system with a minimum of 177 days of instruction
Non-Public School Program
NSECD Program Guidelines
LENGTH OF SCHOOL DAY AND SCHOOL YEAR
The Provider shall operate full-day early education and enrichment activities
programs for all four-year-old children attending the school.
- These programs shall operate for not less than ten (10) hours per day for
each day of the regular school session, and include six (6) hours of developmentally
appropriate educational/instructional services and four (4) hours of high
quality enrichment activities.
- The educational/instructional portion of the program shall operate for
each day that the Provider’s elementary school is in session for a minimum
of 405 minutes per day with a minimum of 180 days per year, of which a minimum
of 175 days shall be instructional. …
Scope of State’s Responsibility to Provide Preschool:
LA 4
La. R.S. § 17:24.10
… B. (1) LA 4 classes shall be made available to every [eligible] child in
the school system's jurisdiction . . . .
…E. Each participating school system may:
… (2) In addition to providing the LA 4 class at no cost, except for the applicable
lunch cost, to children who are eligible for free or reduced price meals, provide
the LA 4 classes to other eligible children at no cost for the early childhood
education portion of the LA 4 class, or for the day care portion, or
both.
F. (1) Any school system which has a minimum foundation program membership
according to the minimum foundation program budget letter preceding the system's
application to participate or renew which exceeds nine thousand students may
participate on a partial basis.
(2)(a) In such a case, the school system seeking
partial participation shall divide the elementary schools in its system into
groups approximately equal in size with regard to the number of schools in
each group. Each group shall contain an approximately equal number of elementary
schools which have the same designation according to the School and District
Accountability Program as in every other group and in accordance with state
board rule.
(b)(i) The maximum number of groups which
may be formed by a school system with a minimum foundation program membership
of twenty thousand students or greater shall be eight.
(ii) The maximum number of groups which may
be formed by a school system with a minimum foundation program membership of
not less than sixteen thousand students nor greater than nineteen thousand,
nine hundred and ninety-nine shall be six.
(iii) The maximum number of groups which may
be formed by a school system with a minimum foundation program membership of
not less than nine thousand students nor greater than fifteen thousand, nine
hundred and ninety-nine shall be four.
(c) Groups formed which do not apply for participation
or do not become participants shall be reformed as necessary to comply with
the requirements of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph prior to any subsequent
application. However, in such a case groups may be formed out of the remaining
nonparticipating portions of the school system up to the remainder of the maximum
number of groups the school system qualified to form at the time of the formation
of the first participating group.
(3) Any school district seeking to participate
on a partial basis may do so for any number of the groups formed as provided
in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection. In such a case, only a child who meets
all other eligibility requirements and who would attend one of the schools
in the group, if the child were attending public school, may attend an LA 4
class provided in the group.
(4)(a) Any participating partial school system
group initially formed pursuant to this Subsection may continue to participate
subject to renewal pursuant to Subsection (J) of this Section without reconfiguration
of the group regardless of changes in the school accountability designations
of the schools in the group or the other schools in the system.
(b) At any time an entire system is effectively
participating through the aggregate effect of the approval and participation
of a series of partial groups, the system may thereafter renew as a single
applicant and such renewal shall not be considered a new application.
L.A.C. § 67:III.5523.A
OFS shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of
Education to provide early childhood education to four-year-olds.
Non-Public School Program
L.A.C. § 67:III.5505.A
OFS shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Governor's Office,
Office of Community Programs, to provide early childhood education to certain
four-year-olds in non-public schools.
Scope of State's Responsibility to Fund Preschool:
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10
A. The state Department of Education shall allocate funding, out of
monies appropriated for such purpose, to each city, parish, or other local
public school system that applies for such funding and uses the funding solely
for the purpose of providing early childhood development and enrichment activity
classes in compliance with the requirements of this Section, hereinafter referred
to as LA 4 classes.
B. …(2)(a) LA 4 classes shall be provided at no cost, except for the applicable
lunch cost, to the child or his family for any eligible child who is eligible
to receive free or reduced price meals pursuant to the federal child nutrition
program as documented by a completed application for such meals whether or
not such meals are sought.
(b) Any other eligible child may be charged a tuition for all or part of
the LA 4 class, in an amount not to exceed that necessary for the system
to provide
the LA 4 class to the child and, in any case, no more than the average amount
expended per pupil on those children from whom no tuition may be required,
excluding any amount attributable to the provision of classroom space and
utility costs. Such tuition may be scaled and imposed according to a student's
family
income in compliance with a rule of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education, referred to in this Section as the "state board".
. . . D. Each participating school system shall:
. . . (5) Maintain in each year of participation pursuant to this Section
the same total level of funding from any source for programs or classes of
early childhood education or child care provided in the year prior to such
participation.
. . . I. (1)(a)(i) Except as provided in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph, out
of funds appropriated for such purposes from whatever source, the state Department
of Education shall provide an amount of funding based upon the per pupil amount
defined in this Subsection multiplied by the estimated number of students for
the year who will be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals for whom
early childhood development classes are being provided by the system for the
first time as a result of the system's participation in the program. The per
pupil amount in any year shall be based upon the total amount of money actually
expended by all participating systems as authorized by this Section for LA
4 classes, excluding the cost of providing classroom space and utilities, divided
by the number of students actually participating in accordance with the amount
of money appropriated for the purpose of this Section and the minimum amount
necessary to provide a high quality program as required in this Section. Funding
for the enrichment activities provided during the before and after school session
time shall be provided only for the number of eligible students actually participating
in those activities.
(ii) No funding shall be allocated as the result of the participation
of any student in an early childhood education class which is funded from another
source such as the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, federal money for
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or federal money for
the Head Start program. However, a participating school system may claim funding
from the state Department of Education on a reimbursement basis and in compliance
with limits established by the state board for money actually spent to provide
resources necessary to make the program required in this Section available
to all eligible children served by the system or for money actually spent to
provide resources in compliance with a collaborative agreement reached pursuant
to Paragraph (E)(3).
(b) Any appropriated, but unallocated, money shall revert to the fund from
which it was appropriated.
(c) Each participating system shall receive a payment based on estimated
participation. After the completion of an accurate student enrollment count,
the balance of
the payments due each system shall be adjusted as necessary to ensure that
the total received for the year equals the total required allocation.
(5) (a) At any time that less money is appropriated than is required for
full funding of all eligible applications, applications shall be fully
funded as
provided in this Section until all available money has been committed for
expenditure in the manner provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.
(b)(i) The department shall calculate the approximate percentage of
the total number of children in the state who will be eligible to enter
public
school
kindergarten pursuant to R.S. § 17:151.3 in the following
year, who will be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals pursuant
to the
federal child nutrition program, who are not likely to be enrolled in
an early childhood education class, based on the level of the enrollment
in
such classes
in the previous school year, and who can be enrolled in LA 4 classes
as provided in this Section with the money available for such purpose.
(ii) An amount of the total money available shall be set aside to
provide LA 4 classes for the same percentage as that calculated pursuant
to
Item (i) of
this Subparagraph of the total number of children in each State Board
of Elementary and Secondary Education election district who will
be eligible
to enter public
school kindergarten pursuant to R.S. 17:151.3 in the
following year, who will be eligible to receive free or reduced price
meals pursuant
to the federal child nutrition program, and who are not likely to be
enrolled in an early childhood education class, based on the level
of the enrollment
in such classes in the previous school year.
(iii) The date and time of receipt of all applications shall be noted
by the department. All eligible applications shall be divided among
the State
Board
of Elementary and Secondary Education election districts. The earliest
received eligible application from each district shall be funded
in preference to
the second earliest eligible application. This process of funding
by date and time
of eligible application shall continue until all available funding
has been committed for expenditure.
(iv) In the case that any single applicant is located in more
than one State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education election
district, that applicant
shall be assigned to the election district in which it predominates.
Source of Funding for Preschool Program:
La.R.S. § 17:3801, Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund.
A. (1) There shall be established in the state treasury as a special
permanent trust fund the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, hereinafter
referred to as the "Permanent Trust Fund".
. . . (3) After allocation of money to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund
as provided in Article VII, Section 9(B) of the constitution,
and notwithstanding Article XIV, Section 10 of the constitution,
seventy-five percent of the recurring revenues received under Section 1337(g)
of Title 43 of the United States Code which are attributable to mineral production
activity or leasing activity, seventy-five percent of the interest income earned
on investment of the Permanent Trust Fund, and twenty-five percent of realized
capital gains and seventy-five percent of the dividend income earned on investment
of the Permanent Trust Fund shall be deposited and credited to a special fund
which is hereby created in the state treasury and which shall be known as the
Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "Support
Fund".
. . . C. . . . (4) The treasurer shall disburse not more than
fifty percent of the monies in the Support Fund as that money is appropriated
by the legislature and allocated by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education for any or all of the following elementary and secondary educational
purposes:
. . . (e) To fund . . . preschool programs.
La.R.S. 39:98.3.C [Tobacco Settlement Proceeds]
Appropriations from the Education Excellence Fund shall be restricted as follows:
. . . (6) Monies appropriated pursuant to this Subsection shall be restricted
to expenditure for prekindergarten through twelfth grade instructional enhancement
for students, including early childhood education programs focused on enhancing
the preparation of at-risk children for school . . . .
La.R.S. § 39:98.4 [Tobacco Settlement Proceeds]
A. There shall be established in the state treasury as a special
fund the Louisiana Fund hereinafter the "Fund". After allocation of money to
the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as provided in Article
VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer shall
deposit in and credit to the Fund all money remaining after deposit of monies
into the Millennium Trust, which is received as a result of the Master Settlement
Agreement, hereinafter the "Settlement Agreement", executed November 23, 1998,
and approved by Consent Decree and Final Judgment entered in the case "Richard
P. Ieyoub, Attorney General, ex rel. State of Louisiana v. Philip Morris, Incorporated,
et al.", bearing Number 98-6473 on the docket of the Fourteenth Judicial District
for the parish of Calcasieu, state of Louisiana; and all interest income on
investment of monies in the Fund. Monies in the Fund shall be invested by the
treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. All unencumbered
and unexpended monies in the Fund shall remain in the Fund.
B. Appropriations from the Fund shall be restricted to the following purposes
provided in this Subsection, and no annual appropriation for any one of the
purposes enumerated in Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this Subsection may
exceed fifty percent of the total amount of monies appropriated from the
Fund in any fiscal year:
(1) Initiatives to ensure the optimal development of Louisiana's children
through enhancement of educational opportunities and provision of appropriate
health
care through:
(a) Prekindergarten educational programs by city and parish school boards
to provide quality early care and education facilitating the healthy
development and school readiness of at-risk four-year-old children. .
. .
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10.A
The state Department of Education shall allocate funding, out of
monies appropriated for such purpose, to each city, parish, or other local public
school system that applies for such funding and uses the funding solely for
the purpose of providing early childhood development and enrichment activity
classes in compliance with the requirements of this Section, hereinafter
referred to as LA 4 classes.
L.A.C. § 67:III.5523.A [TANF Initiatives]
OFS (Office of Family Support) shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Department of Education to provide early childhood education to four-year-olds.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.101.
A. The Department of Social Services, lead agency for the Temporary Assistance
to Needy Families Block Grant, has allocated a portion of these funds to the
Louisiana Department of Education for program development.
Non-Public School Program
L.A.C. § 67:III.5505.A [TANF Initiatives]
OFS (Office of Family Support) shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding
with the Governor's Office, Office of Community Programs, to provide early
childhood education to certain four-year-olds in non-public schools.
NSECD Program Guidelines
The Department of Social Services, lead agency, has allocated a portion of
the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Act funds to the Governor’s Office
of Community Programs for the Nonpublic Schools Early Childhood Development
(NSECD) Program.
Scope of Child's Right to
Attend Preschool:
LA 4
La. R.S. § 17:24.10
…B.(1). LA 4 classes shall be made available to every [eligible] child in
the school system's jurisdiction ….
Curriculum Content Standards for Preschool Program:
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10.C
Each LA 4 class shall include or have provided all of the following:
. . . (2) A program of developmentally appropriate early childhood education
the content of which shall meet the standards required for accreditation of
a high quality early childhood education program as determined by the state
Department of Education.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.103.A
Local Starting Points Prekindergarten Programs will adhere to the developmental
philosophy as outlined by the National Association for the Education of Young
Children. Developmentally appropriate practices have proven to be effective
in early childhood education. Inherent in this philosophy is the provision
of a child-centered program directed toward the development of cognitive, social,
emotional, communication and motor skills in a manner and at a pace consistent
with the needs and capabilities of the individual child.
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.515.A
The curriculum for the Starting Points Prekindergarten Program
shall be a research-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports
interrelated development. The curriculum should be aligned with the Louisiana
Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children and should address the
Grade-Level Expectations.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines at iii
A program must utilize a research-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum
that is aligned with the Louisiana Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old
Children (Bulletin 105) and Grade Level Expectations. The program must address
both age appropriate and individual needs of young children and should focus
on all aspects of development: physical development, social/emotional development,
cognitive development, and language development. The curriculum will address
all developmental areas to establish a solid foundation for later education
and help children learn how to learn. The curriculum will be integrated so
that learning occurs primarily through projects, learning centers, and playful
activities that reflect current interests of children. Two major emphases of
the program are:
- stimulating language and literacy experiences that require active
involvement; and
- providing hands-on activities.
Non-Public School Program
NSECD Program Guidelines at 29
The Provider shall ensure that the prekindergarten curriculum is research-based,
supports interrelated development, and is aligned with the Louisiana Standards
for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children in the following domains: Cognitive
Development (Mathematics, Science, Social Studies), Creative Arts Development
(art, music, drama), Health and Physical Development, Language and Literacy
Development, Social and Emotional Development. …
Note: Louisiana's Standards
for Programs Serving Four-Year-Old Children contains
comprehensive prekindergarten curriculum content standards (pp. 25 - 90).
Content standards are organized into five domains of development: cognitive
(mathematical development, science development and social studies development);
creative arts development; health and physical development; language and literacy
development; and social and emotional development. Standards are aligned with
Louisiana K-4 content standards and other relevant national and state standards.
Louisiana has also developed
prekindergarten grade
level expectations,
(GLEs) which further define the content standards.
Sample GLE for Pre-K: Number and Number Relations
- 1. Count by ones to 10
- 2. Count a set of 5 or fewer objects by establishing a 1-to-1 correspondence
between number names and objects
- 3. Identify an object’s position as first or last
- 4. Identify numerals 1 to 5
- 5. Compare sets of objects using the words same/different and more/less/fewer
Teacher Certification/Qualification Standards for Preschool Program:
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10
. . . C. Each LA 4 class shall include or have provided all of the following:
. . . (3) A teacher in each classroom who is in charge of the classroom,
who supervises other adults employed in the classroom, and who plans the activities
of the students in the classroom, who is referred to in this Section as the "lead
teacher" who is either:
(a) Certified by the Louisiana state Department of Education in nursery school
education, kindergarten, or early intervention; or
(b) If the superintendent of the employing school system certifies by sworn
affidavit that no qualified applicant with a certificate, as provided in Subparagraph
(a) of this Paragraph, has applied for the position, then certified by the
Louisiana state Department of Education in elementary education and authorized
to be temporarily assigned in kindergarten, nursery school, or early intervention;
or
(c) If the superintendent of the employing school system certifies by sworn
affidavit that no qualified applicant with a certificate, as provided in Subparagraph
(a) or (b) of this Paragraph, has applied for the position, then holding a
degree in elementary education, kindergarten, nursery school, or early intervention
and employed pursuant to the interim emergency policy of the state board for
hiring non-certified personnel.
(d) The employment and retaining and reemployment of any person as a lead
teacher who is qualified in any way other than as provided in Subparagraph
(a) of this Paragraph may occur only if such teacher can document consistently
working toward obtaining the qualifications in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph
in compliance with the requirements of the state board rule.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.503.A
All teachers must possess one of the following credentials:
- A valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate in Nursery School Education,
Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten Education, Early Intervention, Non-Categorical
Preschool Handicapped, or Prekindergarten-3.
- A valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate in Elementary Education
and an Out-of-Field Authorization to Teach (OFAT) in Kindergarten, Nursery
School, Early Intervention, Non-Categorical Preschool Handicapped, or Prekindergarten-3
(refer to Bulletin 746).
- An uncertified teacher with a baccalaureate degree and Temporary Employment
Permit (TEP), a Temporary Authority to Teach (TAT), or an Out-of-State Certificate
(refer to Bulletin 746).
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines
Teachers employed for these projects shall possess one of the following credentials:
- a valid and current Louisiana teaching certificate in:
- nursery school,
- kindergarten,
- PK-3, or
- early intervention.
Teacher assistants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent,
- Have extended experiences of assuming responsibility and care for a group
of preschool age children (children younger than five years of age),
- Possess proficient oral and written communication skills, and
- All other LEA requirements for employment.
Non-Public School Program
NSECD Program Guidelines at 22-24
13. TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
- Newly employed or incumbent NSECD teachers with current and valid Type
A, Type A* Type B, Type B*, Type C, Level I, Level II, Level II*, Level III,
or Level III Early Childhood certification (i.e., PK-3rd grade, Early
Interventionist, Nursery School, Kindergarten, or Noncategorical Preschool
Handicapped) from the Louisiana Department of Education. …
- Newly employed or incumbent NSECD teachers may also include teachers with
current and valid Type A, Type A* Type B, Type B*, Type C, Level I, Level
II, Level II*, Level III, or Level III* Elementary Education certification and
who are currently pursuing the add-on PK-3 certification or Early Interventionist
certification. The add-on certification must appear on the teacher’s
valid teaching certificate within 2 years from the original hire date in
order to continue qualifying as an NSECD teacher. …
- Newly employed NSECD Program teachers with a Valid Type A, Type A* Type
B, Type B*, Type C, Level I, Level II, Level II*, Level III, or Level III*
certificate in any areas other than one of the five eligible
Early Childhood certifications, Grades 1-5, or Elementary Grades, and
who are currently pursuing the add-on PK-3 certification or Early Interventionist
certification. The add-on certification must appear on the teacher’s
valid teaching certificate within 2 years from the original hire date in
order to continue qualifying as an NSECD Program teacher. …
- Newly employed or incumbent NSECD Program teachers
without a valid State certification must have, at a minimum, a bachelors
degree and current passing
scores on Praxis I or an ACT composite score of 22 or a SAT combined verbal
and math score of 1030 may be used in lieu of Praxis 1 PPST Exams by prospective
teachers in Louisiana. These teachers must also meet all other requirements
for enrollment in a State-approved PK - 3rd grade or Early Interventionist alternate
certification program, and be continuously enrolled in such program beginning
January 2008. …
14. TEACHER ASSISTANT QUALIFICATIONS
Teacher assistants must meet
the following requirements:
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Have a currently valid Child Development Associate
(CDA) credential or an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Incumbent
or newly employed teacher assistants may be currently enrolled in a Child
Development Associate credential program, or currently enrolled in a accredited
associate degree program in Early Childhood Education and must remain continuously
enrolled and complete such program within two years after initially being
hired as a pre- K teacher assistant or enrichment program caretakers until
completion of such program;
- Possess proficient oral and written communication skills, and
- All other Provider requirements for employment.
Other Quality Standards for Preschool Program:
La.R.S. § 17:24.8.B
The goal of prekindergarten instruction shall be to improve academic readiness,
individual development skills, and social skills. Prior to implementing prekindergarten
instruction, a school board shall set forth a statement of the needs the program
is intended to address, the anticipated results, and the basis upon which such
results are expected, an outline of implementation steps, a detailed plan for
staff usage, a detailed budget, and a plan for evaluation of the program results
and an explanation thereof.
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10.C
… (4)(a) [A] student to lead teacher ratio of no more than twenty to one and
a student to adult staff member ratio of no more than ten to one.
(5) Classroom and instructional supplies consistent with the standards required
in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and consistent with standards required
by state board rule.
(6) Required professional development for lead teachers and all other persons
whose employment in LA 4 classes involves direct contact with students in compliance
with state board rule.
(7) Adequate and appropriate space and facilities. In the case that any early
childhood education or enrichment activities are provided at a site not operated
by the school system, adequate and appropriate space and facilities requires
space and facilities that meet the same requirements as those required to be
licensed as a Class A day care.
(8) Transportation for every student to ensure presence of the child for
the early childhood education portion of the LA 4 class. Other transportation
may be provided.
(9) Appropriate meals and snacks for every student.
(10) Provision for services which support the students and their families
consistent with the needs of the community, which may include health care,
employment counseling, literacy services, tutoring, or parental training.
... D. Each participating school system shall:
. . . (2) Provide for resource coordination services which shall be available
to LA 4 class students and their families to assist in supporting the needs
of the student and their family, including such services as adult literacy
services. Resource coordination services shall be provided at the level necessary
for the students who would benefit from such assistance and their families
to have such services readily available as determined by and in compliance
with state board rule.
. . . G. The state board shall adopt and promulgate, pursuant to the Administrative
Procedure Act, all rules required by this Section and any other rules necessary
to the administration of this Section, which shall include minimum salary amounts
to be paid to lead teachers and all other persons whose employment in LA 4
classes involves direct contact with students.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.501
A. All children enrolled in the Starting Points Prekindergarten Program must
comply with the immunization requirements as established by the Department
of Health
and Hospitals. All local school systems will administer a
vision and hearing screening test to each student.
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.507
A. Each school system is required to develop a plan that
encourages parent/family participation in the education of their child. The
plan must
include a program orientation meeting for parents no later than 20 working
days after the beginning of the program.
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.509
A. A student to teacher ratio of no more than twenty to one, and a student
to adult staff member ratio of no more than ten to one shall be maintained.
The class may not exceed 20 students.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines
A program must include family early intervention
strategies designed to maximize children's overall development and lay the
foundation for school success. Parents
are recognized as serving as their children's first teachers. Strategies to
help parents gain a better understanding of child development should be addressed.
Services provided may include home visits, group meetings, and school-based
parent resource centers. …
Class Size Restrictions: The maximum number of four-year-old children enrolled
in one early childhood development class shall be no more than 20.
Each class shall have a child to certified teacher
ratio of no more than 20 to 1 and a child to adult staff ratio of no more
than 10 to 1. This ratio shall
be maintained at all times. …
The daily schedule shall meet the requirements of Bulletin 741, Standard 2.090.03
allowing for adequate nutrition and rest, with alternating periods of active
and quiet activity.
Appropriate meals and snacks shall be provided
to every child. …
Non-Public School Program
NSECD Program Guidelines at 16 et seq.
CLASS SIZE LIMITATION
The maximum number of children enrolled in one prekindergarten class shall
be no more than 20. Each class shall have a child-to-lead teacher ratio of
no more than 20 to 1 and a child-to-adult staff member ratio of no more than
10 to 1. …
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
… b. The Provider shall ensure that all prekindergarten
children have hearing and vision
screenings conducted by a qualified professional within 90
days of being enrolled in the Provider’s NSECD Program.
c. The
Provider is strongly encouraged to have a qualified professional
conduct
dental screenings
on all prekindergarten children.…
MEALS AND SNACKS
The Provider shall serve nutritious meals and snacks for prekindergarten children.
The Provider may not request that parents provide snacks or meals. The price,
the amount, and the types of the food and beverages served by the Provider
to prekindergarten children shall be consistent with guidelines for kindergarten
children as provided by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. … Additionally,
- The Provider shall serve a nutritious breakfast meeting all USDA guidelines
to all prekindergarten children attending the before-school enrichment class.…
- During the regular school day, the Provider shall provide prekindergarten
children with a nutritious morning or afternoon snack (depending on
the time that breakfast and lunch are served), as well as a nutritious snack
to all prekindergarten children attending the after-school enrichment activities.
Appropriate snack times shall be determined in consideration of the time
at which lunch is served and shall meet USDA Food and Nutrition Service Guidelines.…
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
- The Provider shall schedule and hold, not later than 20 working days after
the Provider commences participation in the NSECD Program, a Prekindergarten
Program Orientation for parents/guardians of any child entering the Provider
school’s prekindergarten program. …
- The Provider shall offer a minimum of two individual parent-teacher
conferences per year between the teacher and the parent/guardian are
offered. The teacher shall prepare a summary of development in each domain
based on documentation collected in child portfolios. During the conference,
the teacher shall review portfolio contents and summaries of child development
with parents and shall document parental comments and concerns in each
child’s portfolio.
- Throughout the school year, the Provider shall offer a variety of opportunities for
parents to participate in the prekindergarten program activities, facilitating
them to be successful partners in promoting the academic success of their
children.…
Delivery of Preschool
Services:
La.R.S. § 17:24.8.A
Each city and parish school board may develop and offer prekindergarten instruction...
.
LA 4
La.R.S. § 17:24.10
... D. Each participating school system shall:
. . . (3) Meet with all other governmentally funded providers of early childhood
education which serve children residing within the jurisdiction of the system,
including federal programs such as Head Start, to discuss common issues and
establish means to coordinate programs in such a way as to ensure that a high
quality early childhood education program is available to the maximum number
of children who would be eligible under this Section. Such meeting shall occur
as often as necessary, but not less often than quarterly.
E. Each participating school system may:
(1) Enter into consortiums with other participating systems to share the
responsibility to provide such resources as transportation, food, and resource
coordination services provided sufficient services to comply with the requirements
of state board rule are provided.
. . . (3) Work collaboratively with other governmentally funded providers
of early childhood education which serve children residing within the jurisdiction
of the system, including federal programs such as Head Start, in providing
the services provided for in this Section. Such collaboration may include agreements
to share resources provided that such agreements are documented, no regulation
of any provider is compromised or violated, and a clear demarcation of responsibility
as to costs, employee supervision, and program administration is maintained.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Grant Guidelines
A. Eligible Agencies
Approved public elementary or secondary schools located within the State of
Louisiana (including charter schools, university lab schools, and state special
schools).
Approved nonpublic elementary and secondary schools meeting all of the following
criteria:
approved by State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as meeting all
applicable standards;
approved to receive state funding under Brumfield vs. Dodd; and
any school which is not a public agency of the State of
Louisiana shall complete a questionnaire regarding its sectarian status and
certify under oath that
its responses are true and correct, in order to be eligible to apply. …
B. Eligibility Factors
… The project must be housed in an approved elementary or secondary school.
Non-Public School Program
L.A.C. § 67:III.5505.A
OFS shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Governor's Office,
Office of Community Programs, to provide early childhood education to certain
four-year-olds in non-public schools.
NSECD Program Guidelines at 9
Provider eligibility is as followed:
- Nonpublic Schools. For a nonpublic school to be eligible to participate as
a Provider of NSECD Program services, the nonpublic school shall meet requirements
(1)-(5) below:
- Agree to implement a high quality, developmentally appropriate, and research-based
prekindergarten program.
- Have administered Pre-K, Kindergarten, and/or 1st grade instruction for
a full school year during the previous school year, and be able
to present Louisiana governmental documentation to this effect.
- Be BESE approved, provisionally approved, or probationally approved,
and must be in compliance with requirements set forth in Louisiana
State Department
of Education Bulletin 741 for Nonpublic Schools.
- Be certified by the Louisiana Department of Education as Brumfield-Dodd
compliant, and
- If an incumbent NSECD Provider school, have completed the prior school
year in compliance.
- Class A Day Care Centers. Contingent upon administrative and/or regulatory
approval, certain licensed Class A Day Care centers may be eligible to
participate as Providers of NSECD Program services where there are adequate
funds and
no eligible and qualified nonpublic school applicant to serve the need.
In such situations, for a Class A day care center to be eligible to participate
as a potential Provider of NSECD Program services, the applicant must:
- Agree to implement a high-quality, developmentally appropriate, and
research-based prekindergarten program and meet all the
General Operation Requirements outlined in this document, which are required
of participating
BESE-approved nonpublic schools.
- Have administered a 4-year-old educational program for a full year
during the previous school year, and be able to present
Louisiana governmental documentation to this effect.
- Meet all the requirements, including being currently licensed as a
Class A Day Care facility and currently accredited or in
the process of earning accreditation by the National Association for the
Education
of Young Children (NAEYC). …
NSECD Program Guidelines at 34
NSECD Providers are required to contact and collaborate with their
local public school counterparts. Note that public school systems implementing
LA 4 Prekindergarten Programs are required to hold quarterly meetings to
collaborate with all other governmentally-funded providers of early childhood
education and care, including NSECD Program Provider schools, which serve
children residing within jurisdiction of the public school system. These
public school systems are also required to invite privately funded providers
of early childhood education and enrichment activities, serving children
residing within jurisdiction of the public school system, to participate
in these meetings. …
Requirements for Student
Assessment and Program Evaluation:
La.R.S. § 17:24.8.B
Prior to implementing prekindergarten instruction,
a school board shall set forth . . . a plan for
evaluation of the program results and an explanation
thereof.
LA 4
La.R.S. §17:24.10
. . . H. The state Department of Education shall:
. . . (4) Develop and implement a system of evaluating
the efficiency and effectiveness of LA 4 classes
in improving both the preparedness of students
for elementary school especially focused on reading
readiness as well as a study of the long-term effects
of LA 4 classes on the school success of the participating
students.
Starting Points
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.517
A. The Developing Skills Checklist will be administered
in a pretest and posttest manner. Student assessment
should be used to plan and modify the instructional
program. To help determine the needs of the individual
students when planning for instruction, classroom
teachers are required to maintain a portfolio on
each student. The portfolio will include work samples,
photographs, anecdotal records, skills checklists,
etc. that are indicative of the children's development
based on the Louisiana Standards for Programs
Serving Four-Year-Old Children and the Grade-Level
Expectations. Parent conferences, including information
on the child provided by the parent and conference
notes as well as any referrals should be included
in the portfolio. Portfolios must be kept up-to-date
in the classroom for review during on-site visits.
L.A.C. § 28:XXI.521
A. Each local school system
will be required to report data to the Louisiana
Department of Education documenting the effectiveness
of the program and the progress toward attaining
program goals. The school system
must also submit a final budget detailing exactly
how the allocated funds were spent.
LAC § 28:XXI.523
A. The Department of Education will develop a
schedule cycle for on-site visits to monitor program
quality. Program compliance with guidelines and
implementation of developmentally appropriate practices
will be assessed during on-site visits.
8(g) Program
8(g) Program Prekindergarten Guidelines
Assessment: The Developing Skills Checklist (DSC)
must be completed twice during the year, once about
a month after the child enters the program (pre-assessment)
and again near the end of the year (post-assessment).
In a continuing effort to align the BESE 8(g) Prekindergarten
Program with other statewide prekindergarten initiatives,
all 8(g) funded classes will be required to utilize
a Mobile Scoring Assistant (PDA) along with its
mobile assessment software OR the computer scoring
assistant (web-based application) to record DSC
pre- and post-assessment results.
… To help determine the needs of the individual
students when planning for instruction, classroom
teachers are required to maintain a portfolio on
each student. …
Each Support Fund grantee shall submit an End
of Year Report to the Board within thirty (30)
days after the close of a project period. This
report shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
- benefits achieved by the program;
- results, as evidenced by data collected for
each measurable objective;
- evaluation results analyzed and summarized;
and
- explanation of how equipment purchases will
be utilized in the upcoming fiscal year to continue
the project.
Independent evaluators, contracted by the Board,
will conduct a comprehensive programmatic evaluation
of all funded projects throughout the funding period.…
On-site audits of funded projects will be conducted
by the Board's compliance officers beginning as
the projects close out and continuing throughout
the next fiscal year. These monitoring visits are
in keeping with state auditing practices and will
include a review of compliance with both fiscal
and programmatic procedures relating to the project. …
Non-Public School Program
NSECD Program Guidelines at 30
ASSESSMENT
- Any assessment instruments
used shall be valid, reliable, culturally sensitive
and individually
administered by trained personnel. Information
from such assessments shall be used to plan/modify
program activities to address the specific needs
of individual children. Note: Use of pass/fail
criteria and letter grades are
inappropriate practices for young children.
- To help determine the needs of the individual
students when planning for instruction, classroom
teachers are required to maintain a portfolio on
each student. Data collection in the portfolio
shall indicate child development toward the Louisiana
Standards for Programs Serving Four-Year-Olds and
the supporting Pre-K Grade Level
Expectations. …
NSECD Program Guidelines at 37 et seq.
All NSECD Providers shall have an annual Performance
Review Rating (PRR) …
The Provider shall submit all other information as
specified by The Governor’s Office of Community
Programs for the purpose of evaluating the overall
impact and effectiveness of the NSECD Program toward
attaining goals, including improving the preparedness
of students for academic success and the longitudinal
effects on students’ future educational achievement.
The method for reporting program outcomes shall
be determined by OCP and the NSECD Program Evaluator
and will be specified to each NSECD Program Provider
School. Such reporting used by the Program Evaluator
may include documentation relative to:
- Child progress (Developing
Skills Checklist at pre- and post-program)
- Demographic information for children/families
served
- Teacher qualifications documentation
- Teacher assistant qualifications documentation …
- Other information as specified by OCP …
PROGRAM MONITORING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
- The Governor’s Office of Community Programs
shall contract with qualified early childhood
education experts for the primary purpose of
monitoring the Provider’s compliance with NSECD
Program Provider Responsibilities. Providers
must adhere to all NSECD Program Provider Responsibilities.
Failure to do so will result in the withdrawal
of program funds.
- The NSECD Program monitors will implement a
system for evaluating compliance and the overall
program quality.
- The NSECD Program monitors shall provide limited
technical assistance on implementation of a developmentally
appropriate curriculum, particularly in relation
to appropriate practices for development of emergent
literacy skills.…
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