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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="9.5-1102" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2028 PER CHAPTER 779 OF 2023" title_number="9.5" title_name="Division of Early Childhood Development" subtitle_number="11" subtitle_name="Outdoor Preschool License Pilot Program">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>There is an Outdoor Preschool License Pilot Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall administer the Pilot Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department shall convene an advisory group of outdoor, nature–based early learning practitioners to inform and support the implementation of the Pilot Program.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The advisory group shall include representatives from the Outdoor Preschool Licensing Advisory Team established by the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools and other stakeholders with expertise in outdoor, nature–based early learning and child care.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The purpose of the Pilot Program is to license outdoor, nature–based early learning and child care programs in order to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Expand access to affordable, high–quality early learning and child care programs; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Investigate the benefits of outdoor, nature–based classrooms.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
