Chapter 02. Prekindergarten Programs

“Accredited” means meets standards of high quality set by the Department’s Early Childhood Accreditation Program Standards or by an accrediting organization recognized by the Department.

“Bridge to Excellence Master Plan” means the comprehensive master plan required by Education Article, §5-401, Annotated Code of Maryland.

“Department” means the Maryland State Department of Education.

“CDA” means the Child Development Associate Credential.

“Economically disadvantaged background” means a family whose income would make a child eligible for free or reduced price meals based on eligibility requirements established by the United States Department of Agriculture if the child were in kindergarten.

“Eligibility” means meeting the criteria for enrollment into prekindergarten as stated in Regulation .03A of this chapter.

“Head Start” means a federally sponsored preschool program for children 3 years old to 5 years old from low income families that is licensed by Child Care Administration or administered by local boards of education.

“Homeless student” means a child or youth who lacks a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime place of residence as defined in COMAR 13A.05.09.02.

“Maryland Common Core State Curriculum” means measurable statements of what students should know and be able to do within a content area as defined and approved for prekindergarten by the Department in collaboration with local school systems.

Prekindergarten” means a publicly funded program for all eligible 4-year-olds focusing on social/emotional, physical, and cognitive development as described in the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum.

“Qualified vendor” means a State or nationally accredited child care program or an approved nonpublic school that:

“School readiness” means the stage of early development that enables an individual child to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences. As a result of family nurturing and interactions with others, a young child in this stage has reached certain levels of social and emotional development, cognition and general knowledge, language development, and physical well-being and motor development. School readiness acknowledges individual approaches toward learning as well as the unique experiences and backgrounds of each child.

A local school system or qualified vendor may establish a prekindergarten program enrolling 3-year-old applicants who are from economically disadvantaged or homeless families, or who represent a student population that exhibits a lack of school readiness.

A local school system shall be in compliance with 34 CFR §300.115(a)(b) and COMAR 13A.05.01.10 regarding children with disabilities.

A prekindergarten program for 3-year-old children shall meet the requirements of Regulation .05 of this chapter.

Develop and maintain a policy for determining the eligibility and selection of prekindergarten sites as well as the eligibility of 4-year-old students for prekindergarten programs consistent with the requirements of this chapter;

Develop criteria in reference to Regulation .03B and C of this chapter that establishes procedures to include children in the prekindergarten program who are not eligible under Regulation .03A of this chapter;

Operate the prekindergarten educational program 5 days per week for a minimum of 2.5 hours per day consistent with the school calendar approved by the local board;

Analyze the Department-approved kindergarten assessment system information described in COMAR 13A.08.01.02-3 to evaluate the effectiveness of the prekindergarten program, and make necessary adjustments to the prekindergarten instructional program;

Provide data in the Bridge to Excellence Master Plan needs assessment to indicate progress on prekindergarten program goals;

Provide staffing for each session of prekindergarten to include a teacher who possesses a current State professional certificate in early childhood education and a para-professional with a minimum of a high school diploma, or its equivalent, or a CDA;

Align each prekindergarten program with the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum;

Based on the September 30 enrollment count, maintain an average staff to student ratio of 1:10 with an average of 20 students per classroom; and

Provide responses to Department requests for information and data related to the operation of the prekindergarten program.

Maintain State or national early childhood program accreditation;

Have the capacity to meet the responsibilities identified in this regulation;

Be licensed to operate a child care center pursuant to COMAR 13A.16; and

Provide responses to Department requests for information and data related to the operation of the prekindergarten program.