From the ECS State Policy Database P-3

This database is made possible by your state's fiscal support of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). Most entries are legislative, although rules/regulations and executive orders that make substantive changes are included. Every effort is made to collect the latest available version of policies; in some instances, recent changes might not be reflected. For expediency purposes minimal attention has been paid to style (capitalization, punctuation) and format. Please cite use of the database as: Education Commission of the States (ECS) State Policy Database, retrieved [date]. State Status/Date Level Summary FL Adopted 10/2012 P-12 Standardizes screenings of children enrolled in the School Readiness Program. https://www.flrules.org/gateway/notice_Files.asp?ID=12219495 Title: FL ADC 6M-4.720 Source: www.flrules.org MA Signed into law 09/2012 P-12 Establishes an Early Literacy Expert Panel to develop recommendations to have all students in the commonwealth reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Outlines who will serve on the panel, and logistics including term limits and meeting criteria. Requires the panel to advise the departments of early education and care, elementary and secondary education and higher education and the executive office of education on the refinement and implementation of plans for early literacy development on the following: (1) comprehensive curricula on language and literacy development for children in early education and care programs and grades pre-kindergarten to third grade (2) effective instructional practices to promote children's language and literacy development in early education and care programs and grades pre-kindergarten to third grade (3) pre-service and in-service professional development and training for educators on language and literacy development, the administration of screenings and assessments, and the analysis of data gained through screenings and assessments to make instructional decisions (4) developmentally appropriate screening and assessment to monitor and report on children's progress toward achieving benchmarks in language and literacy development across educational levels prior to third grade and measuring school readiness and children's reading proficiency from pre-kindergarten to third grade (5) family partnership strategies for improving the quality, frequency, and efficacy of home-school interactions to support children's literacy and language development, as well as for building community capacity to support family literacy practices (6) action steps to implement the recommendations contained in "Turning the Page: Refocusing Massachusetts for Reading Success" by Nonie Lesaux. Requires the panel to advise on leveraging existing and new federal grant opportunities and private funding to support language and literacy acquisition for children from birth to third grade. Requires an annual report on the activities of the expert panel in advising the departments and sets forth requirements for the content and availability of the report. http://www.mass.gov/legis/journal/desktop/Current%20Agenda%202011/H4243.pdf Title: H.B. 4243 Source: http://www.malegislature.gov/ OH Signed into law 06/2012 P-12 Directs the state board and the early childhood advisory council, in consultation with the governor's office of 21st century education, to develop legislative recommendations regarding the state's policies on literacy education for birth through 3rd grade with the goal of increasing kindergarten readiness, K-3 reading proficiency, and increasing school success and college- and career-readiness for Ohio's children. Directs the state board and early childhood advisory council to submit these recommendations no later than February 28, 2013. Requires that the recommendations address (1) alignment of state's policies and resources for reading readiness and proficiency from birth through 3rd grade; (2) identification of birth through kindergarten entry strategies to reduce the kindergarten readiness gap, increase literacy success throughout the K-12 continuum, and increase college- and career-readiness; and (3) recommendations for implementing reading proficiency strategies. Page 395 of 401: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText129/129_SB_316_EN_N.pdf Title: S.B. 316 - Birth through 3rd Grade Literacy Education Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us IL Adopted 06/2012 P-12 From Illinois Register: This rulemaking resulted from the State Board of Education's application for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant to design and implement early learning and development systems that are comprehensive in scope and coordinated among the various state agencies charged with administering the programs. As set forth in RTT-ELC, the goals of the federal grant program were to increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children enrolled in high-quality early learning programs; design and implement an integrated system of high-quality early learning programs and services; and ensure the use of certain nationally recommended assessments. As a support to the RTT-ELC application, the State Board in October considered a rulemaking to require school districts to administer a kindergarten readiness survey, starting in school year 2014-15. Funding from the federal grant was for the design and implementation of a survey that would be used to gauge a student's progress during the school year. Unfortunately, Illinois was not successful in its effort to win a RTT-ELC grant. The lack of federal funding now available for the Illinois Kindergarten Individual Development Survey, or KIDS, initiative has resulted in staff's recommendation that the implementation date for districts to begin administering the kindergarten survey be delayed until the 2015-16 school year, provided state funding is available to pay the cost of the survey's administration. It is anticipated that the limited statewide implementation of the KIDS be conducted during two school years – 2013-14 and 2014-15 – rather than one, and the proposed rule is being modified to note the second year. Additionally, the agency removed a requirement for school districts to participate either in a pilot of the survey or a limited statewide implementation, to align with a modification to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 235 (Early Childhood Block Grant), effective April 18, 2012. Finally, the amendments also acknowledge that the Illinois Learning Standards, set forth in Section 1.Appendix D (State Goals for Learning) of the rules, apply to kindergarten. This Section lists the goals and standards for all students, including the common core standards that are for K-12 in English language arts and math. The remaining State-developed goals and standards are the same for kindergarten as they are for other grade levels, with the benchmarks (which are not stated in the rules) specific to the kindergarten level. Page 250-276 of 403: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume36_issue22.pdf Title: 23 IL ADC 1.420; 23 IL ADC 1.APP. D Source: www.cyberdriveillinois.com CO Signed into law 05/2012 P-12 Requires each local education provider (LEP, i.e., school districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services or BOCES, charter schools) to provide to students in kindergarten through 3rd grade the instruction and evidence based interventions necessary to ensure to the greatest extent possible that early-grade students develop the reading skills necessary to enable them to succeed in later grades. Beginning in 2012-13, requires LEPs to report to the department the number of early-grade students with significant reading deficiencies, based on the state board's definition. Beginning in the 2013-14 academic year, requires each LEP to measure reading competency for early-grade students using a combination of assessments approved by the department, which is required to create a list of approved instructional programs and professional development tools. The department will provide training, technical assistance, and coaching as necessary. Creates a process for teachers, parents, and other personnel to create a Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) plan for when a student with significant reading deficiencies is identified. Provides the READ plan is part of the student's academic record until the student achieves reading competency. Creates a process for parents and educators to determine if the student should advance to the next grade level in the next academic year. If the student is completing 3rd grade, the joint decision is subject to approval of the local superintendent, or his/her designee. If the student does not advance, the LEP must provide more rigorous instructional services to the student. Creates the Early Literacy Grant Program in the department to provide funding to LEPs for literacy assessment, instructional support, and appropriate interventions for early-grade learners. Creates the Early Literacy Fund to support the implementation of the act and to provide a source of funds for the grant program. Also describes how funding will be calculated for the program and for per student support. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2012a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/BE80872E0CC93D2987257981007DC105?Open&file=1238_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1238 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us DC Signed into law 04/2012 P-12 Requires the chancellor to establish academic acheivement goals for three and four-year olds, and readiness goals and evaluations for three and four-year olds and for students in kindergarten through 3rd grade. The chancellor also must establish guidelines for academic achievement, develop and implement curricula, and ensure staff and administors are properly trained to carry out the curricula to meet the academic and readiness goals. The chancellor is responsible for tracking and monitoring progress on the goals; developing a plan for students who are not achieving the readiness goals; conducting evaluations of students' readiness; and submitting annual reports to the council and mayor. http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us/images/00001/20120405113239.pdf Title: Bill 19-648 Source: http://dcclims1.dccouncil.us IN Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Requires the education roundtable to establish an advisory committee on early education, with members from around the state, to provide professional and technical assistance to the roundtable. http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/SE/SE0268.1.html Title: S.B. 268 Source: www.in.gov OR Signed into law 03/2012 P-12 Revises the purpose of the Early Learning Council to ensuring that children enter school ready to learn, determines responsibilities, membership and term limits and establishes the Early Learning Council Fund. Requires that the Early Learning Council implement and oversee a system that coordinates the delivery of early learning services to the communities of this state through the use of community-based coordinators of early learning services. Requires that the Child Care Division provide to the Early Learning Council a report that summarizes the development and administration of child care resource and referral policies and practices under this section and the report must be provided at least twice a year and as otherwise required by the Early Learning Council. Funds appropriated pending passage of HB 4082. Establishes the Youth Development Council for the purpose of assisting the board in overseeing a unified system that provides services to school-age children through youth 20 years of age in a manner that supports academic success, reduces criminal involvement and is integrated, measurable and accountable and determines responsibilities and membership. Funds Appropriated pending passage of HB 4082. Abolishes the State Commission on Children and Families and its Account and transfers of duties, functions and powers to the Early Learning Council and the Youth Development Council. Abolishes the Juvenile Crime Prevention Advisory Committee and transfers duties, functions and powers to the Youth Development Council. Abolishes the Commission for Child Care and Account and trasfers duties, functions and powers to the Early Learning Council. Directs the Child Care Division of the Employment Department to initiate development of a tiered quality rating and improvement system for child care facilities. Establishes the Keep Kids Safe Registration Plate Account. http://www.leg.state.or.us/12reg/measpdf/hb4100.dir/hb4165.en.pdf Title: H.B. 4165 Source: leg.state.or.us NM Signed into law 02/2012 P-12 Converts the "K-3 plus" pilot project to a program in the state education department to provide funding for additional educational time for disadvantaged students in kindergarten through third grade to improve numeracy, literacy and social skills. In evaluating applications for K-3 plus, the department shall grant priority to those schools with research-based, scientific reading strategies and programs.The legislation discusses funding for the program and dissemination of information about best practices. http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/12%20Regular/bills/house/HB0014.pdf Title: H.B. 14 Source: http://www.nmlegis.gov NY Signed into law 09/2011 P-12 Requires a provider of special education services or programs to obtain a waiver pursuant to 6503-B (see next paragraph) before providing evaluation services. Provides that to be eligible for approval as an evaluator, a group of appropriately licensed or certified professionals must be formed as a limited liability company or professional services corporation. Provides the approval of any groups of licensed or certified professionals in existence July 1, 2011 that would not be eligible for approval thereafter will terminate on July 1, 2013. Authorizes approved private special education programs to employ licensed professionals or contract with licensed professionals or entities legally authorized to provide professional services. Permits an approved program to operate as any of various specified corporations or limited liability companies, or as a registered limited liability partnership or registered foreign limited liability partnership. Permits a group of appropriately licensed or certified professionals to be formed as either a professional services corporation, or as any of various types of limited liability companies or limited liability partnerships. Establishes parameters on the services different types of corporations, limited liability companies or limited liability partnerships may offer. Creates 6503-B in the education code. Defines "special education school", "early intervention agency", "early intervention program services", "multi-disciplinary evaluation" (of a preschool child who has or is suspected of having a disability). Provides no special education school may conduct components of a multi-disciplinary evaluation, provide related services, or provide an evaluation component or related services by contract without a waiver pursuant to this section. Provides no early intervention agency may employ or contract with individuals or with various legally-established entities to conduct an early intervention program multi-disciplinary evaluation, provide service coordination services or early intervention program services without a waiver pursuant to this section. Identifies information that must be asked for on waiver application and establishes procedures for obtaining a waiver. Provides that the waiver must provide that services rendered pursuant to section 6503-B, directly or indirectly, must be provided only by a person appropriately licensed to provide such services, or by a professional services entity authorized by law to provide such services. Requires each officer, trustee and director of such school or agency to provide an attestation of his/her good moral character. Directs the commissioner of education to promulgate rules regarding the standards for the waiver for special education schools and early intervention agencies; such rules must include standards for the school's or agency's ability to provide services, the school's or agency's maintenance of student or client and business records, the school's or agency's fiscal policies, and other such standards as may be prescribed by the commissioner. Requires the special education school or early intervention agency operating pursuant to a waiver to display a certificate of such waiver at each site where services are provided. Requires each school or agency to re-apply for a waiver every 3 years. Provides an early intervention agency's waiver may not be renewed unless the agency is approved to provide early intervention program multi-disciplinary evaluations, service coordination or early intervention program services. Creates provisions regarding the renewal of a waiver. Provides a special education school or early intervention agency is under the supervision of the regents of the university of the state of New York and is subject to disciplinary proceedings and penalties. Provides a special education school or early intervention agency operating under a waiver is subject to suspension, revocation or annulment of the waiver for cause. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S05524&term=2011&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y Title: S.B. 5524 Source: assembly.state.ny.us IA Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Allows a grantee to direct the use of moneys received to serve any qualifying child ranging in age from three years old to five years oId, regardless of the age of population indicated on the grant request in its initial year of application. A grantee is encouraged to consider the degree to which the program complements existing programs and services for three-year-oId, four-year-old, and five-year-old at-risk children available in the area, including other child care and preschool services, services provided through a school district, and services available through an area education agency. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/linc/84/external/govbills/HF645.pdf Title: H.F. 645 - Multiple Sections Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Establishes the Early Childhood Education Cabinet. Creates, by July 1, 2013, a coordinated system of early care and education and child development (system) and requires the governor to appoint a planning director, by July 15, 2011, to develop a plan to implement the new system. Eliminates the State Department of Education's Office of Early Childhood Planning, Outreach, and Coordination and requires the Department of Education to begin a state-wide longitudinal evaluation of the school readiness program; and to amend the membership of the Early Childhood Education Cabinet and add certain duties to the cabinet. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/Pa/pdf/2011PA-00181-R00SB-01103-PA.pdf Title: S.B. 1103 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov CT Signed into law 07/2011 P-12 Sec. 1 - Establishes a task force to address the academic achievement gaps in Connecticut by considering effective approaches to closing the achievement gaps in elementary, middle and high schools. Requires the task force to submit a master plan to the General Assembly by July 1, 2012. Provides that the task force must terminate on January 1, 2020. Sec. 2 - Establishes an Interagency Council for Ending the Achievement Gap (the council) to assist the achievement gap task force, in the development of the master plan to eliminate the academic achievement gaps in Connecticut, implement the provisions of the master plan, and, if necessary, make recommendations for legislation relating to the master plan to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly. Directs the council to submit annual progress reports on the implementation of the master plan to the General Assembly. Sec. 3 - Permits local or regional boards of education for schools designated as low-achieving under state law to increase the number of school sessions each year and the number of school hours each day in order to improve student performance and remove the school from the list of low-achieving schools. Sec. 4 - Provides that the summer reading program required in priority school districts must be offered to children enrolled in kindergarten who are determined by their school to be substantially deficient in reading based on measures established by the State Board of Education. Directs each priority school district to require the schools under its jurisdiction to assess the reading level of students enrolled in kindergarten at the end of the school year and in grades 1-3 at the beginning, middles and end of the school year (assessment was previously only required in grades 1-3 at the middle and end of the school year). Required individual reading plans must be monitored by school literacy teams that will consist of, but not be limited to, teachers, school reading specialists, internal or external reading consultants, the school principal and the provider of the additional instruction. Adds kindergarten to the grade range for which priority school districts may require students found substantially deficient in reading to attend summer school. Sec. 5 - Permits the Commissioner of Education to identify schools to participate in a pilot study for the purposes of promoting best practices in early literacy and closing the academic achievement gaps. Sec. 6 - Provides that the required statement of educational goals (which identify specific expectations for students in terms of skills, knowledge and competence) prepared by the board of education be annually established. Sec. 7 - Requires, on and after July 1, 2011, any person applying for a certification in the endorsement area of elementary education to achieve a satisfactory evaluation on the appropriate State Board of Education approved mathematics assessment in order to be eligible for such elementary education endorsement. Sec. 8 - Requires, not later than July 1, 2012, the Department of Education to approve and make available model curricula and frameworks in reading and mathematics for grades prekindergarten to grade four, inclusive, for use by boards of education for school districts or individual schools identified by the department as having academic achievement gaps. Sec. 9 - Requires the Connecticut School Reform Resource Center (the Center) to provide a program of professional development activities for teachers to educate such students that includes research-based child development and reading instruction tools and practices. Requires the Center to develop strategies for assisting such students who are in danger of failing and develop culturally-relevant methods for educating students whose primary language is not English. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/ACT/PA/2011PA-00085-R00SB-00929-PA.htm Title: S.B. 929 Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov NV Vetoed 06/2011 P-12 Provides for the establishment by statute of the Early Childhood Advisory Council by the director of the Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that the Nevada Early Childhood Advisory Council is to be deemed to be the Council required to be established by the Director until such time as the director revises the membership or duties of the Council. The bill requires the Council, in consultation with the Department of Education, to establish goals for the training of persons who are employed in early childhood care in the Pre-Kindergarten Content Standards developed by the Department of Education, assist in developing standards and qualifications for such training, develop standards for professional development. Requiring certain training of persons who are employed in early childhood care; requiring annual reports concerning such training to be submitted to the Department of Education and the Legislative Committee on Education; requiring the Board for Child Care to adopt regulations establishing requirements for courses of training in child care for employees of a child care facility; makes an appropriation. http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/76th2011/Bills/AB/AB546_EN.pdf Title: A.B. 546 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us FL Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Creates the Department of Economic Opportunity. Transfers the functions and trust funds of the Agency for Workforce Innovation to other agencies. Transfers the Ready to Work program from the Department of Education (DOE) to the Department of Economic Opportunity. Transfers the Office of Early Learning Services to the DOE and provides that the DOE may not impose requirements or standards on early learning programs beyond those authorized in law for voluntary prekindergarten (Sec. 12). Consolidates public-private economic development partnerships. http://laws.flrules.org/files/Ch_2011-142.pdf Title: S.B. 2156 Source: http://laws.flrules.org ME Vetoed 06/2011 P-12 Original bill language proposed to create a unified early childhood education system. An adopted amendment replaced the bill with a resolve requiring the Maine Children's Growth Council to establish and convene a stakeholder group to identify options and alternatives to improve the efficacy and efficiency of Maine's early childhood system. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_125th/billtexts/SP016002.asp Title: S.P. 160 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org MI Signed into law 06/2011 P-12 Provides one-time competitive grants to intermediate districts for the creation of and continuance of great start communities or other community purposes as identify by the early childhood investment corporation. Requires each grant to fund: (1) Completion of a community needs assessment and strategic plan for the creation of a comprehensive system of early childhood services and supports, accessible to all children from birth to kindergarten and their familes; (2) Identification of local resources and services for children with disabilities, developmental delays, or special needs and their families; (3) Coordination and expansion of infrastructure of support high-quality early childhood and childcare programs; and (4) Evaluation of local programs. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2011-2012/publicact/htm/2011-PA-0062.htm Title: H.B. 4325 - Early Childhood Provisions Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov NM Signed into law 04/2011 P-12 The Act establishes a comprehensive early childhood care and education system through an aligned continuum of state and private programs, including home visitation, early intervention, child care, early head start, head start, early childhood special education, family support and prekindergarten, and to maintain or establish the infrastructure necessary to support quality in the system's programs. Establishes the state Early Learning Advisory Council as required by the federal Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007. http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/11%20Regular/final/SB0120.pdf Title: S.B. 120 Source: http://www.nmlegis.gov/ CA Signed into law 03/2011 P-12 Amends eligibility requirements for children to receive child care and development services. Existing law provides children must be at least 13 or younger. Under amendment, eligible children are: --Age 10 or younger --Children with exceptional needs --Children 12 years of age or younger who are recipients of child protective services or at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation --Children 12 years of age or younger who are provided services during nontraditional hours --Children 12 years of age or younger who are homeless --Children who are 11 and 12 years of age, as funding permits. From bill summary: Specifies that a child who is 11 or 12 years old and who is otherwise eligible for subsidized child care and development services, except for his or her age, must be given first priority for enrollment, and in cases of programs operating at full capacity, first priority on the waiting list for a before- or after-school program, and requires contractors to provide each family of an otherwise eligible 11- or 12-year-old with information about the availability of before- and after-school programs in the family's community. Removes provisions requiring contractors to report savings to the department. Amends definition of "income eligible" for purposes of participation in the Child Care and Development Services Act. Provides that an eligible family's adjusted monthly income is at or below 70% (formerly 75%) of the state median income. Provides for the reduction of child care and development services, and the disenrollment of specified families from subsidized child care services, in accordance with prescribed priorities. Pages 15-21 of 81: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_0051-0100/sb_70_bill_20110324_chaptered.pdf Title: S.B. 70 - Sec. 8201, 8208, 8263.1 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov AZ Rejected by voters 11/2010 P-12 Submits an act to the electorate; concerns repeal of the Early Childhood Development and Health Board; repeals provisions of existing law that relate to early childhood development and health programs; provides for monies levied and collected for the Early Childhood Development and Education Fund to be deposited in the General Fund, separately accounted for, and appropriated for health and human services for children. Title: HCR 2001 Source: StateNet.com TN Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Requires a parent or caretaker relative receiving temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) services to participate in either a parent education training class or a program of volunteer service in a school. http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/106/Bill/HB2644.pdf Title: H.B. 2644 Source: http://www.capitol.tn.gov/ KS Issued 06/2010 P-12 To enhance early educational opportunities for Kansas children, Governor Mark Parkinson has created the Kansas Early Childhood Advisory Council. The Council will build on the work of the Kansas Children's Cabinet, the Kansas Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Plan and the Kansas Early Learning Coordinating Council. It will conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment concerning the quality and availability of early childhood education and development programs and services for children from birth to school entry. This will include an assessment of the availability of high-qualith pre-kindergarten services for low-income child in Kansas. The advisory council will develop recommendations for increasing the overall participation of children in existing child care and early childhood education programs, as well as recommendations regarding the establishment of a unified data collection system. http://www.ksde.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6t69UQyKt7A%3d&tabid=4397 Title: E.O. 10-04 Source: Governor's Office IL Issued 06/2010 P-12 Creates the Office of Early Childhood Development in the governor's office. Provides that the purpose of the office is to coordinate the work of the Council and its committees, and support collaborative efforts to coordinate, improve, and expand existing early childhood programs and services for children from birth to age five and their families. Provides that the office will: -- Be responsible for reporting annually on the work of the council as required by the Illinois Early Learning Council Act (Public Act 93-380), and will be responsible for ensuring that the council continues to meet the requirements for state advisory councils as outlined in the Head Start Act. --Develop initiatives that address and promote access, quality and accountability in early childhood services. --Work across state agencies to assist in the implementation of recommendations of the council, and analyze and discern policy challenges and opportunities in the state. http://www.illinois.gov/gov/execorders/docs/execorder2010-08.pdf Title: Executive Order 8 Source: www.illinois.gov NH Signed into law 06/2010 P-12 Postsec. Requires early childhood programs and postsecondary institutions to submit a report to the department of education containing information on pupil indicators in the following areas: (a) Attendance rates. (b) Annual and cumulative drop-out rates of high school pupils and annual drop-out rates for pupils in grades 7 and 8. (c) School environment indicators, such as safe-schools data. (d) Number and percentage of graduating pupils going on to post-secondary education, military service, and advanced placement participation. (e) Performance on state tests administered pursuant to RSA 193-C and other standardized tests administered at local option. (f) Expulsion and suspension rates, including in-school and out-of-school suspensions, which shall be reported for each school year. (g) Number and percentage of classes taught by highly qualified teachers. (h) Teacher and administrative turnover rates at the school and district levels. Requires the department of education to collect and integrate such information into the data warehouse. Requires early childhood programs and postsecondary institutions to participate in the unique pupil identification system. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/SB0503.html Title: S.B. 503 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us VT Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Repeals prior language and replaces with language that codifies the Building Bright Futures Council. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/S-268.pdf Title: S.B. 268 Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us MN Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Requires charter schools that elect to provide a screening program to comply with the requirements of the early childhood health and development screening program. Requires charter schools that provide screening to inform families that apply for admission to the charter school. Requires charter schools that provide early childhood health and developmental screening to comply with the requirements of the program. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2505.1.html&session=ls86 Title: S.F. 2505 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov MN Signed into law 05/2010 P-12 Adds the commissioner of health, or the commissioner's designee, to the membership of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care.     Modifies the duties of the council by providing additional direction to the council regarding making recommendations on how to coordinate or co-locate early childhood and child care programs into one state Office of Early Learning and adding requirements that the council make recommendations to the governor and the legislature on creating a statewide school readiness report card and on how to screen and comprehensively assess children for school readiness. Requires the council to report its recommendations to the governor and the legislature by January 15, 2012, with an interim report on February 15, 2011. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2505.1.html&session=ls86 Title: S.F. 2505 Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov HI Became law without governor's signature 04/2010 P-12 Allows the Early Learning Council to conduct meetings by teleconference. Sets out quorum requirements and public notice and participation requirements for teleconference meetings. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/Bills/SB2121_.HTM Title: S.B. 2121 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov CO Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Creates the Quality in Child Care Incentive Grant Program with the objective of providing incentives to county or district departments of social services to increase the quality of early care and education providers and facilities in the county while allowing each grantee to retain flexibility concerning how to utilize its resources. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/486192A5F140B210872576A80026B13F?open&file=1026_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1026 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us CO Signed into law 04/2010 P-12 Creates the early childhood educator development scholarship program in the department of education. The program will provide scholarships to persons who are employed in early childhood development who are pursuing an associate of arts degree in early childhood education. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2010a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/E5651CFE1C233C14872576A80026B1B6?open&file=1030_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1030 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us ME Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Requires the Education Research Institute to include in the information that it collects and analyzes, information on early care and public preschool programs (previously the Institute was only required to collect information on K-12). http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC540.asp Title: H.B. 1261 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org WA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Promotes Early learning; requires the Department of Early Learning to develop a comprehensive birth-to- three plan to provide education and support through a continuum of options; provides the legislation intends to fund home visits, infant and toddler child care subsidies, family home and center-based child care programs, professional development, and early literacy programs; provides that the department's programs shall be designed to recognize and honor cultural and linguistic diversity. Chapter 232 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2867-S2.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 2867 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov.PL.pdf WA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Modifies the composition and duties of the Early Learning Advisory Council; requires the council to advise the Department of Early Learning on statewide issues that would build a comprehensive system of quality early learning programs and services for Washington's children and families by assessing needs and the availability of services, aligning resources, developing plans for data collection and professional development of early childhood educators, and establishing key performance measures. Chapter No. 12 Title: S.B. 5617 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Creates an Early Learning Program for educationally at-risk three- and four-year-old children, including special education children. Implements the program in phases with full implementation being in the 2018-19 school year. Initial year is 2011-12 school year. The program is voluntary. In addition to a comprehensive program for early child education the program will also provide family support, options for parental involvement, and health information, screening and referral services as family need is determined. Chapter 231 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2731-S2.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 2731 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov WA Signed into law 03/2010 P-12 Requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with assistant and support from the department of early learning, to convene a technical working group to develop a comprehensive plan for a voluntary program of early learning. Requires the quality education council to: (1) monitor and oversee the working group; and (2) report to the legislature its recommendations for a comprehensive plan for a voluntary program of early learning. Changes the duties and composition of the early learning advisory council. Chapter 234 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/6759-S.PL.pdf Title: S.B. 6759 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov DE Signed into law 02/2010 P-12 Modifies the responsibilities of the state's Mangement Resource Committee and Early Childhood Council to align the operations of those entities with guidelines under the federal Head Start program. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+470/$file/legis.html?open Title: H.B. 470 Source: http://legis.delaware.gov IL Signed into law 01/2010 P-12 Requires the department of human services to operate a comprehensive professional development system called the Gateways to Opportunity program. Directs the department of human services to award Gateways to Opportunity credentials to early care and education, school-age, and youth development practitioners, based on a variety of professional achievements in field experience, knowledge and skills, educational attainment and training accomplishments. Specifies the Gateways to Opportunity program must identify professional knowledge guidelines that define what all practitioners working with children and youth need to know and be able to do to support children's and youth's development, school readiness and school success Provides that a child who has attended a private preschool and attended a kindergarten class at that school taught by an appropriately certified teacher, who will turn 6 on or before December 31, may attend 1st grade in a public school at the beginning of that school year, upon an assessment of the child's readiness. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/HB/PDF/09600HB0806lv.pdf Title: H.B. 806 Source: www.ilga.gov OH Adopted 01/2010 P-12 Revises rules relating to definitions http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/32/3301-32-01_PH_FF_A_RU_20100112_1441.pdf, staff http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/32/3301-32-02_PH_FF_A_RU_20100112_1441.pdf, health and safety http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/32/3301-32-06_PH_FF_A_RU_20100112_1441.pdf, licensure and monitoring http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/32/3301-32-11_PH_FF_A_RU_20100112_1441.pdf. Repeals and adopts new rules relating to complaint investigation http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/32/3301-32-12_PH_FF_N_RU_20100112_1441.pdf. Requires staff to sign a non-guilty/non-conviction statement on an annual basis. Allows volunteers to be used as staff members if they pass a criminal background check, provide a signed non-guilty/non-conviction statement, and meet other criteria. Requires school child care programs to have emergency drill practice at least once per quarter during the school year and at least once during a summer program. Requires all programs to be inspected at least once every 12 months, and permits inspections to be unannounced. Title: OAC 3301-32-01, -02, -06, -11, -12 Source: www.registerofohio.state.oh.us CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 States findings and declarations regarding children of youth who are in custody, or on probation or in the foster care system. Requires priority for participation in state preschool programs to be given to children who have a biological custodial parent who is, or who has recently been a dependent or ward of the juvenile court pursuant to specified provisions of law. Prohibits priority enrollment from being used to displace children who are currently receiving care. Bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_769_bill_20090908_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_769_vt_20091012.html Title: A.B. 769 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Vetoed 10/2009 P-12 Provides legislative findings and declarations on nutrition and health in children's early years. Requires the superintendent of public instruction to establish a minimum 12-month pilot program in which selected child care centers and day care homes participating in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program must implement certain nutrition and physical activity standards in exchange for a higher state meal reimbursement. Requires the department of education to design and implement the program. Requires the department to contract with an independent agency within a year of the conclusion of the program to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the pilot program, and for the evaluation results to be sent to senate and assembly education committees. Identifies components that must be included in the evaluation. Provides that this program will only be implemented if the superintendent determines that non-General Fund funding sources, including, but not limited to, federal funding or grant sources, are available to implement it. Establishes January 2015 repeal date. Bill: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0601-0650/ab_627_bill_20090910_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0601-0650/ab_627_vt_20091012.html Title: A.B. 627 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Relates to the Early Childhood Education Block Grant. Replaces provision that 11% of grant to be used to fund programs for children age 0-3 with provision that at least 11% of grant be used for such purposes. Requires this percentage to increase to 20% by the 2015 fiscal year. Provides exceptions to these provisions. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB1412lv.pdf Title: S.B. 1412 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation IL Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Requires grantees under the Preschool for All Children program to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the appropriate local Head Start agency within three months of the awarding of the grantee's grant. Requires collaboration between the grantee's program and the local Head Start agency on certain specified issues, including educational activities, public information, service areas, selection priorities for eligible children, maximizing impact of state and federal funding, staff training, parental outreach and transportation. Provides that if the local Head Start agency is unwilling or unable to enter into an MOU, the requirement does not apply and the grantee under the program must notify the state board of education in writing of the Head Start agency's inability or unwillingness. Directs the state board of education to compile all such written notices and make them publicly available. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/96/SB/PDF/09600SB0079lv.pdf Title: S.B. 79 Source: www.ilga.gov ND Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Relates to the creation of an early childhood services advisory board to advise during a review of all early childhood services rules. The recommendations, the goal of which is to streamline and improve the quality of the early childhood services process, must seek to balance the need for rules that ensure safe quality child care with the need to revise or eliminate rules that create unnecessary barriers for early childhood service providers. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JBLR0600.pdf Title: H.B. 1472 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov OH Signed into law 08/2009 P-12 Partially from DOE summary of H.B. 1: Reduces the number of annual inspections of preschool programs and licensed school child programs by the department of education from twice during each 12-month period of operation to once each 12-month period of operation. Permits the department of education to inspect any program more than once during any 12-month period if considered necessary by the department. Existing provision required at least one annual inspection to be unannounced. Amendment allows all inspections to be unannounced. DOE summary of H.B. 1: http://www.education.ohio.gov/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=71635 Pages 1023-1024 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3301.57 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us CA Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Section 4: Repeals Section 8278 of the Education Code, which made child development appropriations, with the exception of funds appropriated for the After School Learning and Safe Neighborhoods Partnerships Program and for CalWORKs child care, available for expenditure for 3 years, and required the Superintendent of Public Instruction to establish criteria and procedures for the reallocation of unearned contract funds in the 2nd and 3rd years of availability, in accordance with specified priorities. Section 5: Amends Section 8279.7, regarding the retention of qualified child care employees who work directly with children who receive state-subsidized child care services. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/abx4_2_bill_20090728_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2D - Sections 4 and 5 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Section 3301.90:Creates the Early Childhood Advisory Council to serve as the federally mandated state advisory council for early childhood education and care, and to advise the state regarding the creation and duties of the Center for Early Childhood Development in the state department of education. Directs the council to promote family-centered programs and services that acknowledge and support the social, emotional, cognitive, intellectual and physical development of children and the vital role of families in ensuring the well-being and success of children. Section 265.70.20: Directs the Early Childhood Advisory Council (as created by H.B. 1) to establish an Early Childhood Financing Workgroup, to be chaired by the chair of the Early Childhood Advisory Council. Directs the workgroup to develop recommendations exploring the implementation of a single finance system for early care and education programs that includes aligned payment mechanisms and consistent eligibility and co-payment policies. Directs the workgroup to submit its recommendations to the governor by December 31, 2009, upon which time the workgroup shall cease to exist. DOE summary of H.B. 1: http://www.education.ohio.gov/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=71635 Pages 1045-1046 and 2839 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3301.90 and 265.70.20 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 3317.03: Requires each student enrolled in kindergarten to be counted as a full-time equivalent student regardless of whether or not the student is enrolled in full-day kindergarten class. 3321.01: Repeals references permitting a district that is not eligible to receive poverty-based assistance for all-day kindergarten to charge fees or tuition for students enrolled in all-day kindergarten. 3321.05: Defines "all day kindergarten" as a kindergarten class that is in session five days a week for at least the same number of clock hours each day as for students in grades 1-6. Provides that, beginning in FY 2011, districts must provide all-day kindergarten to each kindergarten student. Allows local boards to apply to the state superintendent for a waiver from the all-day kindergarten for all students requirement. Permits the state superintendent, in determining whether to grant the waiver, to consider space concerns or alternative delivery approaches the district may use. Requires districts to accommodate kindergarten students whose parents wish to enroll them in half-day kindergarten. Permits a district to use space in a child day-care center licensed by the department of job and family services to provide all-day kindergarten to district students. 265.70.70: Authorizes any district or community school that in FY 2009 charged fees or tuition for students in all-day kindergarten, as it existed prior to the effective date of this section, to charge fees or tuition to all-day kindergarten students in FY 2010 and FY 2011, at the same per student rate charged in FY 2009. Bars districts and community schools from charging fees or tuition for all-day kindergarten after FY 2011. Pages 1310-1324, 1403-1407 and 2841 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3317.03, 3321.01, 3321.05 and 265.70.70 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Repeals provision in 3319.22 that directed the state board to adopt the standards and requirements for temporary, associate, provisional and professional teacher licenses. Establishes a 4-year "resident educator" license to allow an educator to complete the Ohio teacher residency program (applicants must hold at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited teacher education program). Also establishes "professional educator license" (applicants must have successfully completed the Ohio teacher residency program), "senior professional educator license" (applicants must hold at least a master's degree, have previously held a professional educator license and meet the criteria for the accomplished or distinguished level of performance, as described in the standards for teachers adopted by the state board under section 3319.61) and "lead professional educator license" (applicants must hold at least a master's degree, have previously held a professional educator license or a senior professional educator license, meet the criteria for the distinguished level of performance and either hold National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification or meet the criteria for a master teacher or other criteria for a lead teacher adopted by the educator standards board under division (F)(4) or (5) of section 3319.61). Provides that all non-resident-educator licenses are to be valid for five years and renewable. Repeals provision that no license can be required for teaching children age two or younger. Allows state board to adopt any additional educator licenses, and directs the state board to adopt rules establishing the standards and requirements for obtaining each resident educator, professional educator, senior professional educator and lead professional educator license. Directs the state board to align the standards and qualifications for obtaining a principal license with the standards for principals adopted by the state board under section 3319.61. Repeals 3319.23, which directed the state board to (1) establish standards and courses of study for the preparation of teachers, (2) provide for the inspection of teacher preparation programs, (3) approve teacher preparation programs, and (4) license the graduates of approved courses and institutions. (New Section 3333.048 directs the chancellor of the Ohio board of regents and the state superintendent to establish metrics for and approve teacher preparation programs.) Pages 1375 and 2725 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf DOE summary of H.B. 1: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=71635 Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3319.22 and 3319.23 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Establishes the "Help Me Grow" advisory council, to serve as the state interagency coordinating council, as described in 20 U.S.C. 1441. Establishes duties of the council. Authorizes the council to advise and assist the departments of health and education on the provision of appropriate services for children age five and younger, and to advise appropriate agencies on the integration of services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and at-risk infants and toddlers and their families, regardless of whether at-risk infants and toddlers are eligible for early intervention services. Directs the council to promote family-centered programs and services that acknowledge and support the social, emotional, cognitive, intellectual and physical development of children, and the vital role of families in ensuring the well-being and success of children. Section 289.20: Establishes criteria that home-visiting programs must meet to be eligible for Help Me Grow funding. Pages 1526-1528 and 2858-2859 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 3701.611 and 289.20 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Directs the governor to appoint to the early childhood cabinet a representative of a board of health of a city or general health district or an authority having the duties of a board of health Pages 2801-2802 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 265.10.23 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Partially from DOE summary of H.B. 1: Continues the GRF-funded early childhood education program at school districts, joint vocational school districts or educational service centers for children at least three years old as of the district entry date for kindergarten (except that children with an IEP where the early childhood education program is the least restrictive environment may be enrolled on their third birthday), not eligible for kindergarten, and whose families earn not more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Requires providers to develop a sliding fee scale based on family income, for families that earn more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. To receive state funding, an early childhood education program must: (1) Meet teacher qualification requirements applicable to early childhood education programs (2) Align its curriculum to the department of education's early learning content standards (3) Comply with any child or program assessment requirements prescribed by the department (4) Require teachers, except those working toward an associate's or bachelor's degree in a related field, to attend at least 20 hours of professional development every two years (5) Document and report child progress (6) Meet and report compliance with the department's early learning program guidelines. Authorizes the department to examine a provider's financial and program records. Provides that if the program's financial practices are not in keeping with standard accounting principles or do not meet specified financial standards, or if the program fails to substantially meet the early learning program guidelines or exhibits below average performance as measured against the guidelines, the early childhood education program must propose and implement a department-approved corrective action plan, which must include a schedule for monitoring by the department. Defines activities that may be categorized under "monitoring". Authorizes the department to withhold funding pending corrective action. Provides that if an early childhood education program fails to satisfactorily complete a corrective action plan, the department may deny expansion funding to the program or withdraw all or part of the program's funding and establish a new eligible provider through a department-determined selection process. Page 2798-2801 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf DOE summary of H.B. 1: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/DocumentManagement/DocumentDownload.aspx?DocumentID=71635 Legislative analysis of H.B. 1 (starting page 219): http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses128/h0001-i-128.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 265.10.20 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Creates a committee to study publicly funded child care services, including the Early Learning Initiative as re-established by H.B. 1. Requires that the study include the following: (1) The effects of changing the definitions of full-time and part-time care on: (a) Children, families and providers of care, including the effects on the quality of care (b) Number of children served and the availability/accessibility of subsidized care to caregivers with full- and part-time jobs (c) Availability of full- and part-time care in areas with a high incidence of poverty (d) Private pay rates (e) Closure of centeres and center programs (f) Loss of jobs in the child care industry. (2) The effects of changes to the Early Learning Initiative on families and children, including: (a) Distribution and use of program slots across the state (b) Effect of mandatory participation in the voluntary child day-care center quality-rating program as described in Section 5104.30 on program quality (c) Outcomes in terms of school readiness and other related factors for participating children. Directs the committee to prepare a report of its findings by June 30, 2010 and to provide a copy of the report to the governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate, at which time the committee will cease to exist. Pages 2898-2899 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 309.40.70 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 From Legislative Service Commission summary of H.B. 1: Re-establishes the Early Learning Initiative (ELI) to provide early learning services on full-day or partial-day basis to eligible children. Provides the program is to be jointly administered by the department of education and the department of job and family services. Establishes responsibilities of each entity in administering the program. Pages 2894-2898 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Legislative Service Commission summary of H.B. 1 (pages 221-225 of 492): http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses128/h0001-i-128.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 309.40.60 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Directs the governor and the state superintendent to create the Center for Early Childhood Development in the department of education, comprised of staff from the DOE, department of job and family services, department of health, and any other state agency as the governor and state superintendent determine necessary. Directs the governor and the state superintendent to hire a center director to report to the governor and state superintendent. Provides that the center must research and make recommendations about the coordination of early childhood programs and services, beginning with prenatal care and continuing until kindergarten entry, and the eventual transfer of authority for these programs and services from other state agencies to the department of education. Directs the Center for Early Childhood Development to promote family-centered programs and services that acknowledge and support the social, emotional, cognitive, intellectual and physical development of children and the vital role of families in ensuring children's well-being and success. Requires the center director by December 31, 2009 to submit to the superintendent and governor an implementation plan that includes research and recommendations on: (1) The identification of programs, services and funding sources to be transferred from other state agencies to the department of education (2) A new administrative structure in the department of education to implement early childhood programs and services (3) Statutory changes necessary to implement the new administrative structure in the department of education (4) A timeline for the transition from the current administrative structure in other state agencies to the new administrative structure in the department of education. Authorizes the director of budget and management to seek Controlling Board approval for specified finance-related activities to support the preparation of an implementation plan to create a new administrative structure for early childhood programs and services in the department of education. Pages 2838-2839 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 265.70.10 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us OH Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Defines "independent child care provider" as either a licensed provider who does not meet the definition of "employee" under the National Labor Relations Act, or a certified or licensed provider or in-home aide who is not a county or state employee. Authorizes independent child care providers to: (1) Form, join, assist or participate in any representative organization of their choosing (2) Engage in additional concerted activities for purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection (3) Be represented by a representative organization (4) Bargain collectively with the state to determine wages, hours, terms, other conditions of employment within the state's control, the amendment of existing collective bargaining provisions, and enter into a collective bargaining agreement (5) Present grievances and have them adjusted without the intervention of the representative organization, within the parameters of the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Provides that a representative organization shall become the exclusive collective bargaining representative of all independent child care providers by either filing a request with the state to be recognized as an exclusive representative, or by being certified by an impartial election monitor as described in the governor's executive order 2008-02S for independent child care providers. Specifies the supporting evidence that must be included in a representative organization's request for recognition as the exclusive collective bargaining representative for independent child care providers in the state. Bars the state from recognizing another representative organization as the exclusive representative if a lawful written agreement, contract or memorandum of understanding between the state and another representative organization has been recognized by the state. Requires all matters pertaining to wages, hours, terms and other conditions of employment within the state's control and the continuation or amendment of any existing collective bargaining agreement to be subject to collective bargaining between the state and the exclusive representative. Provides that all of the aforementioned provisions must remain in effect until the end of the current governor's term in office as governor. Pages 3081-3084 of 3120: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/BillText128/128_HB_1_EN_N.pdf Title: H.B. 1 - Section 741.01, 741.02, 741.03, 741.04, 741.05, 741.06 and 741.07 Source: www.legislature.state.oh.us HI Became law without governor's signature 07/2009 P-12 Bars schools from moving students between junior kindergarten and kindergarten, except in cases in which the move is warranted and based on appropriate assessments. Beginning with the 2010-11 school year, requires the department to use assessment tools and protocols for determining a student's initial placement and for decision making about a student's movement between tiers and into grade 1. Permits a junior kindergarten student to be promoted directly to grade 1, based on appropriate assessments and other data. Directs the state early learning council to develop a plan to ensure that the needs of junior kindergarteners are addressed, including in the areas of curriculum, quality of teachers and aides, incorporating state preschool content standards for junior kindergarteners and effective transitions between the early learning system and kindergarten. Allows designees of certain members to serve as voting members of the early learning council. Adds a representative from a Head Start provider agency or the representative's designee. Changes "keiki first steps trust fund" to "early learning trust fund." http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/SB1329_CD1_.HTM Title: S.B. 1329 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov NY Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Provides for state reimbursement of municipalities for school supportive health services provided to preschool students with disabilities and for allocation of the moneys to the department of health and the municipality. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A08893&sh=t Title: A.B. 8893 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MO Signed into law 07/2009 P-12 Creates pilot program within the Missouri Preschool Project. Program will serve up to 1250 students with preschool services and be administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood. School districts that are classified as unaccredited and non-sectarian community-based organizations located within such school districts may receive grants. Grants run for three years and are renewable. At least 50 percent of the placements must be offered through non-sectarian community-based organizations. Children who are one to two years away from kindergarten entry may participate in the program. Children of active duty military personnel will receive admission preference. The program must comply with current early childhood standards. Community-based organizations may employ teachers with at least an associate's degree provided they show they are on the path to obtaining a bachelor's degree within five years. School districts and community-based organizations must collect both short- and long-term data about student performance where feasible and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must make a good faith effort to collect long-term student performance data. The Department will accept applications in competitive bid process to begin implementing the program in the 2010-2011 school year. Grants awarded in this program are subject to appropriation. http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/bills/sb291.htm Title: S.B. 291--Missouri Preschool Plus Grant Program Source: http://www.senate.mo.gov OR Adopted 06/2009 P-12 Amends rules relating to private prekindergarten through grade 12 schools. Relates to compliance with fire safety, child care and sanitation standards. Implements child abuse reporting and training. OREGON 30409 Title: OAR 581-045-0500 to -0575 non seq. Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OR Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a pilot project for the purpose of assisting federal Head Start program providers located in the State with adopting and implementing health literacy programs that empower consumers of health care to better communicate with health care professionals and to more effectively seek appropriate levels of care. Chapter 573 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/hb3000.dir/hb3041.en.pdf Title: H.B. 3041 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us/ TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Authorizes the Texas Education Agency to seek, accept and distribute grants awarded by the federal government or any other public or private entity for the benefit of public elementary and secondary education. Authorizes the commissioner, for purposes of determining program eligibility for federal grant funds, that a Head Start program run by a school district or a community-based organization serves the function of an elementary school by providing elementary education at one or more program facilities. Specifies that this does not make the Head Start program eligible for state funds for which it would not otherwise be eligible. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB00635F.pdf Title: H.B. 635 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Creates the Council on Children and Families to coordinate the state's health, education and human services systems to ensure that children and families have access to needed services, and improve efficiency in the provision of services. Establishes council membership, including the commissioner of education. Specifies the duties of the council, including, among others: (1) Analyze council members' biennial legislative appropriation requests and identify appropriations that, through coordination, could be modified in the next request to eliminate waste or increase available services (2) Investigate opportunities to increase flexible funding for health, education and human services for children and families (3) Identify methods to remove barriers to local coordination of health, education and human services provided to children and families (4) Identify methods to ensure that children and youth receive appropriate assessment, diagnoses and intervention services. Authorizes council members to enter into memoranda of understanding with other agencies to implement any method, process, policy, or recommendation identified as part of the council's duties. Establishes procedures that must be followed before a method, process, policy or recommendation is implemented. Directs the council to issue to the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative members a biennial report containing specified content, including recommendations of any legislation needed to improve a statewide system of quality health, education and human services for children and families. Establishes September 2019 sunset provision. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB01646F.pdf Title: S.B. 1646 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us TX Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Defines "children with special needs" as children younger than 22 diagnosed with a chronic illness, intellectual or other developmental disability, or serious mental illness. Creates the Interagency Task Force for Children with Special Needs to improve the coordination, quality and efficiency of services for children and youth with special needs. Directs the task force, among other duties, to: (1) Develop a coordinated strategic plan for improving service delivery for such children (2) Coordinate with federal agencies to compile a list of opportunities to increase flexible funding for services for special needs children, including alternative funding sources and service delivery options (3) Perform a needs assessment, including public hearings to identify service delivery gaps, system entry points and service obstacles. Specifies actions the task force must take in the development of the strategic plan. Requires task force's strategic plan to provide recommendations to achieve specified goals, including improving families' ability to navigate the system through improved coordination between service providers and increased outreach. Directs the task force to submit a biennial report to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the house, documenting each participating agency's progress in accomplishing the goals set forth in the legislation. Specifies additional content the report must include. Establishes September 2015 sunset provision. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB01824F.pdf Title: S.B. 1824 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us ME Signed into law 06/2009 P-12 Postsec. Community College Directs the Children's Growth Council to create a working group; requires the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to participate in the working group as well as public universities, community colleges, child care providers and Head Start; Requires the working group to make recommendations for creating a partnership between child care providers and institutions of higher learning concerning early childhood education and higher education systemsthat would allow child care providers to enroll in classes and degree programs at reduced tuition rates. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/HP073601.pdf Title: H.B. 736 Source: http://www.mainelegislature.org TX Adopted 06/2009 P-12 Sets forth actions the workforce commission and local workforce development boards must take when a child care provider is placed on corrective or adverse action by the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Describes board requirements regarding providers placed on evaluation corrective action. Requires boards to ensure that parents with children currently enrolled in commission-funded child care with the provider are notified in writing of the provider's evaluation status. Requires boards to ensure that parents choosing to enroll a child in commission-funded child care with a provider on evaluation status are notified of the provider's status with DFPS prior to enrolling the child. Adopted without changes to version published in March 13, 2009 Register (starting page 21 of 26): http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/pdf/backview/0313/0313prop.pdf Title: 40 TAC 20.809.E.809.94 Source: www.sos.state.tx.us OH Adopted 06/2009 P-12 -01: Adds or amends definitions related to early learning programs, including of "alignment," "curriculum," "early learning program guidelines," "group size". http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-01_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -02: Identifies violations that constitute "serious risk" violations of a license due to the great risk of harm to children. Provides that any serious risk violation may result in prohibition of the issuance of a license, revocation or non-renewal of a license to operate a preschool program. Requires any entity with serious risk violations to provide documentation of correction to the department within 30 days of the entity's receipt of notification of the violation. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-02_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -03: Amends napping provisions. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-03_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -04: Adds provisions requiring 3 references for all staff members, including the director to be kept on file, and for all staff and volunteers to annually sign a non-guilty/non-conviction statement. Identifies each program director's obligations as regards numerous areas, including health and safety, student records, and supervision and evaluation of staff. Adds to and amends types of credential an individual may have to be eligible to serve as a director of a preschool program or preschool special education program. Amends head teacher and substitute teacher requirements. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-04_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -05: Makes adjustments to criteria that preschool facilities must meet. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-05_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -06: Makes minor adjustments to equipment and supplies requirements. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-06_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -07: Makes minor adjustments to preschool program policies and procedures. Requires programs funded through the department of education to conduct health and developmental screening. Amends provisions related to a staff member being required to complete a child abuse identification training. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-07_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -08: Adds provision that a preschool child with a disability shall not be excluded from the program for lack of a medical statement until the team responsible for the individualized education plan (IEP) reconvenes. Specifies that the the medical statement must be provided by a physician, physician's assistant, clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-08_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf -10: Specifies that behavior management/discipline policies and procedures must ensure the safety, physical and emotional well-being of all individuals on the premises. http://www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/pdfs/3301/0/37/3301-37-10_PH_FF_A_RU_20090615_1020.pdf Title: OAC 3301-37-01 through -12 Source: www.registerofohio.state.oh.us TX Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Relates to information required to be provided to parents of an infant. Provides that if a woman is a recipient of medical assistance, she must be given a resource guide relating to the development, health and safety of her child. Requires the guide to provide information about specified topics, including dental care, parenting, child safety, the importance of reading to a child, developmental milestones, health care resources available in the state, selecting child care and other resources available in the state. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/HB01240F.pdf Title: H.B. 1240 Source: www.legis.state.tx.us NV Vetoed 05/2009 P-12 Establishes requirements for certain early childhood education programs; requires the Department of Education to develop a plan for such programs. http://leg.state.nv.us/75th2009/Bills/SB/SB378_EN.pdf Title: S.B. 378 Source: http://www.leg.state.nv.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Includes as part of the Board of Teaching's licensure exams an assessment of reading instruction for teacher licensure prekindergarten and elementary school candidates. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Establishes a Minnesota Reading Corps program to provide AmeriCorps members with a data-based problem-solving model of literacy instruction to help train local Head Start program providers, other prekindergarten program providers, and staff in schools with students in kindergarten through grade 3 to evaluate and teach early literacy skills to children age 3 to grade 3.  Requires literacy programs under this subdivision to comply with the provisions governing literacy program goals and data use under the Head Start program. https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Establishes a voluntary, standards-based quality rating and improvement system for early learning and care programs. Requires the state to consider the cost of administering and staffing the system and collecting evaluation and assessment data when establishing the system.  Requires the state to use the Parent Aware quality rating tool prior to the creation of the voluntary statewide quality rating and improvement system. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0002.5.html&session=ls86 Title: H.F. 2 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us WV Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Amends existing law which requires each county board to develop a county collaborative plan for implementing an early childhood education program; specifies certain information required to be included in the plan and requires the plan to be developed using a team of community partners which includes representatives from the county school system, the county preschool special needs program, Head Start and child care, the local Department of Health and Human Resources, and parents. Requires county boards to report certain information to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources and the state superintendent relating to the use of community-based programs to provide early childhood education services. http://www.legis.state.wv.us/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB498%20SUB2%20enr.htm&yr=2009&sesstype=RS&i=498 Title: S.B. 498 Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us ND Signed into law 05/2009 P-12 Sets the membership, terms and duties of the North Dakota early childhood education council. The council is to: 1. Review the delivery of early childhood education in this state; 2. Conduct a needs assessment; 3. Review early childhood education standards and propose revisions to the standards as needed; 4. Review opportunities for public and private sector collaboration in the delivery of early childhood education in this state; 5. Develop a comprehensive plan governing the delivery of early childhood education in this state; and 6. Provide a biennial report regarding its activities to the governor and the legislative council. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JARF1000.pdf Title: H.B. 1400 - Sec. 43, Early Childhood Council Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov OR Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Removes the requirement that the Superintendent of Public Instruction reimburse school districts for costs incurred for the child development specialist program; applies to costs incurred in fiscal quarters beginning on or after effective date of Act. Chapter 76 http://www.leg.state.or.us/09reg/measpdf/sb0001.dir/sb0063.en.pdf Title: S.B. 63 Source: http://www.leg.state.or.us WA Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 Requires recommendations for preparation and professional development for the early learning and school-age program workforce; Requires the Professional Development Consortium convened by the Early Learning Advisory Council to develop recommendations for a statewide system of preparation and continuing professional development for the early learning and school-age program workforce. Chapter 406 http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1943-S.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 1943 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov ND Signed into law 04/2009 P-12 A bill relating to early childhood care workforce development, child care capacity, and quality improvement for early childhood facilities and to provide an apppropriation. Requires the department to provide voluntary, progressive training opportunities leading to credentials and to provide supports for the early childhood care and education workforce. The department is required to implement a registry to track workforce participation. From the Fiscal Note: The Department currently provides training opportunities and support for early childhood care and education workforce. The Department has also implemented a child care registry as well as a voluntary quality improvement process through current contracts with the Child Care Resource and Referral organizations. Federal funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have been made available through federal action to stimulate the economy or address state fiscal recovery and will be used to expand or enhance these efforts to the extent allowed by the Act. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/bill-text/JATN0400.pdf Title: H.B. 1418 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov GA Adopted 04/2009 P-12 Amends rules concerning the Bright From the Start Program, including governing body, licensure and staff. Title: GAC 591-1-1-.16 and .31 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Adopted 03/2009 P-12 Extends sunset for Preschool for All Children program from June 2008 to June 2010. Pages 336-339 of 372: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume33_issue10.pdf Title: 23 IAC 235.100 Source: www.cyberdriveillinois.com MS Signed into law 03/2009 P-12 Authorizes local school districts to operate and expend funds from any available sources for voluntary early childhood education programs. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2009/pdf/SB/2300-2399/SB2314SG.pdf Title: S.B. 2314 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/ AR Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Creates a birth through prekindergarten teaching credential and endorsement. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Bills/HB1132.pdf Title: H.B. 1132 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ AR Signed into law 02/2009 P-12 Expands membership of the State early childhood commission. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/default.asp Title: H.B. 1044 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us MI Signed into law 01/2009 P-12 Provides that an intermediate school district may develop and make available to districts and public school academies an early intervening model program for grades k to 3 which shall be designed to instruct classroom teachers and support staff on how to monitor individual pupil learning and how to provide specific support or learning strategies to pupils as early as possible in order to avoid inappropriate referrals to special education. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/publicact/pdf/2008-PA-0582.pdf Title: S.B. 1039 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov KY Issued 12/2008 P-12 Establishes the state Commission on Philanthropy to explore new opportunities for creative solutions to the state's systemic challenges. Provides for an initial focus on early childhood education and child health. Title: E.O. 2008-1273 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Adopted 12/2008 P-12 Establishes rules implementing the pre-K Bright From The Start grant program. Title: GAC 591-2-1-.01 to ,07 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WI Issued 10/2008 P-12 (Executive Order No. 269) Creates the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care to conduct a periodic statewide needs assessment concerning the quality and availability of early childhood education and development programs and services for children from birth to school entry. http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=19&prid=3799 Title: Executive Order 269 Source: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us CA Vetoed 09/2008 P-12 Amends the Child Care and Development Services Act which establishes various full and part-time programs for a comprehensive, coordinated and cost- effective system of developmental services for children up to a certain age. Permits certain other information, including information that the Superintendent of Public Instruction deems appropriate and helpful to be included on the form. Authorizes the parent or guardian to provide additional information if the information is transferred to the elementary school. http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Title: A.B. 2467 Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Establishes the Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee which would be required to develop the policy and implementation plan for an Early Learning Quality Improvement System. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to apply to the State Children and Families Commission for funding to cover costs. Chapter 307 http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Title: S.B. 1629 Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov MN Issued 09/2008 P-12 Creates the Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. http://www.governor.state.mn.us/priorities/governorsorders/executiveorders/PROD009141.html Title: Executive Order 08-14 Source: http://www.governor.state.mn.us/ CA Signed into law 09/2008 P-12 Recasts provisions of existing law as the State Preschool Program. Deletes campus child care and development programs and child abuse protection and prevention services from the definition of child care and development programs. Establishes minimum hours per day and days per year for part-day and full-day state preschool programs. Relates to fees for such services that are charged to families and fee schedules. Requires annual monitoring of funding utilized in child care and development programs. Chapter 308 http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Title: A.B. 2759 Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov CA Vetoed 09/2008 P-12 Revises various provisions of the Child Care and Development Services Act relating to the reimbursement and auditing of child care and development providers. Requires a child care contractor receiving additional funding to separately account for all sources and amounts of funds, and to report the fund amounts, to ensure a contractor is not reimbursed twice. Prohibits the Department of Education from including specified sources of funds in calculations of the funding available for contractors. http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Title: A.B. 1028 Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov CO Adopted 09/2008 P-12 Addresses early access to educational services for children with disabilities who are less than six years of age. http://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/NumericalSubDocList.do?deptID=4&deptName=300%20Department%20of%20Education&agencyID=109&agencyName=301%20Colorado%20State%20Board%20of%20Education&ccrDocID=2027&ccrDocName=1%20CCR%20301-8%20RULES%20(FOR%20THE)%20ADMINISTRATION%20OF%20THE%20EXCEPTIONAL%20CHILDREN'S%20EDUCATIONAL%20ACT Title: 1 CCR 301-8 Source: http://www.sos.state.co.us PA Issued 09/2008 P-12 Two executive orders established the Governor's Early Learning Council and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=2999&PageID=431162&mode=2&contentid=http://pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/global/news_releases/governor_s_office/news_releases/governor_rendell_improving_early_childhood_education_with_creation_of_new_panels.html Title: Executive Orders 17 and 18 Source: http://www.governor.state.pa.us IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Creates the Commission on the Elimination of Poverty to develop a poverty elimination strategic plan to reduce extreme poverty in Illinois by 50% or more by 2015. In developing the overall strategic plan, and in working toward the goal of reducing extreme poverty in Illinois by at least 50% by 2015, requires the commission to address all of the following: (1) Access to safe, decent and affordable housing (2) Access to adequate food and nutrition (3) Access to affordable and quality health care (4) Equal access to quality education and training (5) Dependable and affordable transportation (6) Access to quality and affordable child care (7) Opportunities to engage in meaningful and sustainable work that pays a living wage (8) The availability of adequate income supports. Requires that the strategic plan include specific policy and fiscal recommendations and a timeline for each stage of implementation for each recommendation. For each recommendation, requires the commission to identify in measurable terms the actual or potential impact. Authorizes the commission to review and make comments and recommendations on existing or proposed programs, policies, administrative rules and statutes that have an impact on poverty in Illinois and, in particular, people living in extreme poverty. Provides for appointments, co-chairs and terms of members. Requires the state superintendent of education to serve on the commission as an ex officio member. Provides for a steering committee. Requires the commission to meet at least annually and the steering committee to meet at least quarterly. Requires the commission to submit an initial report on its activities and recommendations to the constitutional officers and the general assembly by March 1, 2009, and to adopt a strategic plan by January 1, 2010. Provides for administrative support of the commission by the department of human services. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB4369lv.pdf Title: H.B. 4369 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation IL Signed into law 08/2008 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates the Commission on Children and Youth Act. Provides for membership, appointments, goals, recommendations, and reports. Provides that the Early Learning Council must have primary responsibility for development of a five-year strategic plan for children age birth to five, and that the commission on children and youth must develop a comprehensive 5-year strategic plan for providing services to children, youth and young adults ages birth to 24. Requires that the commission's plan include specific recommendations to achieve specified outcomes related to preventive health, education completion, workforce development, social and emotional development, and civic engagement. Requires the commission to provide an interim report to the governor and general assembly by December 31, 2009. Requires that draft strategic plan be submitted to the governor and general assembly by December 31, 2010, and that a final strategic plan be submitted to the same by June 1, 2011. Requires the Department of Human Services to provide administrative support. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB4456lv.pdf Title: H.B. 4456 Source: www.ilga.gov MA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Clarifies provisions relating to early education and care. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht04pdf/ht04706.pdf Title: H.B. 4706 Source: http://www.mass.gov/ LA Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Provides for phased in universal access to the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program and for participation by non-school system providers of early childhood education; relates to tuition and free or reduced-price meals for qualified children. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=505385 Title: S.B. 286 Source: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ HI Veto overridden: legislature has overridden governor's veto 07/2008 P-12 Establishing an early learning system to be known as keiki first steps, to ensure a spectrum of high-quality early learning opportunities statewide for children birth-kindergarten entry, with priority given to underserved or at-risk children. Provides the early learning system will be developed and administered by the early learning council to the extent permissible by law. Establishes an early learning council to develop and administer the state's early learning system. Establishes the keiki first steps grant program, to be developed by the council and administered by the department of human services. Provides that the program will increase high-quality early learning opportunities through the awarding of grants to publicly- or privately-run (1) center-based programs for three- and four-year-olds and (2) family child care programs, family-child interaction learning programs, and other early learning programs and services regardless of the age of children served. Establishes certain criteria for standards of quality that grantee programs must meet. Authorizes the department of human services to offer technical support to, and be responsible for monitoring to ensure the accountability of programs and services within the keiki first steps grant program, according to the standards developed by the council. Establishes the keiki first steps trust fund to be administered by the early learning council, into which all moneys received by the council will be deposited. Repeals Sections 302A-409 and -410 on the department plan for quality voluntary early education. Establishes the pre-plus program to expand access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education for three- to four-year-olds from low-income families, by allowing preschool programs to be established on public school campuses through public-private partnerships. Directs the department of human services and the department of education to work together to develop pre-plus classrooms on department of education campuses statewide, including conversion charter school campuses. Directs the two departments to coordinate site selection for additional pre-plus programs at public school sites, with priority given to public school sites that serve at-risk children, including sites located in areas with limited access to early learning programs and services. Directs the department of education to submit an annual report to the legislature and the early learning council prior to the convening of each regular session on the number of classrooms that would be suitable for programs and services in the early learning system, and the cost of renovating these classrooms to meet the standards of programs and services in the early learning system. Bill text: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/SB2878_CD1_.htm Governor's veto message: http://hawaii.gov/gov/leg/2008-session/veto-messages/SB2878%20SOBJ.pdf Title: S.B. 2878 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov NH Signed into law 07/2008 P-12 Establishes a commission to study the feasibility of creating a preschool incentive fund program; provides that the committee shall determine priorities for the dissemination of such resources, survey and confirm local school districts' interest in using funds to establish high quality preschool pilot programs, study and document the availability of federal funds, and research preschool curricula and an appropriate model for the evaluation of preschool programs. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2008/HB1299.html Title: H.B. 1299 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us IL Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Allows for the continuation of the distribution of funds by the state board of education to achieve a goal of Preschool for All Children by extending sunset date from June 2008 to June 2010. Moves current language with respect to a report concerning the distribution of new funding. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB4705lv.pdf Title: H.B. 4705 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation DE Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Directs the Department of Education to develop and give oversight to Delaware Stars for Early Success a quality rating and improvement system to benefit young children and their families served by early care and education programs. http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+222/$file/legis.html?open Title: S.B. 222 Source: http://legis.delaware.gov FL Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Relates to the Success in Early Learning Act; authorizes the use of telecommunication methods in conducting early learning coalition board meetings; transfers requirements for the establishment of a statewide child care resource and referral network by the Department of Children and Family Services to the Agency for Workforce Innovation; relates to the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and accreditation standards for private prekindergarten providers. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0879er.xml&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0879&Session=2008 Title: H.B. 879 Source: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ AK Adopted 06/2008 P-12 Aligns the developmental profile indicators in state regulation with the Alaska Early Learning Guidelines for Kindergarten and grade one. ALASKA 3627 http://touchngo.com/lglcntr/akstats/AAC/Title04.htm Title: 4 AAC 06.712(b) Source: http://touchngo.com AZ Signed into law 06/2008 P-12 Counts kindergarten students as full-time students for the purpose of determining minimum adequacy facility requirements that are used to determine new construction needs. Remove language requiring a school district to provide the necessary capital monies to implement voluntary full-day kindergarten instruction. Chapter 287 http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/48leg/24/bills/hb2211o.asp Title: H.B. 2211 Source: http://www.azleg.gov/ CO Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Recodifies existing statutory provisions related to early intervention services for infants and toddlers with significant developmental delays or disabilities; recodifies the coordination system of payment for early intervention services for infants and toddlers as it relates to part C child find activities of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2008a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/6D353392C9B4CE6E872573DE0079D8F5?open&file=1366_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1366 Source: http://www.leg.state.co.us/ AK Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Relates to the power and duties of the Department of Education and Early Development for improving instructional practices in school districts; requires the department to establish regulatory criteria under which the department may intervene in a district to improve such practices; relates to intervention and notice of deficiencies. Chapter 70 http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/SB0285Z.PDF Title: S.B. 285 Source: http://www.legis.state.ak.us MN Vetoed 05/2008 P-12 Relates to school district development screening aide, teacher and administrator licensure, district teacher compensation aide, district debt service equalization aid, non-resident student enrollment, an advisory council on early childhood education and care, adult basic education aid, general education revenue, district land or building leasing, safe schools levies, district borrowing, district repayment defaults, district tax abatement adjustments, testing and reports, and school breakfast programs. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H0006.5.html&session=ls85 Title: H.B. 6 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us GA Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Revises the definition of a day-care center to exclude certain private schools that provide K-12 education. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2007_08/pdf/hb1169.pdf Title: H.B. 1169 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Modifies teaching employment for early childhood education programs. Provides a school board must employ necessary licensed teachers for its early childhood family education programs. Provides the Board of Teaching, at its discretion, may grant an applicant a variance under the Board of Teaching Rules. https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2796.1.html&session=ls85 Title: S.B. 2796 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us IA Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Selected provisions: • Creates the Senior Year Plus Program to increase access of high school students to college credit and advanced placement coursework. (Page 40, Line 23 through Page 64, Line 10) • Requires postsecondary institutions providing Senior Year Plus programming to supply data concerning the proportion of women and minorities enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs. The Department of Education is to annually report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 15. (Page 50, Line 7) • Permits preschool programs to receive supplemental aid or modified allowable growth if approved by the School Budget Review Committee. (Page 64, Line 23) • Requires program approval by the Department of Education to receive preschool aid funding in a program's second and subsequent years. (Page 64, Line 34) • Requires nonreversion of Preschool Program funds appropriated to the Department of Education. (Page 65, Line 30) • Provides that it is the intent of the General Assembly that if funding is made available for implementing a Statewide Early Childhood Professional Development System in FY 2008 or FY 2009, the System will be implemented by the Department with the collaboration of Area Education Agencies. (Page 66, Line 13) • Requires the Iowa Empowerment Board to conduct a study of the role the Empowerment Program can play in strengthening child care provided voluntarily and at no cost by family members, friends, and neighbors. The Board must convene a working group to provide advice and must submit a report to the From fiscal analysis: Significant changes to Iowa Code: • Prohibits local Community Empowerment boards from carrying forward more than 20.0% of their annual allocation to the following fiscal year. (Page 26, Line 12) • Requires local Community Empowerment boards to consider whether support services for children's health needs are being provided to child care facilities in their communities. (Page 27, Line 17) • Requires grant awards in the Before and After School Grant Program to be at least $30,000 and not more than $50,000. Increases the required local match funding for Before and After School Grants from 20.0% to a dollar-for-dollar match. Requires the local match to be cash or in-kind contributions. Eliminates an allocation of $100,000 from the Before and After School Grant Program for employment of a contractor for long-term planning and development. Specifies that programs serving middle and high school youth are eligible for the Program. Permits grants to be used for multiple fiscal years. (Page 27, Line 26 through Page 28, Line 16) • Requires Area Education Agencies (AEAs) to transfer 84.0% of Medicaid payments received to the Department of Education, with the exception of reimbursements for services provided under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (Page 28, Line 17) • Shifts funding for the Reading Recovery Program to the University of Northern Iowa, where the Program is now centered. (Page 29, Line 7) For other details, see full text section of this database record. Title: H.F. 2679 Source: http://www3.legis.state.ia.us MN Signed into law 05/2008 P-12 Defines membership, duties and administration of the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. [Sec. 13] https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getbill.php?number=HF1812&session=ls85&version=list&session_number=0&session_year=2007 Title: H.B. 1812 Source: https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us KY Signed into law 04/2008 P-12 Provides that family resource and youth services centers must provide services to enhance a student's ability to succeed in school. Provides that the most economically disadvantaged students and families must receive priority status for receiving services. Provides that family resource centers must be located in or near every elementary school in the state in which at least 20% of the student body are eligible for free/reduced lunch. Provides family resource centers must promote identification and coordination of existing resources, and must include the following core components for each site: (a) Full-time preschool child care for 2- and 3-year-old children (b) After-school child care for children ages 4-12, with full-time child care during the summer and on other days when school is not in session (c) Families in training, which shall consist of an integrated approach to home visits, group meetings, and monitoring child development for new and expectant parents (d) Family literacy services or a similar program designed to provide opportunities for parents and children to learn together and promote lifelong learning (e) Health services or referrals to health services, or both. Provides that youth services centers must be located in or near each school in the state, except elementary schools, in which at least 20% of the student body are eligible for free/reduced lunch. Provides youth services centers must promote identification and coordination of existing resources, and must include the following core components for each site: (a) Referrals to health and social services (b) Career exploration and development (c) Summer and part-time job development for high school students (d) Substance abuse education and counseling (e) Family crisis and mental health counseling. Establishes a grant program for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to award grants to eligible school districts to establish or maintain family resource or youth services centers. Provides that a family resource or youth services center that receives funding for one year or more is not ineligible for funding based solely on the percent of the student body eligible for free/reduced lunch unless the percent of the student body eligible for free/reduced lunch is below 20% for 5 consecutive years. Specifies that a school district may not operate a family resource center or a youth services center that provides abortion counseling or makes referrals to a health care facility for the purpose of seeking an abortion. Directs the division of family resource and youth services centers to promulgate administrative regulations to implement requirements for applications for continuation funding of a family resource or youth services center and establish a continuing education program for coordinators and staff. http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/SB192/bill.doc Title: S.B. 192 Source: www.lrc.ky.gov WA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 The department of early learning (DEL) is directed to develop a proposal for the implementation of a statewide Washington head start program. The proposal should align the the state early childhood education and assistance program with federal head start program eligibility criteria, guidelines, performance standards, and methods/processes for ensuring continuous improvement in program quality. The proposal must also address necessary changes to existing laws and transitions from existing programs to the new statewide head start program. The department must consult with early childhood education and assistance providers on Native American reservations across the state, tribal governments operating head start programs and providers operating migrant and seasonal head start programs in the state. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202008/3168-S2.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 3168 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature WA Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Postsec. The Higher Education Coordinating Board (HEBC) and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) must award Institutional Child Care grants (to postsecondary institutions for child care services) on a competitive or matchiing basis. The HEBC administers the program for four-year institutions and the SBCTC administers the program for two-year institutions. Both boards must submit annual reports on the program to the legislature. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202008/2582-S.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 2582 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature TN Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Directs the Office of Education Research and Accountability (OEA) to survey each LEA that conducts a pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) program to determine if employment rights and benefits available to K- 12 teachers also accrue to Pre-K teachers. The report will be completed prior to January 15, 2009 and submitted to the House and Senate Education Committees. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HJR0811.pdf Title: H.J.R. 811 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Establishes UPSTART, a pilot project that uses a home-based educational technology program to develop the school readiness skills of children age 4-5 who have not entered kindergarten. Provides that UPSTART is created to evaluate the effectiveness of giving preschool children access, at home, to online interactive individualized instruction to prepare them academically for success in school, and to test the feasibility of scaling an online home-based curriculum in reading, math and science to all preschool children in Utah. Requires the state board of education to use an RFP process to select an education technology provider to deliver the home-based technology program. Provides standards that the home-based educational technology program must meet. Among these: The contractor must: --Provide technical support to families for the installation and operation of the instructional software --Provide for the installation of computer and Internet access in the homes of low-income families that cannot afford the equipment and service --Work in cooperation with school district personnel who will provide administrative and technical support for the program --Solicit families to participate in the program --In implementing the home-based educational technology program, seek the advice and expertise of early childhood education professionals in the Utah System of Higher Education on issues such as: (i) soliciting families to participate in the program (ii) providing training to families (iii) motivating families to regularly use the instructional software. In addition, the contractor must have the capability to perform specified tasks through the Internet. These include: --Communicating with parents --Storing research data --Producing reports for parents, schools and the legislature --The capability to quickly and efficiently modify, improve and support the product. Provides the program must include: --Computer-assisted, individualized instruction in reading, mathematics, and science --A multisensory reading tutoring program --A validated computer adaptive reading test that does not require the presence of trained adults to administer and is an accurate indicator of reading readiness of children who cannot read. Provides that the contract must provide funding for a home-based educational technology program for preschool children for one year with an option to extend the contract for additional years or to expand the program to a greater number of preschool children, subject to legislative appropriation. Provides a school district may participate in UPSTART if the local school board agrees to work in cooperation with the contractor to provide administrative and technical support for the pilot project. Provides a school district that participates in UPSTART will receive funding for paraprofessional and technical support staff, and must agree to adopt standardized policies and procedures in implementing the pilot project. Requires the contractor to solicit families to participate in UPSTART through a public information campaign and referrals from participating school districts. Provides that at least 30% of participating children must be from low-income families, and that participating children must be from families with diverse ethnic backgrounds and reside in both urban and rural areas in different regions of the state. Requires the contractor to make the home-based educational technology program available to families at an agreed-upon cost if the number of families who would like to participate in UPSTART exceeds the number of participants funded by the legislative appropriation. Directs the state auditor to either conduct an annual audit of the contractor's use of funds for UPSTART or contract with an independent certified public accountant to conduct an annual audit. Directs the state board of education to: --Require by contract that the contractor will open its books and records relating to its expenditure of funds pursuant to the contract to the state auditor or the state auditor's designee --Reimburse the state auditor for the actual and necessary costs of the audit --Contract with an independent, qualified evaluator, selected through an RFP process, to evaluate the home-based educational technology program for preschool children. Also directs the state board to make an annual report on UPSTART to the Education Interim Committee. Provides that the report must address the extent to which UPSTART is accomplishing the purposes for which it was established as set forth in statute, and must include: --The number of families: (i) volunteering to participate in the program (ii) selected to participate in the program (iii) requesting computers (iv) furnished computers --The frequency of use of the instructional software --Obstacles encountered with software usage, hardware or providing technical assistance to families --Student performance on pre-kindergarten and post-kindergarten assessments conducted by school districts and charter schools for participating and non-participating students --As available, the evaluation of the program conducted pursuant to statute. Section 26 of S.B. 2 establishes a repeal date of July 1, 2014. Pages 10-15: http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/sbillenr/sb0002.pdf Title: S.B. 2 - Sections 3-9 Source: le.utah.gov UT Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 Appropriates $100,000 to the state board of education for fiscal year 2008-2009 to provide grants to local public and private non-profit and for-profit agencies to provide school readiness services to economically disadvantaged children and families in accordance with federal Head Start program performance standards, and to provide supplemental funding to Head Start programs in Utah that are currently funded by the federal government. http://le.utah.gov/~2008/bills/hbillenr/hb0330.pdf Title: H.B. 330 Source: le.utah.gov WY Signed into law 03/2008 P-12 The bill amends the payback requirements for educational development scholarships given to assist the owners or staff of child caring facilities to attain certificates or degrees in early childhood development or a related field. Title: H.B. 102 Source: legisweb.state.wy.us NY Adopted 12/2007 P-12 Complies with 2007 S.B. 2107, Part B, section 19, which authorizes the board of regents and the commissioner to prescribe uniform quality standards for universal prekindergarten programs. Title: Title 8 NYCRR Subpart 151-1 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MI Issued 11/2007 P-12 (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2007-43) Creates the Interagency Coordinating Council For Infants and Toddlers With Developmental Disabilities; includes early intervention services. http://www.michigan.gov/textonly/0,2964,7-168-21975-180618--,00.html Title: Executive Order 43 Source: Michigan Governor's Office IA Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Reflects that education programs are not to discriminate on the basis of the added characteristics of sexual orientation and gender identity. Clarifies that a preschool program must meet accreditation standards on the same basis as any prekindergarten program offered by a school district. Makes various other updates. IOWA 6161 Title: IAC 281, 12.1(1), 281-12.2(256), 12.3(6), 12.3(13), 12.8(1) Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Increases the required preservice and continued training requirements for registered family child care providers to help improve the quality and professionalism of home-based child care services. MARYLAND 11169 http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/subtitle_chapters/13A_Chapters.htm Title: COMAR 13A.14.04.02, .14 Source: MD Rules/Regs MD Adopted 11/2007 P-12 Increases the required preservice and continued training requirements for child care center staff and change the nomenclature of child care center staff to make it consistent with the terminology used by most other states. MARYLAND 11170 http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/subtitle_chapters/13A_Chapters.htm Title: COMAR 13A.14.02.02, .18, .21-.23, .25-.27 Source: MD Rules/Regulations WV Issued 10/2007 P-12 Orders that The Partners in Implementing an Early Care and Education System is authorized to study the issues of governance as it relates to early care and education, to develop standards for a quality early care and education program, and to examine the costs of financing a quality early care and education program. Title: Executive Order No. 11-07 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 10/2007 P-12 Authorizes family child care providers to choose to be represented by a single provider organization. Provides that the designated provider organization is authorized to operate substitute child care provider pools if those pools are not available in the community, market family child care programs, offer business development programs, meet with state regulatory agencies, and engage in negotiations with public and private entities that administer state- funded subsidies for child care services. Veto message: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1151-1200/ab_1164_vt_20071014.html Title: A.B. 1164 Source: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1151-1200/ab_1164_bill_20070924_enrolled.pdf CA Signed into law 10/2007 P-12 Relates to the Child Care and Development Service Act that includes funds for reimbursement of part- day and preschool appropriate program located in the attendance area of elementary schools in deciles 1 to 3, inclusive. Requires the State Department of Education, if the funds are offered, due to the termination, suspension or relinquishment of an original award, in order to maintain an existing class, to assign first priority to successful applicants that will maintain a class within a specified area. Chapter 278 http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1051-1100/ab_1080_bill_20071005_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 1080 Source: http://info.sen.ca.gov NY Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Amends regulations regarding program requirements for students in prekindergarten and kindergarten. Directs each school operating a prekindergarten and/or kindergarten to adopt and implement curricula, aligned with the State learning standards, that ensures continuity with instruction in the early elementary grades and is integrated with the instructional program in grades 1-12. Provides that this program must include: (i) background knowledge (ii) phonological awareness (iii) expressive and receptive language (iv) vocabulary development (v) phonemic awareness (vi) fluency (vii) comprehension.   Provides the instructional program for prekindergarten and kindergarten must be based on the ages, interests, strengths and needs of the children, and that learning experiences in such programs must include: (i) differentiated instruction to support the acquisition of new concepts and skills (ii) materials and equipment which allow for active and quiet play in indoor and outdoor environments (iii) instruction in the content areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies and the arts, including dance, music, theatre and visual arts; that is designed to facilitate student attainment of the State learning standards and is aligned with the instructional program in the early elementary grades (iv) opportunities for participation in inquiry-based activities and projects (v) opportunities to use a wide variety of information in print and electronic mediums (vi) fine and gross motor activities in prekindergarten, and instruction in physical education in kindergarten pursuant to section 135.4 (c)(2)(i) of this Title (vii) instruction on health and nutrition topics for students in prekindergarten and health education for students in kindergarten pursuant to section 135.3(b) of this Title.   Requires each school operating a prekindergarten and/or kindergarten program to develop procedures to ensure the active engagement of parents in the education of their children. Provides such procedures must include support to children and their families for a successful transition into prekindergarten or kindergarten and into the early elementary grades. Title: Title 8 NYCRR Section 100.3 Source: Lexis GA Adopted 09/2007 P-12 Adds language regarding the Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs), an English language proficiency test administered annually to all English language learners (ELLs) to determine students' level of English language proficiency level. Adds provision regarding "conditional administration," a test administration in which a more expansive accommodation is utilized to provide access for a small percentage of students with more severe disabilities who would not be able to access the assessment without such assistance. Adds provision regarding Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS), a performance assessment designed to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students entering kindergarten and first grade. Provides this assessment will replace the Georgia Kindergarten Assessment Program-Revised (GKAP-R). Replaces Middle Grades Writing Assessment (IMGWA) with Grade 8 Writing Assessment. Adds science to areas in which a first-year ELL student may participate in the appropriate state board approved language proficiency assessment rather than the standard assessment. Clarifies that only state-approved accommodations may be included in an IEP or Section 504 IAP. Eliminates certain provisions regarding the Georgia Alternate Assessment. Specifies that students with significant cognitive disabilities participating in the GAA must be provided access to the state-adopted curriculum. Clarifies that educators may adjust the learning expectations for this group of unique students provided the instruction is based on and aligned to the grade-level curriculum standards. Provides that instruction may reflect pre-requisite skills but must be sufficiently challenging for the individual student. Directs local school systems to provide individual student score reports for all state-mandated assessments to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in a timely manner. http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/_documents/doe/legalservices/160-3-1-.07.pdf Title: GAC 160-3-1-.07 Source: www.doe.k12.ga.us IA Signed into law 09/2007 P-12 Expands the scope of services under an existing appropriation for the Community Empowerment Initiative involving preschool tuition services. Allows local empowerment areas to use certain funds for three-year-olds as well as 4- and 5-year olds. Complementary bill to HF 877 -- the 4 year old preschool bill. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&ga=82&hbill=HF396 Title: H.F. 396 Source: coolice.legis.state.ia.us IL Signed into law 08/2007 P-12 Amends the Missing Children Records Act. Requires a preschool educational program, child care facility, or day care home or group day care home in which a missing person was enrolled to flag the person's record such that whenever a copy of or information regarding the record is requested, the entity is alerted to the fact that the record is that of a missing person. Directs the entity to immediately report to the department any request concerning flagged records or knowledge as to the whereabouts of any missing person. Upon notification by the department that the missing person has been recovered, directs the school or other entity to remove the flag from the person's record. Provides that upon a child's enrollment for the first time in public or private preschool educational program, public or private child care facility, the entity must provide written notification within 30 days to the person enrolling the child that either a copy of the child's birth certificate or other reliable proof of the child's identity must be provided. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/95/HB/PDF/09500HB0250lv.pdf Title: H.B. 250 Source: www.ilga.gov/legislation MA Issued 08/2007 P-12 Postsec. Community College Establishes the Readiness Project to develop a plan to implement fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next ten years. The project will have three chairs appointed by the Governor.  The plan will include recommendations to: (1) Deliver universal and high quality early education for three- and four-year-olds as well as Full-Day kindergarten; (2) Expand time for teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools; (3) Extend education an additional two years beyond secondary school to better prepare students for higher education, work and citizenship; (4) Align curricula from pre-Kindergarten through high school, higher education and work force development, including with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math as well as other subjects and methods that enhance creativity and problem-solving skills; (5) Structure and support a reasonable degree of school choice, including charter and pilot schools, so that all serve as complementary components of a comprehensive system; (6) Recruit, retain and develop strong educators and administrators at all levels; (7) Streamline and strengthen teacher certification and licensing; (8) Improve the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System and introduce additional appropriate standards and assessments to measure other aspects of students' academic development; (9) Fund the education system adequately, equitably and reliably, including for students with special educational needs; (10) Facilitate collaboration between and among the Commonwealth's public and private institutions of higher education; (11) Strengthen the structure and clarify the mission of the institutions that comprise the University of Massachusetts system and all public higher education institutions in the Commonwealth; (12) Implement an effective and efficient accountability system for students, instructors and administrators from pre-Kindergarten through higher education that enables authorities both to review performance and to target assistance where it is most needed; and (13) Leverage information technology throughout the system to improve instruction, student acquisition of skills, administrative processes, and the quality of and access to data. implements fundamental and systemic reforms to public education in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years. http://www.mass.gov/Agov3/docs/Executive%20Orders/executive_order_489.pdf Title: Executive Order No. 489 Source: http://www.mass.gov MD Adopted 08/2007 P-12 Provides an incentive for licensed child care program administrators to increase their program management knowledge and skills by establishing an Administrator's Credential. Assists eligible child care professionals with the cost of early care and education college courses by establishing a Child Care Career and Professional Development Fund. MARYLAND 11052 http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/13a/13a.14.09.02.htm Title: COMAR 13A.14.09.02-.07, .08, .09 Source: Maryland State Board HI Became law without governor's signature 07/2007 P-12 Establishes a "Hawaii 3-5 transition" task force to study the feasibility of expanding Hawaii's early intervention section to continue services for children ages 3-5. Directs the task force, in completing the feasibility study, to:      (1)  Identify the potential number of children, on an annual basis, who exit Part C programs, are eligible for programs under Part B Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, but may benefit from a longer transition period and continued Part C program services in the child's natural environment or community-based settings;      (2)  Identify the potential number of children, on an annual basis, who exit Part C programs, are found not eligible for services under Part B of Section 619 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, but continue to have developmental delays and who may benefit from intervention services ages 3-5;      (3)  Identify the potential number of children, on an annual basis, who have not received services through Part C programs, but are identified as having developmental delays and who may benefit from intervention services between the ages of 3-5;      (4)  Research evidence-based practices in order to define service models for children between the ages of 3-5 necessary to meet the needs of this population;      (5)  Define the array of services required for children ages 3-5 with developmental delays;      (6)  Based upon the potential number of children to be served, derive resource and cost projections to implement services; and      (7)  Conduct a needs assessment of families focusing on their experiences transitioning out of Part C programs, as well as transitioning into Part B programs. Also directs the task force to: (1)  Project the length of time required to develop the necessary resource pool to serve the targeted population; (2)  Develop indicators for evaluation to assess the outcomes of the early intervention system providing services to children ages 3-5 with developmental delays; (3)  Submit a report with specific recommendations to the legislature prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/HB531_CD1_.htm Title: H.B. 531 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov HI Vetoed 07/2007 P-12 Directs the department to encourage inclusionary prekindergarten and kindergarten classes of both special education eligible and general education students, including consideration of the following options: (1) Special education eligible preschool children may receive services in private preschool programs if required by their individual education program; (2) Facilities for providing early education offer a variety of possibilities via partnerships between public and private offers; (3) Special education staff may provide services at any site as provided in the individualized education plans process; and (4) Departmental special education preschool staff may provide services to general education preschool students in their special education preschool classrooms. Requires the department's kindergarten report card to assess an individual junior kindergarten or kindergarten student's readiness for first grade based on a range of characteristics. Authorizes the department to give preference to teachers holding early childhood education credentials in placement in junior kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Directs the department, prior to the 2008 legislative session, to (1) Complete the planning and development of the appropriate curriculum for the junior kindergarten program; and (2) Submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature on the planned junior kindergarten curricula, successful models, and assessments to be used in the placement and movement of students between junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade, as well as facilities to be used for junior kindergarten. Establishes in statute the pre-plus program, which was created as a private-public initiative in 2002. Directs the department of education and the department of human services to develop suitable pre-plus classrooms on department campuses statewide for early childhood education programs serving children ages 3-5. Directs the department to coordinate site selection for public school sites, giving first priority to sites that serve predominantly students who are low-income or with special needs who require full-inclusion opportunities, or schools in restructuring under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Directs the department to submit an annual report to the legislature on the number of classrooms that would be suitable for early childhood education programs and the cost of renovating these classrooms to meet early childhood education standards. Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SB613_CD1_.htm Governor's veto message: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/GM1037_.PDF Title: S.B. 613 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov LA Signed into law 07/2007 P-12 Grants school readiness tax credits to individuals for child care expenses of children five and under, to child care providers, to child care directors and staff, and to businesses providing assistance for child care. Provides the amount of the child care expense tax credit is based on the quality rating of the child care facility which the child attends, with a 200% reimbursement of the credit provided for such expenses in Louisiana Revised Statutes 47:297.4 http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=101769 for a five-star rated child care facility, a 150% reimbursement for a four-star facility, etc. Directs parents with multiple children to calculate each child's credit separately. Provides the child care provider tax credit is based on the average monthly number of children who either participate in the Child Care Assistance Program administered by the office of family support or who are foster children, and who are attending a child care facility or facilities operated by the child care provider, multiplied by an amount based on the quality rating of each child care facility operated by the child care provider, with a five-star rated facility earning a $1,500 credit per eligible child, a four-star rated facility earning $1,250 per eligible child, etc. Provides the credit for child care directors and staff must be based on the staff qualifications as defined in the department of social services state practitioner registry in Title 48 of the Louisiana Administrative Code, with a "level four" director/staff earning a $3,000 tax credit, a "level three" director/staff earning a $2,500 tax credit, etc. Provides that, beginning calendar year 2009, the tax credit amounts be adjusted annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Provides a refundable credit against any Louisiana individual or corporation income tax or corporation franchise tax for the eligible business child care expenses supported by a business. Provides the credit must be the percentage of such eligible business child care expenses depending on the quality rating of the child care facility to which the expenses are related or the quality rating of the child care facility the child attends, with a five-star rated facility earning 20% of eligible business child care expenses, a four-star rated facility earning 15% of eligible business child care expenses, etc. Provides for a maximum additional annual refundable credit of $5,000 against any Louisiana individual or corporation income tax or corporation franchise tax for the payment by a business of fees and grants to child care resource and referral agencies. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=451044 Title: S.B. 361 Source: www.legis.state.la.us OK Issued 07/2007 P-12 (Amended Executive Order 2006-04) Makes the state department of education the lead agency for administration of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Educatin Act -- to take advantage of the federal government providing the State with the opportunity to receive funds for programs which provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families through the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Executive/579.pdf Title: E.O. 32 Source: http://www.sos.state.ok.us OH Issued 07/2007 P-12 Establishes the Help Me Grow Advisory Council which will advise and assist the Ohio Department of Health in the implementation of the Help Me Grow Program, which will provide early intervention services for children with development disabilities or delays. http://governor.ohio.gov/Portals/0/Executive%20Order%202007-19S.PDF Title: E.O. 19; (NEW BILL) Source: http://governor.ohio.gov OH Issued 07/2007 P-12 Orders the immediate adoption of rules implementing the Early Learning Initiative Program which provides children, who are often at risk of school failure, with experiences that will prepare them for educational success beginning in kindergarten and beyond. http://governor.ohio.gov/Portals/0/Executive%20Order%202007-14S.pdf Title: E.O. 18; (NEW BILL) Source: http://governor.ohio.gov WV Adopted 07/2007 P-12 The most recent updates to Policy 2525: West Virginia's Universal Access to a Quality Early Education System support quality in the classroom and consistency among the programs across the state. They also strengthen personnel standards and continue to support collaboration. The major changes include increasing the minimum participation from two days a week to three days a week during the school year and limiting teacher caseloads to 30 students. The policy also requires five-year-olds to be assessed to determine if Pre-k placement is the best option for them when a parent requests Pre-k enrollment instead of kindergarten. It also authorizes the development of the permanent authorization credential for community partners with teachers who are not certified and requires all screenings to be completed using the HealthCheck protocol to create standardization of screenings and physicals. Title: Policy 2525 Source: West Virginia Board DE Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Extends the repeal of the Early Care and Education Council; provides for annual reports to the Interagency Resource Management Committee regarding early childhood services. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/lis144.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+126/$file/legis.html?open Title: H.B. 126 Source: Delaware Legislature RI Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Implements a voluntary quality rating system to increase the quality of early care and education of school-age child care. http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law07/law07141.htm Title: H.B. 5862 Source: http://www.rilin.state.ri.us ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Expands the opportunity of preschool children with disabilities to continue to have a free and appropriate public education provided through the Child Development Services System; extends the window of eligibility, allowing children who reach 5 years of age between July 1st and October 15th to continue with the Child Development Services System. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280022686&LD=317&Type=1&SessionID=7 Title: S.B. 99 Source: Maine Legislature ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Provides a commission to study ways to increase the quality of child care services in the state by identifying and implementing best practices and by addressing current limits on access to high-quality care based on a parent's ability to pay. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/externalsiteframe.asp?ID=280023298&LD=755&Type=1&SessionID=7 Title: H.B. 576 Source: Maine Legislature ME Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Implements the recommendations of the Subcommittee To Study Early Childhood Special Education; relates to early intervention and early childhood special education services for children from birth to 8 years of age. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/LawMakerWeb/billtextsearch.asp Title: S.B. 666 Source: Maine Legislature NJ Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Concerns Early Intervention Program services for children with autism. Requires Department of Health and Senior Services, in conjunction with the Departments of Education and Human Services, to establish a Statewide system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers from birth to age 2-3 with physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive developmental delays or disabilities in accordance with Part H of the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act." http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/A4500/4056_R3.PDF Title: A.B. 4056; S.B. 2568 Source: New Jersey Legislature LA Signed into law 06/2007 P-12 Provides that the name of the program for LA 4 classes is "The Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program". http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=442729 Title: H.B. 595 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NE Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Relates to educational service units and school funding, incuding distance education. Changes provisions relating to: election of board members for educational service units; distance education, unit boundaries and board membership; and the Early Childhood Education Grant Program. Provides: a formula and changes provisions relating to core services and technology infrastructure funding; for election districts; a duty for the Auditor of Public Accounts. http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Slip/LB603.pdf Title: L.B. 603 Source: http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/ MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Directs the commissioner to approve School Readiness Service Agreements for up to 50 providers that represent diverse parts of the state and a variety of child care delivery models. (See "Sec. 57".) Directs the commissioners of human services and education to establish three prekindergarten exploratory projects to be conducted in partnership with the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation to promote children's school The exploratory projects shall be designed and evaluated by the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (See Sec. 62). http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H1078.3.html&session=ls85 Title: H.B. 1078 Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us CO Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Concerns the creation of a statewide system of early childhood councils to improve and sustain availability, accessibility, capacity and quality of services. The councils will be governed by the department of human services in collaboration with departments of education and public health. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/0C67D8769581733687257251007A22ED?open&file=1062_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1062 Source: Colorado Legislature KS Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Directs the legislative educational planning committee, in collaboration with the 2010 commission, to: (1) Develop a coordinated, comprehensive system for the delivery of early childhood education services (2) Identify priorities for early childhood education services (3) Identify barriers to service and gaps in service due to strict definition of boundaries between departments and agencies (4) Facilitate interagency and interdepartmental cooperation (5) Investigate and identify methods for combining funds across departments (6) Propose actions needed to coordinate funding and services across departments (7) Encourage and facilitate joint planning and coordination between the public and private sectors (8) Determine whether a centralized Web-based reporting system would provide a more efficient and effective system to comply with reporting requirements (9) Make recommendations on the design of a universal application form and single point of access for families in need of early childhood education services (10) Evaluate and report on the performance and cost effectiveness of early childhood education services and make recommendations to ensure that private and public entities are accountable and provide high-quality services (11) Make recommendations to improve communication with local early childhood education service agencies in order to keep such local agencies informed of the availability of state and federal moneys for early childhood education services and make recommendations to assist such local agencies in obtaining such state and federal moneys and the utilization of such moneys so as to avoid waste and abuse (12) Conduct hearings to receive a wide variety of input on the quality, efficiency and cost of early childhood education services (13) Prepare a plan which recommends the establishment by January 1, 2009, of the office of early childhood education and the manner in which such office should be structured. http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/2310.pdf Title: H.B. 2310 (Section 1) Source: www.kslegislature.org WV Adopted 05/2007 P-12 Amends rules governing the standards for pre- kindergarten education. Title: Title 126, Series 28 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IA Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Creates a statewide voluntary preschool program for four-year-old children. Provides that preschool teachers in the program must be certified and possess a bachelor's or graduate degree in early childhood education or another appropriate major from an accredited college or university with a major. Directs preschool program teachers to collaborate with other agencies, organizations, and boards to enhance program capacity to meet the diverse needs of children and families participating in the program, including needs for early care, health and human services. Directs teachers in the program to work to maintain relationships with each child's family to enhance the child's development in all settings by collaborating with providers of parent education and family support opportunities. Directs the state board to further define the following program requirements, which must be used to determine whether a district program is an approved local program: a. Maximum and minimum teacher-to-child ratios and class sizes. b. Applicable state and federal program standards. c. Student learning standards. d. Provisions for the integration of children from other state and federally funded preschools. e. Collaboration with participating families, early care providers, and community partners including community empowerment area boards, head start programs, shared visions and other programs provided through the child development coordinating council, licensed child care centers, registered child development homes, area education agencies, child care resource and referral services, early childhood special education programs, Title I programs, and family support programs. f. A minimum of 10 hours a week of instruction on the skills and knowledge included in the preschool student learning standards. g. Parental involvement. h. Provision for ensuring that children receiving care from other child care arrangements can participate in the preschool program with minimal disruption due to transportation issues. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&frame=1&GA=82&hbill=HF877 Title: H.F. 877 Source: coolice.legis.state.ia.us OK Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Amends membership of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board to include one representative of a state association of federally funded early childhood programs appointed by the Governor. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2007-08bills/HB/HB1557_ENR.RTF Title: H.B. 1557 Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/ MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Establishes a research-based early childhood literacy program premised on actively involved parents, ongoing professional staff development, and high quality early literacy program standards. Intended to increase the literacy skills of children participating in Head Start to prepare them to be successful readers and to increase families' participation in providing early literacy experiences to their children. Establishes program rules. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [Early Childhood] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us MN Signed into law 05/2007 P-12 Spells out requirements for the phase in of full-day services in Head Start programs or licensed child care. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2245.2.html&session=ls85 Title: H.F. 2245 [Head Start] Source: http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us ND Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 The bill provides for early childhood care transition assistance. This bill allows the department to establish a statewide system to build systematic early childhood workforce voluntary training, which may include distance learning formats, a professional registry, certificates, and specialization. http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/bill-text/HBBF0700.pdf Title: S.B. 2186 Source: http://www.legis.nd.gov HI Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 (Governor's Package Bill) Appropriates $5,299,809 from the general fund for early intervention services for infants and children from birth to three years of age with developmental delay or ones at biological or environmental risk for developmental delay. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/Bills/SB1459_SD1_.htm Title: S.B. 1459 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Declares that the purpose of this act is to provide tools to promote the hiring of suitable providers of child care by: (1) Providing parents with access to information regarding child care providers; (2) Providing child care providers with known information regarding applicants' sexual misconduct or other abusive conduct; (3) Providing parents with child care licensing complaint histories regarding child care providers; and (4) Requiring background checks of applicants for employment in any child care facility licensed or regulated under current law. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate%20Final/5317-S.FBR.pdf Title: S.B. 5317 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Finds that education is the single most effective investment that can be made in children, the state, the economy, and the future. A well-educated citizenry is essential both for the preservation of democracy and for enhancing the state's ability to compete in the knowledgebased global economy. Declares that the overarching goal for education in the state is to have a world-class, learner-focused, seamless education system that educates more Washingtonians to the highest levels of educational attainment. Requires that, in conjunction with child care providers and other early learning leaders, the department shall review and revise child care provider rules in order to emphasize the need for mutual respect among parents, providers, and state staff who enforce rules. Revised rules shall clearly focus on keeping children safe and improving early learning outcomes for children. The department shall develop a plan by July 2007 that outlines the process and timelines to complete the rules review. Nothing in this act changes the department's responsibility to collectively bargain over mandatory subjects. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5828-S2.PL.pdf Title: S.B. 5828 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Supports early learning and parenting education opportunities at community colleges; requires the state board for community and technical colleges to conduct an inventory and survey of all campus-based early learning programs and services for the purpose of creating a coordinated system of course offering and early learning education opportunities including parenting education and on-campus child care. programs and child care programs. Requires the board to report back to the legislature by December 1, 2007, with recommendations for an integrated, comprehensive system for strengthening early learning education opportunities and child care services offered on community college campuses and to parents and providers in the community. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Digests/House/2319.DIG.pdf Title: H.B. 2319 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Authorizes the commissioner to award grants to districts that operated half-day kindergarten programs in the 2006-2007 school year, and that will continue to operate such half-day programs in the 2007-2008 school year, to plan for conversion to full-day kindergartens only in the school year next following the school year in which the planning grant is received, but no later than the 2010-2011 school year. Directs the commissioner to prescribe the procedures and criteria for the award of such grants, which are to be available to districts to defray the additional costs for planning time, the cost of classroom materials, equipment, furniture and supplies not eligible for aid in specified other sections of statute, where such additional costs are incurred in planning for the facilities and staffing that will be needed for such conversion. Provides no district may receive more than one such planning grant. Directs that $8,500,000 must be paid to the Yonkers City School District on an annual basis to provide additional funding for the costs of educational improvement plans required as a result of a court-ordered settlement in a school desegregation case to which the state was a party. Provides grant funds must be used exclusively for services and expenses incurred by the district to implement such educational improvement plans. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2107 Title: S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 38 Source: assembly.state.ny.us NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Eliminates references to district-level prekindergarten policy advisory boards and their authority to adopt prekindergarten programs. Provides that two or more districts may submit a joint application to operate a joint universal prekindergarten program. In New York City, transfers authority for decisionmaking on prekindergarten programs from community school boards and the city board to community school superintendents and the chancellor. Specifies that, to be eligible for approval by the commissioner, proposed programs must provide for: (1) Assessment of the development of language, cognitive and social skills (2) Staff development and teacher training must be provided to staff and teachers in all settings in which prekindergarten services are provided (3) Random selection must be used to select children when there are more eligible children than can be served in a given school year (4) Provides that a district that operated a targeted prekindergarten program in the base year may use the selection process established for such program. Deletes earlier references to prekindergarten aid and supplemental prekindergarten aid funding levels and formulas. Provides that each district is eligible to receive a grant amount equal to the lesser of: (1) The sum of its prekindergarten aid base plus the product of its selected aid per kindergarten pupil multiplied by the number of additional aidable prekindergarten pupils served in the current year, or (2) The maximum allocation computed using the methodology defined in statute. Defines "selected aid per kindergarten pupil," "base aidable prekindergarten pupils," "unserved prekindergarten pupils," "additional aidable prekindergarten pupils" and the "prekindergarten aid base." Provides that the total grant payable through the universal prekindergarten program must equal the lesser of: (1) The total grant amounts computed for the current year, based on data on file with the commissioner as of September 1, 2007, or (2) The total actual grant expenditures incurred by the school district as approved by the commissioner. Authorizes the board of regents and the commissioner to prescribe uniform quality standards for universal prekindergarten programs. Directs the regents when developing regulations to consider and recognize the diversity of settings and models available for the delivery of prekindergarten programs operated by eligible agencies in alternative settings, including libraries and community-based organizations, that comply with statute related to universal prekindergarten. Provides that the uniform quality standards must include minimum qualifications for personnel providing instructional and other services for prekindergarten programs. Directs the commissioner and board of regents to take into account, in promulgating these regulations, the availability of certified prekindergarten teachers and teaching assistants, and consider ways to increase the pool of qualified personnel. Also directs the commissioner and board of regents to include in regulations: (1) Minimum curriculum standards that ensure such programs have strong instructional content that is integrated with the district's K-12 instructional program (2) Performance standards for prekindergarten programs, which must include procedures for assessing the performance of such programs and establishing mechanisms for tracking progress of such programs and reporting such progress to the parents of prekindergarten students and the public (3) Transitional guidelines and rules that allow a program to meet the required staff qualifications and any other requirements set forth in this statute or regulations (4) A provision for a waiver of any inconsistent provisions so as to allow districts that operated a targeted prekindergarten program in the 2006-2007 school year to continue to operate such program pursuant to the regulations that applied to the program in such school year; provided that the amounts allocated to such targeted prekindergarten program must not exceed the amount of targeted prekindergarten grant funds received by the district for the 2006-2007 school year. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2107 http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2107 Title: S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 19 Source: assembly.state.ny.us WA Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 From final House Bill report: The Department of Early Learning (DEL) was established in 2006 as an executive branch agency whose primary duties are to implement early learning policy and to coordinate, consolidate, and integrate child care and early learning programs to promote an efficient use of funds. One-hundred-sixty-five full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) transferred from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), 13.5 FTE's from the Department for Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED), and 6 new FTE's were pulled together to create the DEL. When this merge occurred, some of the authorities that were granted under the originating agencies were not transferred over to the new Department of Early Learning statute.Corrects provisions for the Department of Early Learning; authorizes the director to charge fees to the licensee for obtaining a license; provides for a fee waiver when the fees would not be in the best interest of public health and safety, or when the fees would be to the financial disadvantage of the state; provides that fees charged shall be based on, but shall not exceed, the cost to the department for the license. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202007/5952-S.SL.pdf Title: S.B. 5952 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov AR Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Creates the Emergency Preparedness for Child Care Facilities Act; requires the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education of the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate efforts to share with the state Department of Emergency Management a list of all licensed child care facilities and all known license-exempt facilities, to identify emergency shelters in proximity of those facilities and coordinate efforts to notify emergency agencies of the number of children in those facilities. (Act No. 816) http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2007/public/HB2211.pdf Title: H.B. 2211 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us NY Signed into law 04/2007 P-12 Establishes a temporary task force on preschool special education, to be chaired by the commissioner of education or his/her designated representative, and consisting of the following members: (1) The commissioner of education or his/her designated representative (2) The commissioner of health or his/her designated representative (3) The chief executive officer of the council on children and families, the commission on quality of care and advocacy for persons with disabilities, and the office of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, or their designated representatives (4) The director of the budget or his/her designated representative (5) Three representatives of school districts appointed by the governor in consultation with the board of regents (6) Three representatives of counties appointed by the governor including at least two from candidates nominated by a statewide organization representing counties (7) Three representatives of approved preschool special education providers, appointed by the governor. Provides the task force will: (1) Study and evaluate the relationship between preschool special education and other early childhood programs, including but not limited to the early intervention program, the universal prekindergarten program and other publicly-funded prekindergarten programs, and make recommendations on approaches to improve transition from the early intervention system to preschool special education and from preschool special education to school-age special education and on ways to enhance delivery of special education programs and services to children attending universal prekindergarten programs or other publicly-funded prekindergarten programs in the least restrictive environment; (2) Study the current tuition rate-setting methodology for preschool special education programs and services and make recommendations for improvement; (3) Conduct a comparative study of the systems of delivery of preschool special education programs and services in New York and other states, including their methods of financing preschool special education, and make recommendation for inclusion of the best practices from other states which shall include other states with comparable need and service levels and for changes in New York's system of delivery of such programs and services that will promote the cost-effective delivery of appropriate programs and services to preschool students with disabilities in compliance with the federal individuals with disabilities education act; (4) Report on or before November 15, 2007 to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leaders of the senate and assembly, the director of the budget and the board of regents on the task force's conclusions and recommendations under paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this subdivision. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=s2107 Title: S.B. 2107 - Part B, Section 59 Source: assembly.state.ny.us VA Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Chapter No. 822: Creates the Pregnant Women Support Act. Provisions include several related to education: Providing support services for students of institutions of higher education; providing funds to allow early childhood education programs to work with pregnant or parenting teens to complete high school and provide job training education; or providing for teenage or first time mothers education on the health needs of their infants through free home visits by registered nurses. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HB3183ER Title: H.B. 3183, S.B. 1088 Source: http://leg1.state.va.us AR Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Relates to an act to increase the early literacy skills of children by creating a literacy skills component to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program; provides that each applicant for the scholarship shall agree that for each year the scholarship is awarded he or she may volunteer to serve as a literacy tutor in a public school. Act No. 341 http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2007/public/HB1487.pdf Title: H.B. 1487 Source: http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us MS Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Authorizes and directs the department of human services to implement a voluntary early care and education grant program by sub-contracting with Head Start, licensed child care centers and licensed public and private school prekindergarten program. Provides for allocation of funds, application process, grant application oversight, conditions on approved programs and that grants are subject to legislative appropriation. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2007/html/SB/2600-2699/SB2667SG.htm Title: S.B. 2667 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/ NE Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Transfers operation of the Early Childhood Training Center from the educational service unit currently operating the center to the department of education on September 1, 2007. Addresses transfer of employee benefits. http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov/FloorDocs/Current/PDF/Final/LB231.pdf Title: L.B. 231 Source: http://uniweb.legislature.ne.gov NM Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Creates the K-3 Plus Pilot project as a six-year pilot. The program would provide extended time for students in K-3rd grades in high-poverty schools. Provides for application process, requires reporting and declares an emergency. http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/07%20Regular/final/HB0198.pdf Title: H.B. 198 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us/ IL Adopted 03/2007 P-12 Goal of the grant program is to address the shortages experienced by all state-funded preschool education programs of teachers holding Type 04 certificates by assisting individuals to enroll as candidates in and complete a teacher preparation program leading to an Initial Early Childhood teaching certificate. The program will include a loan program that will forgive the loans of candidates who teach in a State-funded preschool education program for at least five years. Establishes provisions governing the Early Childhood Teacher Preparation Assistance Grant. 70.10 Purpose and Applicability 70.20 Eligible Applicants 70.30 Planning Grants – Procedures and Content of Proposals 70.40 Criteria for Review and Approval of Planning Proposals 70.50 Implementation Grants – Procedures and Content of Proposals 70.60 Criteria for Review and Approval of Implementation Proposals 70.70 Application Content and Approval Criteria for Continuation Programs 70.80 Loans; Waiver or Deferral of Repayment Pages 377-394 of 399: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume31_issue9.pdf Title: 23 IAC 70.10, .20, .30, .40, .50, .60, .70, .80. Source: /www.cyberdriveillinois.com MS Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Relates to dyslexia screening and remediation pilot programs. Requires state department of education to select a literacy and numeracy screening instrument to be used by districts for K-3 students. Requires all districts to use selected instrument. Districts may not use instrument to determine grade promotion and must report data to the state department annually. Requires the department to annually report on the effectiveness of of the instrument for literacy and numeracy screening purposes. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2007/html/HB/1000-1099/HB1058PS.htm Title: H.B. 1058 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us WY Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Requires the state to provide staff development grants to child caring facilities to assist the owners or staff of those facilities to obtain continuing education training in early childhood development or related topics; also requires the state to provide technical assistance to child caring facilities on best practices for quality operational improvements and business management services of child caring facilities; requires the state to develop and distribute materials to inform parents about choices available in childcare programs and how to choose an appropriate child caring facility; finally, requires the state to contract for delivery of voluntary family strengthening educational programs to promote family involvement in children's development. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/Enroll/HB0095.pdf Title: H.B. 95 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/bills.htm WY Signed into law 03/2007 P-12 Allows funds to be appropriated for developmental preschool mental health or social-emotional development services and training. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/Enroll/SF0034.pdf Title: S.B. 34 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/bills.htm WY Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Increases the state's per child reimbursement amount for developmental preschool service providers. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/Enroll/HB0042.pdf Title: H.B. 42 Source: http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/bills.htm UT Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 This concurrent resolution of the legislature and governor encourages reading with a child 20 minutes a day to help prepare children for success in school and lifelong learning. http://le.utah.gov/~2007/bills/hbillenr/hcr005.htm Title: H.C.R. 5 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us/ WY Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Requires 3% local matching funds for contracts with developmental preschool service providers. http://legisweb.state.wy.us/2007/Enroll/HB0177.pdf Title: H.B. 177 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Passed 02/2007 P-12 This joint resolution of the legislature directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study the Virginia Preschool Initiative. In conducting its study, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shall (i) review the statutory authorization for the Virginia Preschool Initiative and funding therefor; (ii) determine the costs of the program to the state and localities since its inception; (iii) assess the manner in which the program has been implemented in the several school divisions and the effectiveness of the current program in preparing at-risk four-year-olds for school readiness and success; (iv) evaluate the continued K-12 academic performance of students who participated in the current preschool program; (v) identify and assess the program's accountability measures to promote effective programs and efficient use of public funds; (vi) study the concept of the Universal Preschool or Pre-K, including which other states have adopted these programs and their success, if any; (vii) evaluate the additional costs, if any, of aligning components of the Virginia Preschool Initiative with the Quality Standards checklist recommended by the National Institute for Early Education Research; (viii) determine whether research has been conducted concerning the efficacy of preschool programs for children of middle- and upper-income parents and report the findings and recommendations; and (ix) consider such other related matters as the Commission deems appropriate to meet the objectives of this study. The Commission must submit its executive summary and report to the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+ful+HJ729H1 Title: H.J. 729 Source: http://legis.state.va.us/ CO Signed into law 02/2007 P-12 Authorizes a school district, upon voter approval, to impose an additional mill levy for purposes of funding the school district's excess full-day kindergarten costs. Allows the question submitted to the voters to also include a question of whether to impose an additional mill levy of a stated amount and limited duration to fund the capital construction needs associated with the school district's full-day kindergarten program. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/Clics2007A/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/17AF271E6545AD6087257251007B9651?Open&file=026_enr.pdf Title: S.B. 26 Source: Colorado Legislature AK Adopted 02/2007 P-12 Amends rules to the Department of Education and Early Development.Adopts Grade Level Expectations (GPE) for Kindergarten through Grade 2. ALASKA 3405 Title: 4 AAC 04.150 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 01/2007 P-12 Designates third week of May New Jersey Early Intervention Week to focus public attention on the needs of young children, to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs, and to plan how we can better meet the needs of all young children. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/SJR/14_I1.PDF Title: S.J.R. 14; A.J.R 113 Source: New Jersey Legislature NJ Signed into law 12/2006 P-12 Designates third week of May New Jersey Early Intervention Week to focus public attention on the needs of young children, to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs, and to plan how we can better meet the needs of all young children. http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/SJR/14_I1.PDF Title: S.J.R. 14; A.J.R 113 Source: New Jersey Legislature NE Approved by voters 12/2006 P-12 A constitutional amendment to permit use of funds dedicated to the common schools for early childhood educational purposes. If adopted, requires the creation of an early childhood education endowment fund for the purpose of supporting early childhood education in the state as provided by the Legislature. Requires allocation of an amount equal to forty million dollars for the endowment fund. Only interest or income on such early childhood education endowment fund may be appropriated as provided by the Legislature. For purposes of Article VII of this Constitution, early childhood education means programs operated by or distributed through the common schools promoting development and learning for children from birth to kindergarten-entrance age. If the annual income from twenty million dollars of private funding is not irrevocably committed by July 1, 2011, to the use of the early childhood education endowment fund, then the forty-million-dollar allocation pursuant to subdivision (3)(b) of this section may revert to the use of the common schools as the Legislature shall determine. http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/legal/SLIP_LB1006.pdf Title: L.B. 1006 Source: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/ DE Adopted 10/2006 P-12 Clarifies rules regarding Standard Certificate Early Childhood Teacher Special Education. Requires a test of knowledge in addition to academic preparation for the issuance of a Standard Certificate. DELAWARE 1881 http://www.state.de.us/research/AdminCode/title14/1500/1570.shtml#TopOfPage Title: 14 DAC 1570 Source: Delaware Code CA Vetoed 09/2006 P-12 Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to establish an optional early childhood education credential for kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 that is to be built into the multiple subject teaching credential. Provides that it is equivalent to the multiple subject teaching credential, with exceptions. Requires optional credential to consist of 24 units of early learning training. Provides that this training is to be incorporated into the existing program. Requires verification of K-8 teacher training. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2801-2850/ab_2802_bill_20060915_enrolled.pdf Title: A.B. 2802 Source: California Legislature KS Adopted 08/2006 P-12 Changes licensure regulations for teachers of early childhood education. Title: K.A.R. 91-1-201, -202, and -205 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Relates to grants for a preschool educational program administered by the state board July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008. Provides that appropriated funds shall be distributed to achieve a goal of preschool for all children whose families choose to participate. Defines "at-risk" children as those who because of their home and community environment are subject to such language, cultural, economic and like disadvantages to cause them to have been determined as a result of screening procedures to be at risk of academic failure. Provides that first priority for newly-funded preschool programs must be given to qualified programs serving primarily at-risk children and second priority to qualified programs serving primarily children with a family income of less than 4 times the federal poverty level. Directs the state board to annually report to the general assembly on what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily at-risk children, what percentage of new funding was provided to programs serving primarily children with a family income of less than 4 times the federal poverty level, and what percentage of new funding was provided to other programs. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/94/PDF/094-1054.pdf Title: S.B. 1497 Source: www.ilga.gov MS Adopted 07/2006 P-12 Establishes rules for a pilot project to improve the quality of child care services. Sets up a quality rating system for licensed child careproviders. MISSISSIPPI 10417 Title: Uncodified Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ On 11/07/2006 Ballot. 07/2006 P-12 (PROPOSITION I-16-2006) Increases funding for early childhood development and health programs; provides that local councils would distribute the majority of the funding, with oversight by a statewide board; dedicates funding from an increase on the sales price of tobacco products. Title: V. 18; (NEW BILL) Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Approved by voters 07/2006 P-12 (PROPOSITION 203 I-16-2006) Increases funding for early childhood development and health programs. Purpose is to improve quality and increase access to early childhood development activities. Also will increase access to preventative health care programs and screenings. Provides that local councils would distribute the majority of the funding, with oversight by a statewide board; dedicates funding from an increase on the sales price of tobacco products. http://www.azsos.gov/election/2006/General/BallotMeasureText/PROP203(I-16-2006).pdf Title: V. 18 (Prop. 203) Source: Arizona Secretary of State IL Signed into law 07/2006 P-12 Amends the Teacher Certification Article of the School Code. Relates to an early childhood certificate. Provides that the student teaching portion of the practical experience may be satisfied through placement in any of grades pre-kindergarten through 3, provided that the student is under the supervision of a cooperating teacher certified in early childhood education. Provides that paraprofessionals with at least one year of experience in a school or community-based early childhood setting who are enrolled in early-childhood teacher preparation programs may be paid and receive credit while student teaching with their current employer. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/94/SB/PDF/09400SB2202lv.pdf Title: S.B. 2202 Source: www.ilga.gov OK Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Directs the state board to establish a pilot early childhood program to consist of private donations and state funds that will serve at-risk children in at least one urban area and one rural area of this state selected by the board. Directs the board to solicit applications from the private sector for the program and require applicants to match state funds on a two-to-one basis and commit a minimum investment of $10,000,000.00 in the program. http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06bills/SB/SB3X_ENR.RTF Title: S.B. 3B Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us IL Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2006 P-12 Establishes emergency rules regarding the Preschool for All Children program; provides educational services to all 3 to 5 year old children whose families choose to participate. 325-338 of 591: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume30_issue27.pdf Title: 23 IAC 235.10, .60, .70, .100, .200, .300, .400, .500 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet LA Adopted 06/2006 P-12 Requests the governor and commissioner of administration to include in the FY 2007-2008 executive budget additional funding for adequately staffing, equipping, and evaluating state early childhood education programs. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=403578 Title: H.R. 132 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WA Rule Adoption 06/2006 P-12 Revises rules regarding the state's Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, including the process for allocating or awarding funds, use of funds, comprehensive service delivery and nondiscrimination requirements, eligibility for services, and staff qualifications for service providers. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=365-170&full=true. Title: WAC 365-170 Source: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/ NH Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Directs the commissioner to establish a quality early learning opportunity initiative to be made available on a first-come, first-served basis to families whose income is between 190% and 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, and whose children are enrolled in a licensed child care program. Appropriates funds for program. http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2006/HB1626.html Title: H.B. 1626 Source: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ WV Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2006 P-12 Amends rules regarding informal and relative family child care home registration requirements. http://www.wvsos.com/adlaw/proposed/78-20er.pdf Title: Title 78, Series 20 Source: http://www.wvsos.com/csr/ CA Rejected by Voters. 06/2006 P-12 Proposes an amendment to the California Constitution to establish a right to voluntary public preschool for all four-year old children, administered by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and county school superintendents, funded by a tax on individuals and couples with specified incomes. Establishes voluntary preschool education for all four-year olds. Funded by 1.7% tax on individual income over $400,000; couples' income over $800,000. Directs Counties to prepare five- year assessments and annual reports regarding preschool curriculum, facilities and childcare coordination, teacher recruitment/ pay and budgeting. Requires state Superintendent to develop preschool teaching credential with financial aid for teachers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased personal income taxes on high-income earners beginning in 2007, with revenues reaching approximately $2.4 billion annually in 2010-11. Revenues would support an entitlement to one year of preschool for four-year olds beginning in 2010-11. Revenues in the early years of the program could be used for facilities, teacher training, student financial aid, and early implementation of preschool services. http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm#2006Primary Title: V. 3 (Prop. 82) Source: CA Secretary of State CT Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Concerns the early childhood education workforce; expands the number of early childhood education teachers through development of an accelerated, alternate route program to initial teacher certification with an endorsement in early childhood education; provides for appropriations. Public Act No. 154 http://www.cga.ct.gov/2006/ACT/Pa/pdf/2006PA-00154-R00SB-00455-PA.pdf Title: S.B. 455 Source: Connecticut Legislature VT Issued 06/2006 P-12 Establishes the Building Bright Futures Council, a public-private partnership, to support the creation of an integrated system of early childhood care, health and education that will assure equitable access for all children and families seeking services, maximize existing resources, alighn resources with desired outcomes in a consistent measurable manner, and improve the well-being of children and families. http://www.vermont.gov/tools/whatsnew2/index.php?topic=ExecutiveOrders&id=1907&v=Article Title: E.O. 03-06 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IA Signed into law 06/2006 P-12 Increases membership on the community empowerment state board. Requires family support services in the community empowerment initiative to include home visitation. Creates a community empowerment gifts and grants account in the Iowa empowerment fund. Makes an appropriation to the school ready children grants account of the Iowa empowerment fund. Makes an appropriation for preschool tuition support for low-income families. Makes an appropriation for efforts to improve the quality of early care. Makes an appropriation to the community empowerment gifts and grants account. Creates a business community investment advisory council to advise the Iowa empowerment board. Directs the advisory council to advise the Iowa empowerment board on the best means to leverage private investment in early care, health, and education services and provide options for creating model projects for public-private partnerships to support quality early care, health, and education programming in communities. Requires the advisory council to submit a report with recommendations and findings to the Iowa empowerment board on or before December 31, 2006. Lists specific areas report must address. Makes an appropriation for professional development and training activities for persons working in early care, health, and education by the Iowa empowerment board in collaboration with representation from Iowa state university of science and technology cooperative extension service in agriculture and home economics, area education agencies, community colleges, child care resource and referral services, and community empowerment area boards. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&hbill=HF2769 Title: H.B. 2769 Source: MO Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Requires the department of Education to develop, by June 30, 2007, standards for early childhood education which will be applicable to public preschool programs that receive federal Title I funds or Missouri preschool project funds. The standards must include an assessment of needs; a focus on cognitive, language physical, and social/emotional development; and highly qualified, properly certified teachers. In developing the standards, the department must involve representatives of many groups, including the business community, existing early childhood programs, school districts, and private and faith-based providers. Districts that offer fee-based programs may continue to offer them, in compliance with federal law. http://www.house.mo.gov/bills061/biltxt/truly/HB1511T.HTM Title: H.B. 1511 Source: http://www.house.mo.gov/ VT Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 05/2006 P-12 Creates a prekindergarten education study committee. Directs the committee to gather the following information: (1)  How many private and public or publicly funded prekindergarten education services currently exist in Vermont. (2)  What kinds of services and educational programs are offered by existing prekindergarten education programs. (3)  The costs of existing prekindergarten education programs and how they are funded. (4)   Current department of education and agency of human services standards for prekindergarten education facilities.  Directs the committee to study and make findings regarding: (1)  What the research says about the effects of prekindergarten education. (2)  Whether prekindergarten education services should be offered at public expense and, if so: (A)  whether services should be provided by public schools, private providers, or both; (B)  the estimated costs of providing public prekindergarten programs and what public monies should be used to support them; (C)  what would be the mechanism for dispersing these monies; and (D)  what state agency or agencies should have responsibility for developing standards regarding the quality and content of prekindergarten education programs and for determining educator qualifications, and whether standards for public schools should differ from those for private providers. (3)  Which groups of children benefit academically and socially from receiving prekindergarten educational services.  (4)  Whether all groups of prekindergarten children benefit from an inclusionary educational environment. (5)  Whether enrollment in a prekindergarten education program should be voluntary. (6)  Whether participation may take place outside the district of residence. (7)  Whether a community should conduct a needs assessment before starting or expanding a program, and if so, how private providers and school districts should be involved in the assessment.  (8)  Whether publicly funded early education services are an effective economic development strategy. Directs the committee to report its findings and recommendations to the senate and house committees on education, the senate committee on health and welfare, and the house committee on human services by January 30, 2007. Bars the state board from changing, repealing or adopting any rules on early childhood or prekindergarten education services prior to June 30, 2008. During the 2007–2008 school year, requires a district that begins a new prekindergarten program to contract with qualified early childhood education service providers in the district unless it determines that it cannot efficiently and effectively provide quality services using these providers, or that no qualified programs exist in the district or no private programs are interested in providing the services in collaboration with the school district.  In determining efficiency and effectiveness, requires districts to emphasize affordability, access, and high quality in early learning experiences.  Directs the commissioner of education to determine whether a school district has met these requirements, and provdies that the commissioner's decision shall be final. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT186.HTM Title: S.B. 314 Source: www.leg.state.vt.us KS Signed into law 05/2006 P-12 Authorizes districts to spend funds received from the bilingual weighting to pay the cost of providing at-risk and preschool-aged at-risk education programs and services. Authorizes districts to spend funds received from the preschool-aged at-risk weighting to pay the cost of providing at-risk, bilingual and vocational education programs and services. Requires every local board to annually submit to the state board a report on the preschool-aged at-risk program or assistance provided by the district. Requires this report to include information specifying the number of students who were served or provided assistance, the type of service provided, the research upon which the district relied in determining that a need for service or assistance existed, the results of providing such service or assistance and any other information required by the state board. Requires every local board to submit to the state board a report on the bilingual education program and assistance provided by the district. Requires this report to include information specifying the number of pupils who were served or provided assistance, the type of service provided, the research upon which the district relied in determining that a need for service or assistance existed, the results of providing such service or assistance and any other information required by the state board. Bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2006/549.pdf Conference Committee Report Brief: http://www.kslegislature.org/supplemental/2006/CCRB549.pdf Title: S.B. 549 - Section 13, 16, 27 Source: www.kslegislature.org CO Vetoed 05/2006 P-12 Concerns the creation and duties of a statewide system of integrated early childhood councils. Repeals the pilot program for community consolidated child care services; incorporates the pilot program into a new integrated statewide system of early childhood councils to address local needs and conditions; mandates an application process to receive designation as a council; sets forth the duties of the councils, including increasing and sustaining the quality, accessibility, capacity, and affordability of early childhood services for children 5 years of age or younger and their parents. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2006a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/5891F5D37E7577928725713000654E40?Open&file=1397_rer.pdf Title: H.B. 1397 Source: Colorado Legislature ID Issued 04/2006 P-12 Establishes the Early Childhood Coordinating Council (as a follow-up to votes by the Interagency Coordinating Council and the Early Care and Learning Cross Systems Task Force to merge) to develop a statewide plan to meet goals related to early care and learning. Directs the council to: a. Establish an ongoing communication network between state agencies, policymakers, families, stakeholders and communities for the purpose of planning and implementation of a coordinated system of early care and learning in Idaho; b. Develop multiagency state partnerships among critical stakeholders; c. Compile resources and identify information on the current best practices in early childhood systems building; d. Provide a comprehensive statewide mapping of existing early care and learning programs and resources, as well as existing gaps, every three to five years; e. Support partnerships to align current initiatives in the support of a comprehensive system of early childhood professional development; f. Increase public awareness of quality early care and learning programs as a critical part of the foundation to promote healthy families and communities; g. Align policy and funding systems to develop and support integrated early care and learning system development. Likewise expands the council's scope from birth to three, to all children from birth through eight and their families. Directs the council to: develop, implement, and sustain a statewide early care and learning strategic plan that maintains the framework of health, social and emotional development, early care and learning, parent education, family support and self sufficiency, and systems development; and recognize language changes to meet federal guidelines for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) such as service coordination, social and emotional development, adaptive skills and developmental delay. Expands the council's membership to meet federal requirements for IDEA. Enhances geographical, cultural, political, professional and family diversity in council membership. Directs council to ensure nationally acceptable standards are used statewide in coordinating and providing early childhood services http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/execorders/eo06/eo_2006-12.pdf Title: Executive Order 2006-12 Source: gov.idaho.gov ID Issued 04/2006 P-12 Establishes the Executive Office for Families and Children. Provides that the duties of the council include: A. Coordinating all boards, councils, commissions, and initiatives as recommended by the Governor, within the Executive Office of the Governor with duties and responsibilities affecting families and children, including but not limited to: (i) Governor's Coordinating Council for Families and Children; (ii) Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention; (iii) Early Childhood Coordinating Council; (iv) Parents as Teachers; (v) Idaho Women's Commission; (vi) Faith Based Liaisons; (vii) Serve Idaho; (viii) Suicide Prevention Advisory Council; (ix) Idaho's Brightest Stars Initiative; (x) Día de los Niños/Day of the Child Initiative. B. Identifying and recommending programs and policies for a comprehensive delivery of effective, efficient and integrated services for families and children, including: (i) Promoting implementation of multi-agency strategic budgeting, common performance measures, and coordination of services; (ii) Promoting an interagency funding system for the delivery of integrated services; (iii) Addressing state strategies, priorities and outcome measures to meet the needs of children. C. Cooperating and consulting with state agencies and departments on programs, policies and issues involving families and children, including but not limited to, the Department of Health and Welfare, Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Corrections, the State Department of Education and the Department of Commerce and Labor; D. Participating in national, regional and statewide efforts to cooperatively address issues and policies affecting families and children in Idaho; E. Developing a state plan for promoting the well-being of families and children in Idaho in conjunction with cities and counties, faith based and community organizations, state councils, boards and commissions, state agencies and departments, and federal organizations; F. Serving as a repository of agreements and plans concerning programs for families and children from community organizations and other relevant local, state and federal agencies and facilitating the exchange of this information and data with relevant interstate and intrastate entities; G. Provide input and comment on community, tribal and federal plans, agreements and polices relating to families and children; H. Serving as an advocate for the families and children of Idaho and directing the people of Idaho to the appropriate local, state or federal agency to address issues or concerns related to families or children. I. Accepting private contributions, federal funds, funds from other public agencies or any other source. The moneys shall be used solely for the purposes provided under this executive order and shall be expended and accounted for as provided by law. http://gov.idaho.gov/mediacenter/execorders/eo06/eo_2006-09.htm Title: Executive Order 2006-09 Source: gov.idaho.gov LA Adopted 04/2006 P-12 Adds the Early Childhood PK-3 certification through the Practitioner Teacher Program alternate program structure. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0604/0604RUL.pdf (starting page 7 of 106) Title: LAC 28:I.903 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NE Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 From the fiscal note: LB 1256 establishes an endowment fund to provide early childhood education grants to programs for at-risk children from birth to age three. Upon the effective date of an endowment agreement, administration of the Early Childhood Education Grant Program with respect to programs for children from birth to age three will transfer to the board of trustees. If there is no endowment agreement in effect, the department will request proposals for all early childhood education programs from school districts, which include birth to kindergarten. The State Department of Education is to request proposals from private endowments to be the provider for the Nebraska Early Childhood Endowment within 90 days of passage of the bill. The endowment provider must place no less than $20 million in a private endowment within five years. At least $1 million must be placed in the endowment prior to December 31, 2006 and a minimum of $5 million prior to June 30, 2007. All interest, earnings and proceeds from the endowment are deposited into the Early Childhood Endowment Cash Fund at least quarterly to be used for grants, evaluation and technical assistance. The bill provides for the Early Childhood Endowment Fund to consist of $40,000,000 of the Cash Reserve Fund, which shall remain in the Cash Reserve Fund, on the effective date of an endowment agreement until June 30, 2007. The interest earned on the $40 million accrues to the Early Childhood Education Cash Fund. After July 1, 2007, the Early Childhood Endowment Fund will consist of the greater of $40 million, or 10% of the value of funds belonging to the state for educational purposes (Permanent School Fund), if the constitutional amendment contained in LB 1006 passes in November, 2006. If the amendment does not pass, then the endowment agreement may provide for the obligations of the endowment provider to terminate if another source of funding is not secured. A six-member Early Childhood Education Endowment Board of Trustees is created to administer the grant program. Grants may be provided to school districts, cooperatives of school districts and educational service units. Grant recipients are eligible for up to 50% of the total budget of the program each year. Continuation grants may be awarded. Revenue: The bill provides for interest earned on $40 million of the Cash Reserve Fund. http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/legal/SLIP_LB1256.pdf Title: L.B. 1256 Source: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Repeals a limitation that grants provided under the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program are subject to the availability of funds in the State budget; provides that the program shall include the early intervention services provided or supervised by the Department and the State Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene including the Program for Hearing- Impaired Infants. http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/bills/hb/hb0133t.pdf Title: H.B. 133; S.B. 367 Source: Maryland Legislature MD Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Requires the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program to be administered by the State Department of Education; authorizes the Department to contract with specified agencies to administer the grant program; authorizes the State Superintendent to delegate authority to approve direct incentive grants to specified boards; authorizes the Department to award direct incentive grants to an applicant under specified circumstances. http://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/bills/hb/hb0601t.pdf Title: H.B. 601 Source: Maryland Legislature MI Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Establishes a grant program for early intervention programs and allows certain funds for small class size to be used for early intervention programs. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2006-PA-0120.pdf Title: S.B. 329 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ MI Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Allows settlement money from the Durant, et al. v State of to be allocated to early intervention programs. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2006-PA-0119.pdf Title: S.B. 328 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ OH Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Establishes new duties for the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council and county family and children first councils. Creates the Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council Advisory Board. http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=126_HB_289 Title: H.B. 289 Source: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/ MI Signed into law 04/2006 P-12 Allows eligible school districts and public school academies currently receiving at-risk funding to use those funds to implement and operate Early Intervening Programs. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2005-2006/publicact/pdf/2006-PA-0121.pdf Title: S.B. 330 Source: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/ KY Adopted 03/2006 P-12 Establishes definitions and rules regarding the applicant selection process for the Early Childhood Development Scholarship Program. 11 KAR 16:001: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/011/016/001.htm 11 KAR 16:010: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/011/016/010.htm Title: 11 KAR 16:001 and 16:010 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, www.lrc.state.ky.us UT Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 This bill modifies the recommended time to provide the assessment of reading and numeric skills given to potential kindergarten students. The assessment should take place in the spring prior to the kindergarten year, but no later than June 15th prior to the school year. http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/bills/hbillenr/hb0226.pdf Title: H.B. 226 Source: http://www.le.state.ut.us WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Finds an urgent and substantial need to enhance the development of all infants and toddlers with disabilities in Washington in order to minimize developmental delays and to maximize individual potential for learning and functioning. Requires that, by September 1, 2009, each school district shall provide or contract for early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age. Eligibility shall be determined according to Part C of the federal individuals with disabilities education act and as specified in the Washington Administrative Code. Provides that school districts shall provide or contract for early intervention services in partnership with local birth-to-three lead agencies and birth-to-three providers. Services provided under this act shall not supplant services or funding currently provided in the state for early intervention services to eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age. The state-designated birthto- three lead agency shall be payor of last resort for birthto- three early intervention services provided under this act. Declares that the services in this act are not part of the state's program of basic education pursuant to Article IX of the state Constitution.Requires each school district to provide or contract for early intervention services to all eligible children with disabilities from birth to 3 years of age; requires that special education and training programs provided by the state and the school districts thereof shall be extended to include children of preschool age. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202006/1107-S.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 1107 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov WA Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Finds that the early years of a child's life are critical to the child's healthy brain development and that the quality of caregiving during the early years can significantly impact the child's intellectual, social, and emotional development. Declares that the purpose of this act is: (1) To establish the department of early learning, the purpose of which is to coordinate and consolidate child care and early learning programs; (2) To safeguard the health, safety, and well-being of children receiving child care and early learning services, which is paramount over the right of any person to provide care; (3) To promote linkages and alignment between early learning programs and elementary schools and support the transition of children and families from prekindergarten environments to kindergarten; (4) To promote the development of a sufficient number and variety of adequate child care and early learning facilities, both public and private; and (5) To license agencies and to a ssure the users of such agencies, their parents, the community at large and the agencies themselves that adequate minimum standards are maintained by all child care and early learning facilities. Provides that two years after the implementation of the department's early learning program, and every two years thereafter by July 1st, the department shall submit to the governor and the legislature a report measuring the effectiveness of its programs in improving early childhood education. The first report shall include program objectives and identified valid performance measures for evaluating progress toward achieving the objectives, as well as a plan for commissioning a longitudinal study comparing the kindergarten readiness of children participating in the department's programs with the readiness of other children, using nationally accepted testing and assessment methods. Such comparison shall include, but not be limited to, achievement as children of both groups progress through the K-12 system and identify year-to-year changes in achievement, if any, in later years of elementary, middle school, and high school education. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202006/2964-S2.SL.pdf Title: H.B. 2964 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov MD Issued 03/2006 P-12 Amends amend Executive Order 01.01.2005.34, which established the Advisory Council for Children; the Governor's Office for Children as a separate agency within the Executive Department to provide a coordinated, comprehensive, interagency approach to the development of a continuum of care that is family and child- oriented and that emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and community-based services for all children and families with special attention to at-risk populations; and the Children's Cabinet and the Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund. Expands the membership of the Advisory Council. http://www.gov.state.md.us/executiveorders/2006/0603eo.html Title: 01.01.2006-03 (Executive Order) Source: http://www.gov.state.md.us MS Signed into law 03/2006 P-12 Enacts the Education Reform Act of 2006. Section 16 directs the department of human services to establish a child care quality step program by requiring the office for children and youth to develop and implement a voluntary pilot rating system (QRS) for improving the quality of all licensed early care and after-school programs. Requires the office for children and youth to conduct a needs assessment to determine the need for an incentive program, which would allow participating early care and education programs in the QRS access to funds to provide incentives to teachers/directors that make educational advancements that are listed in the QRS criteria. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/SB/2600-2699/SB2602SG.htm Title: S.B. 2602 Source: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/SB/2600-2699/SB2602SG.htm IL Adopted 02/2006 P-12 Establishes rules regarding the Early Childhood Block Grant program. Allows entities other than school districts to apply for preschool and parental training programs; eliminates grants to fund preschool education programs to conduct research into effective programs; rolls parental training program services and activities either into the preschool program or preventive initiative program; requires that prevention initiative programs be based on research and provide comprehensive services. Begins on page 426 of 1275: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/index/register/register_volume30_issue11.pdf Title: 23 IAC 235.10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, Appendix A, B Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet SC Signed into law 02/2006 P-12 (Joint Resolution) Provides that the First Steps to School Readiness Act is reauthorized until July 1, 2013; provides for early childhood development. http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/prever/947_20060126.htm Title: S.B. 947 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.net MD Issued 02/2006 P-12 Establishes the Maryland Child Care Subsidy Coordinating Council, defines membership and duties. Purposes of council includes increasing access by low-income families receiving child care subsidies to quality early care and education programs, thereby increasing the probability that their children are entering school ready to learn. http://www.governor.maryland.gov/executiveorders/2006/0602eo.html Title: EXECUTIVE ORDER 01.01.2006.02 Source: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/ CT Issued 02/2006 P-12 Establishes the Governor's Early Childhood Research and Policy Council and defines membership and duties. The Council will: (1) Advise the Early Childhood Education Cabinet on research findings, policy solutions and strategic financing opportunities related to investments in early childhood initiatives; (2) Recommend ways to build and support a network of early childhood researchers across Connecticut's education systems, including academic scholars at business and other professional schools; (3) Engage Connecticut's academic researchers in design of a longitudinal study of children's development and review existing research that evaluates early childhood programs; (4) Examine, from a business perspective, possible strategies to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Connecticut's early care and education "industry"; (5) Propose additional "return on investment" (ROI) studies necessary to evaluate and support early childhood care and education, quality improvement and expansion proposals; (6) Consult with the Cabinet in its preparation of the Cabinet's Early Childhood Investment Plan, to be submitted to the Governor, regarding the expansion of high quality early childhood education services leading to the readiness for kindergarten of all Connecticut children upon entry into kindergarten; and (7) Consult with the Cabinet in monitoring the ongoing implementation of the Connecticut Early Childhood Investment Plan. http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=1719&Q=309862 Title: EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 13 Source: http://www.ct.gov/ OK Issued 01/2006 P-12 In order to take advantage of the opportunity to receive federal funds provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Act, creates the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Childhood Intervention, to exist within the Oklahahoma Commission on Children and Youth. Defines membership and duties of council. http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Executive/497.pdf Title: Executive Order 2006-4 Source: http://www.sos.state.ok.us VA Issued 01/2006 P-12 Establishes the Strong Start Council -- a 17 member body to be appointed by the governor. Powers are duties include: 1. Develop statewide goals and best practices for expanding opportunities for 4 year olds to access quality pre-kindergarten programs, and encourage communities to identify local strengths and challenges in reaching the statewide goals. 2. Oversee the development and implementation of guidelines for local Start Strong programs including, but not limited to, transportation arrangements and eligibility criteria for participating students, qualifications for instructional personnel and administrators, inclusion of privately operated preschool programs, and policies for communication and cooperation with local Head Start and at-risk programs and local school boards. 3. Develop guidelines for the award of grants to local Start Strong councils. 4. Advise the Governor, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Health and Human Resources on proposed policy and operational changes that facilitate interagency service development and implementation, communication and cooperation. 5. Identify and establish early childhood education goals for local Start Strong councils. 6. Recommend funding and strategies necessary to increase access to high quality preschool in the Commonwealth, in cooperation with local Start Strong councils. 7. Examine other issues as may seem appropriate. Staff support is to be provided by the Office of the Governor, the Governor's cabinet secretaries, the Department of Education, and such other agencies as may be appropriate. An estimated 5,000 hours of staff time will be required to coordinate and support the work of the Council. http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/ExecutiveOrders/pdf/EO_7.pdf Title: Executive Order 7 Source: http://www.governor.virginia.gov GA Adopted 12/2005 P-12 Submits rules regarding grants under the Department of Early Care and Learning. http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/591/2/1/01.pdf http://rules.sos.state.ga.us/docs/591/2/1/06.pdf Title: GAC 591-2-1 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet, rules.sos.state.ga.us RI Adopted 09/2005 P-12 Adopts rules regarding the requirements for an Early Childhood Education in public schools in grades PK-2 certificate. Outlines rules for Certificate of Eligibility for Employment (CEE) be valid for three years and Professional Certificates be valid for one or five years. RHODE ISLAND REG 2460 (SN) Title: Section I Source: StateNet IL Signed into law 08/2005 P-12 Specifies that grants for preschool educational programs may go both to local districts and to "eligible entities" as defined by the State Board of Education. Gives state board power to determine eligible entities with which local districts may contract to conduct a preschool educational program. Requires preschool grants from the state board to be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. Eliminates provision that preschool teachers may hold elementary certificates with kindergarten or preschool experience; baccalaureate degrees in child development, or meet the requirements for supervising a day care center under the Child Care Act of 1969, as amended. (All preschool teachers must henceforth hold an early childhood teaching certificate.) Gives "eligible entities" as defined by the state board the same powers as local districts in terms of evaluating students for school readiness, obtaining consent from students' parents before evaluations are conducted, evaluating the population of preschool children in their communities, and operating early childhood parental training programs. Eliminates language allowing the state board to apply up to 5% of state appropriations for preschool programs to establish and implement coordinated model programs. Removes model pilot status of early childhood parental training programs. Specifies that grants for operating early childhood parental training programs must be used to supplement, not supplant, funds received from any other source. Makes these grants available through a state board-esatblished grant approval process rather than competitive process. Gives other eligible entities same powers as districts in applying for and administering such programs. Provides that after July 1, 2006, any parental training services funded through this program shall continue to be funded, subject to appropriation and the meeting of program standards. Requires any additional parental training services to be funded, subject to appropriation, through preschool education grants for families with children ages 3 to 5 and through prevention initiative grants for expecting families and those with children from birth to 3 years of age. Eliminates pilot status of programs concerning services to at-risk children and their families. Gives state board authority to determine eligible entities for the awarding of such grants. Adds that school districts and other eligible entities receiving such grants must conduct voluntary, intensive, research-based, and comprehensive prevention services, as defined by the State Board of Education, for expecting parents and families with children from birth to age 3 who are at-risk of academic failure. Allows a public school district receiving a grant to subcontract with other eligible entities. Requires the state board to report to the General Assembly by July 1, 2006 and every 2 years thereafter on the status of the aforementioned programs, including without limitation characteristics of participants, services delivered, program models used, unmet needs, and results of the programs funded. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=094-0506 Title: H.B. 3822 Source: www.ilga.gov HI Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Establishes and appropriates funds for an early learning educational task force to be attached to the department of education. Directs the task force to develop a 5-year plan for birth-5 education in the state. Requires the plan to include: (1) An implementation and financing schedule that begins with services to four-year-old children and proceeds to younger age groups; (2) Mechanisms to ensure cross-sector and interdepartmental collaboration; (3) Measures to ensure the continuing professional development of teachers and administrators; and (4) Provisions for the promotion of the importance of early learning to families, policymakers, and the general public. Requires the task force to include an interdepartmental resources working group to address the program and workforce development portions of the plan. Directs the working group to develop plans to maximize public and private resources to provide early learning opportunities for all young children in the state. Requires plans to strive to optimize existing government resources. Also identifies mandatory components of the program and workforce development portions of the plan Establishes membership of the working group and other members of the task force. Directs the early learning educational task force to submit reports to the governor and legislature as follows: (1) An interim report of its progress in planning early learning programs for four-year-old children with optimal use of public resources, including any proposed legislation to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2007 regular session; and (2) A final report of its progress, findings, and recommendations, including any additional proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2008 regular session. Makes appropriations. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb3101_cd1_.htm Title: S.B. 3101 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov LA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.10(A) and 3995(C). Authorizes charter schools to apply for and receive funding from the department to provide early childhood development and enrichment activity classes, .a.k.a. LA 4 classes, as provided for in statute. Specifies that a charter school may apply for and receive funding directly from the state or federal government. Specifies that a charter school must comply with the terms of any state or federal grant program for which it receives funding. http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=319041 Title: S.B. 239 Source: www.legis.state.la.us HI Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Postsec. The purpose of this Act is for schools whose student population includes at least twenty per cent or one hundred students from military families as determined by the department of education to provide for the following: (1) Additional staff; (2) Child care services; and (3) Vocational training and retraining. Makes an appropriation for these. Requires the department of education to consult with the Joint Venture Education Forum to establish a priority listing of public schools that are impacted by a large population of military dependent students. In the development of the priority listing, requires the department to consider establishing priority schools with a twenty per cent or more or one hundred or more population of dependent military students. Requires the University of Hawaii to establish a program to allow readmission to military members who have been deployed. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb1394_sd1_.htm Title: S.B. 1394 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov SC SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 06/2005 P-12 Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Act addresses circumstances relating to children and lead poisoning. Revises requirements. Affects child care facilities. http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/prever/3582_20050526.htm Title: H.B. 3582 Source: http://www.scstatehouse.net IA Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Relates to the Iowa Early Intervention Block Grant Program. Requires a report that includes district-by-district information showing the allocation received for early intervention block grant program purposes, the total number of students enrolled in grade four in each district, and the number of students in each district who are not proficient in reading in grade four for the most recent reporting period, as well as for each reporting period starting with the school year beginning July 1, 2001. http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/legislation/enrolled/HF742.html Title: H.F. 742 Source: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us NE Signed by Governor 06/2005 P-12 Changes provisions relating to early childhood education programs as prescribed; to define and redefine terms; to provide a weighting factor and a calculation; to change provisions relating to applicable allowable growth rates; to change provisions relating to a grant program; to harmonize provisions; and to repeal the original sections. Defines "qualified early childhood education average daily membership." Defines the weighting factor for early childhood education programs as six-tenths. http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/pdf/FINAL_LB577_1.pdf Title: L.B. 577 Source: StateNet CO Signed into law 06/2005 P-12 Changes the name of the "school-readiness child care subsidization program" to the "school-readiness quality improvement program". Recognizes the early success of the program on a geographic pilot basis and expands the program to include additional eligible communities. Clarifies that the program will be a continuing program. Allows for the identification or establishment of early childhood care and education councils throughout the state, and comprised of representatives from various public and private stakeholders in the local early childhood community to develop and implement a comprehensive early childhood system. Requires councils to provide school-readiness quality improvement funding to early care and education providers. Specifies that a community may identify a community consolidated child care pilot site agency or other existing entity to serve as an early childhood care and education council or establish a new early childhood care and education council. Changes the program by having school-readiness quality improvement funding flow through the early childhood care and education councils to local early care and education providers, rather than through county departments of social services to such providers. Clarifies that the program is not intended to create an entitlement. Includes school districts in the definition of early care and education providers. Expands the program to target the school readiness of young children who will ultimately attend eligible elementary schools that have received a CSAP academic improvement rating of "decline" or "significant decline" and that have, for that school year, received an overall academic performance rating of "average". Directs the early childhood care and education councils receiving school-readiness quality improvement funding through the program to report certain information to the department of human services. Directs the department of human services to report regularly to the education committees of the general assembly. Expands the child care voluntary credentialing system, which was previously limited to the community consolidated child care services pilot site agencies, statewide to further enhance the school readiness of young children throughout the state of Colorado. Makes conforming amendments. http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics2005a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/FD7C613BB159A9D687256F6A005711E7?Open&file=1238_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1238 Source: www.leg.state.co.us OK Signed into law 05/2005 P-12 Adds a new section of law. Beginning with the 2007-2008 school year, upon initial enrollment in a public school district, schools are required to request the parent or guardian to provide information to the school district regarding participation in the following: 1. A childcare program that is licensed pursuant to the tiered licensing system established by the Department of Human Services; 2. The Sooner Start program operated by the state department of education; 3. The Oklahoma Parents as Teachers program operated by the state department of education; 4. The Children First program operated by the state department of health; 5. Any child abuse prevention program operated by the state department of health; 6. Any federally funded Head Start program; 7. Any other early childhood program funded by state or federal monies as determined by the state board. Requires the state department to verify the accuracy of this data and use it as part of the statewide student record system. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06SB/sb569_enr.rtf Title: S.B. 569 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us WA Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 From the fiscal note: The bill establishes the Washington early learning council within the Governor's Office. The purpose of the council is to provide vision, leadership, and direction to the improvement, realignment, and expansion of early learning programs and services for children birth to five years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. The council is made up of seventeen members. The council shall develop an early learning plan to improve the organization of early learning programs and services at the state level, and to improve the accessibility and quality of early learning programs and services throughout the state. The initial focus shall be on developing and implementing quality improvements through the following mechanisms, which shall initially be implemented in two pilot sites: (a) A voluntary, quality-based, graduated rating system to provide information to parents on the quality of childcare programs and to provide resources and incentives for quality improvements; and (b) A tiered-reimbursement system for state-subsidized child care to improve the quality of care for children participating in state-funded care. http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1152-S2.PL.pdf Title: H.B. 1152 Source: http://www.leg.wa.gov DE Rule Adoption 04/2005 P-12 Amends regulations relating to standard certificate early care and education (ages 0-K) teacher. Changes concern the requirements for certification of educational personnel and are necessary to align it with changes in the grade configuration of the standard certificate for elementary teacher. Extends the age and grade span of the regulation from ages 0-K to birth - grade 2. Also, course work requirements have been modified. http://www.state.de.us/research/AdminCode/title14/1500/1555.shtml#TopOfPage Title: 14 DAC 1555 Source: StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Relates to the Oklahoma Early Intervention Act; modifies eligibility for early intervention services; authorizes State Board of Education to modify certain eligibility definitions as required to receive certain federal assistance. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2005-06SB/sb390_enr.rtf Title: S.B. 390 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us ND Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Relates to the services included within the definition of early childhood services. Adds the following definition: "Drop-in care" means the care of children on a one-time, occasional, or unscheduled basis to meet the short-term needs of families. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/59-2005/bill-text/FAAF0400.pdf Title: S.B. 2304 Source: StateNet MD Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Postsec. Establishing an Early Childhood Development Division within the State Department of Education; transferring the Child Care Administration from the Department of Human Resources to the State Department of Education; transferring specified programs of the Office for Children, Youth, and Families to the State Department of Education; providing that nothing in the Act shall be construed to facilitate or effectuate the transfer of specified programs from the Department of Human Resources to the State Department of Education, http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/billfile/Hb0932.htm Title: H.B. 932 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 04/2005 P-12 Amends the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success early childhood program. Requires any programs given priority consideration for (1) having 75% or more students scoring below proficiency on the primary benchmark exams or (2) designation for school improvement status to continue to receive priority funding to continue an established program even though the schools no longer meet criteria for priority consideration. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2005/public/HB2677.pdf Title: H.B. 2677 Source: www.arkleg.state.ar.us ND Signed into law 03/2005 P-12 Any person or school district operating an early childhood education program may request approval of the program from the superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent shall approve an early childhood education program if the program: 1. Is taught by individuals who are licensed to teach in early childhood education by the education standards and practices board; 2. Follows a developmentally appropriate curriculum; and 3. Is in compliance with all municipal and state health, fire, and safety requirements. Per student funding will not be provided to individuals or school districts offering a prekindergarten program. http://www.state.nd.us/lr/assembly/59-2005/bill-text/FBJE0300.pdf Title: S.B. 2260 Source: StateNet LA Emergency Rule Adoption 02/2005 P-12 Adopts emergency rule establishing early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities under Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. http://www.doa.state.la.us/osr/reg/0502/0502EMR.pdf (pp 30-31) Title: LAC 50:XV.8109 Source: StateNet AL Emergency Rule Adoption 11/2004 P-12 Establishes rules allowing special education services staff employed by the Alabama Department of Education or local school system to provide critical special education services to children in licensed child care centers without meeting requirements for child care center staff, provided the staff meet requirements of the local school system or the department of education. Facilitates compliance with state and federal laws. Increases the availability of special education services, such as speech therapy and physical therapy, to children enrolled in licensed child care centers. Title: AAC 660-5-26-.01 Source: StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, working with a consultant in early care and education, to develop recommendations for a master plan for infant and toddler care in consultation and collaboration with a task force established by the superintendent and comprised of prescribed members. The task force would be established only after the superintendent determines that sufficient funds from sources other than the General Fund are committed to fully support the activities of the task force and the senior consultant. Specifies areas to be addressed by the recommendations; requires the recommendations resulting from the master plan process to be completed and submitted to the Governor and the Legislature by December 1, 2005; requires the superintendent to update the recommendations at least once every 5 years. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1301-1350/sb_1343_bill_20040826_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/SB_1343_veto.pdf Title: S.B. 1343 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Requires the Child Development Division of the Department of Education to provide to the Superintendent of Public Instruction a baseline assessment of the supply and demand for subsidized and unsubsidized child care, to be updated every two years. Requires the division to convene a task force to develop and submit to the Legislature a Child Care and Development Workforce Development Plan. Requires the division to conduct a biennial assessment of the reimbursement rate system for subsidized child care. Requires the division to conduct specified activities as part of the assessment, including developing and implementing a pilot program, to test a reimbursement rate system that uses a uniform regional base rate based on market rates drawn from the regional market rate survey for infants, preschool children, and schoolage children. Requires the division to develop criteria for enhancements to the reimbursement rates paid to subsidized child care providers for demonstrated quality program components. Requires the superintendent, based on the assessment prepared by the division, to provide specified recommendations to the Legislature to improve the rate setting procedures of the division. Requires the recommendations to include recommendations on the impact of the reimbursement rate pilot program and recommendations regarding the reimbursement rate quality enhancements proposed by the division. Establishes the Option for Expanded Business Opportunities for the purpose of authorizing family child care providers to select agents to represent them to act collectively on specified matters, including negotiating for and purchasing group benefits, representing family child care providers in disputes or enforcement proceedings, and negotiating and entering into contracts with public and private entities that administer state funded public subsidies for family child care services. Authorizes a family child care provider to select an agent to represent the provider and deems an agent a certified agent upon verification by the State Mediation and Conciliation Services that the agent has written authorization for representation from 20% of all licensed family providers in the state. Requires the State Department of Education to adopt regulations governing the conduct of a certified agent and authorizes the superintendent to order a modification or discontinuance of conduct authorized by the bill if the superintendent determines that the disadvantages attributable to a potential reduction in competition demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the conduct. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_1851-1900/sb_1897_bill_20040827_enrolled.html Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_1897_veto.pdf Title: S.B. 1897 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Requires the California Children and Families Commission to complete and submit a cost study that provides an estimate of the cost of a voluntary Preschool for All program in the state. Convenes a Workforce Development Blue Ribbon Committee to develop a workforce development plan that establishes an infrastructure for educating, preparing and supporting a well-trained, culturally and linguistically diverse teaching and administrative staff in early care and education programs, Preschool for All programs, and kindergarten and grades 1 to 3. Requires the committee, by January 1, 2006, to present a workforce development plan. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0701-0750/ab_712_bill_20040828_enrolled.pdf Veto message: http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_712_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 712 Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Changes the maximum age for program eligibility to 13, and modifies the definition of ''parent'' under the Child Care and Development Services Act. Deletes provision providing a formula for determining whether a family is eligible to receive services under the Child Care and Development Services Act based on the family's income. Deletes provision that children who were receiving services as of January 1, 1998, in certain child care programs, whose family income is above the eligibility level may continue to receive services so long as they continue to meet criteria that applied to the program on December 31, 1997. Existing law provides that the assigned reimbursement rate for alternative payment programs includes the cost of child care plus the administrative cost of the alternative payment program. This bill imposes a limit on administrative costs for the alternative payment program. Existing law contains various provisions relating to the implementation of the plan developed by the Commission on Child Care and Development Services and the expansion of child care and development services. This bill deletes these provisions as they have been superseded by existing law. The existing law requires the State Department of Education to disburse augmentations to the base allocation for the expansion of child care and development programs, with certain requirements. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2501-2550/ab_2525_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Deletes provision requiring the State Department of Education to take certain actions in administering child care and child development programs, including, but not limited to, establishing a review group composed of certain representatives and to submit all policy memoranda and guidelines to the review group 30 days prior to their issuance, and establishing an in-service training program for professional staff. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2501-2550/ab_2525_bill_20040929_chaptered.pdf Title: A.B. 2525 (multiple provisions) Source: www.leginfo.ca.gov/ CA Vetoed 09/2004 P-12 Amends the Leroy F. Greene School Facilities Act. Deletes teacher education facilities as eligible joint-use facilities. Includes parks and preschool facilities as eligible joint-use facilities. Permits a joint-use facility to be located adjacent to an existing schoolsite. Establishes a priority for funding such projects, if sufficient funding is not available to fund all of the submitted projects. Authorizes a school district the option to pay up to 50% of the local share of eligible project costs if a local bond measure specifies the amount to be used for joint-use projects. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2401-2450/ab_2446_bill_20040826_enrolled.html http://www.governor.ca.gov/govsite/pdf/vetoes/AB_2446_veto.pdf Title: A.B. 2446 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Establishes the Helping Heroes Child Care Program to provide child care to families who have one or more parents deployed to Iraq by the armed services and who meet eligibility criteria. Requires that the program be administered by the Department of Education in conformance with the laws regulating alternative payment programs. Makes the implementation of the program contingent upon the availability of specified funding. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2201-2250/ab_2205_bill_20040825_enrolled.html Title: A.B. 2205 Source: California Legislative Web site MI Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Relates to the State School Aid Act of 1979; allocates funds for grants to intermediate districts to provide programs for parents with preschool children to improve school readiness and foster the maintenance of stable families by encouraging positive parenting skills. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/publicact/pdf/2004-PA-0337.pdf Title: S.B. 885 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2004 P-12 Requires the State Department of Education to conduct a study of the current methods of providing special instruction and other services to infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing and to report to the Legislature. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_2901-2950/ab_2909_bill_20040910_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 2909 Source: California Legislative Web site IA Issued 08/2004 P-12 Postsec. Community College Creates the IOWA LEARNS COUNCIL. The Iowa Learns Council shall work towards the ambitious goal of 90% of Iowa children having a quality pre-school experience, and 90% of Iowa high school graduates will go on to complete at least two years of college; shall promote, gather, and share information regarding Iowa's progress to ensure seamless pathways across education sectors and the workplace; shall identify the necessary steps to ensure that Iowans--from pre-school to graduate school--are supported by a well coordinated seamless system of learning and support to provide for successes from early childhood through higher education, and into the workforce in our communities. http://www.state.ia.us/iowalearns/doc/eo30.html Iowa Learns Council report with recommendations released August 11, 2004. http://www.state.ia.us/iowalearns/reports.html Title: Executive Order No. 30 - 2003 Source: Iowa State Web site MA Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Relates to early childhood education and care; contains text of section 35 of H 4850; relates to recognition of advancements in educational attainment among early education and care professionals; establishes a department of early education and care; includes center, family child care, infant, toddler, preschool and school-age providers; provides for an implementation plan for a workforce development system and professional development. Title: H.B. 4904 Source: StateNet HI Became law without governor's signature 07/2004 P-12 Establishes a pilot project providing community-based, collaborative, and comprehensive early childhood care direct services for children under age five and their families in critical need areas as determined by the department of human services. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb3230_cd1_.htm Title: S.B. 3230 Source: Hawaii Legislative Web site IL Signed into law 07/2004 P-12 Amends the Department of Human Services Act; deletes a provision that includes beginning and ending dates for the operation of a Great START(Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program; deletes provisions requiring a working committee of the Child and Development Advisory Council of the Department of Human Services to make certain recommendations concerning the Great START program by October 1, 2000. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=093-0711 Title: S.B. 2171 Source: Illinois Legislative web site FL Vetoed 07/2004 P-12 Provides for establishment of a Universal Prekindergarten Education Program; provides for scholarships and amount thereof; provides for use of web-based or book-based curriculum in lieu of scholarship; provides for administration by Workforce Innovation Agency; provides for continued administration of School Readiness Program by the Partnership for School Readiness under certain conditions. Relates to child care personnel credentialing. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=hb0821er.html&Directory=session/2004/House/bills/billtext/html/ Title: H.B. 821 Source: Florida Legislative Web site KY Emergency Rule Adoption 07/2004 P-12 Sets forth the provisions of Primary Service coordination as it relates to First Steps, KY's Early Intervention Program. http://www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/firststeps%202004/PandP%20Manual/911kar2_140E_070104.pdf(SN) Title: 911 KAR 2:140 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Establishes the provisions of assessment and the Individualized Family Service Plans used in First Steps, KY's Early Intervention Program. http://www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/firststeps%202004/PandP%20Manual/911kar2_130E_070104.pdf Title: 911 KAR 2:130 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Sets forth the provisions of personnel qualifications as they relate to First Steps, KY's Early Intervention Program. http://www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/firststeps%202004/PandP%20Manual/911kar2_150E_070104.pdf(SN) Title: 911 KAR 2:150 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Sets forth the point of entry provisions pertaining to First Steps, KY's Early Intervention Program. http://www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/firststeps%202004/PandP%20Manual/911kar2_110E_070104.pdf Title: 911 KAR 2:110 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Establishes the evaluation and eligibility requirements for First Steps, KY's Early Intervention Program. http://www.chs.ky.gov/publichealth/firststeps%202004/PandP%20Manual/911kar2_120E_070104.pdf Title: 911 KAR 2:120 Source: StateNet AR Rule Adoption 06/2004 P-12 Establishes general guidelines for the operation of early childhood programs funded under the Arkansas Better Chance Program and the Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program. http://arkedu.state.ar.us/pdf/ade%20174%20abc.pdf Title: ADE 174 Source: Arkansas State Web site FL Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Re-creates the Child Care and Development Trust Fund within the Agency for Workforce Innovation without modification; carries forward current balances and continues current sources and uses thereof. http://www.flsenate.gov/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1022er.html&Directory=session/2004/Senate/bills/billtext/html/ Title: S.B. 1022 Source: Florida Legislative Web site CO Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Changes the name of the Child Care Commission to the Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission; modifying the responsibilities of the commission. http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics2004a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/64CD1EC1E0B64CA787256DB0004CB158?Open&file=1277_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1277 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site CT Signed into law 06/2004 P-12 Concerns school readiness; relates to the state encouraging the development of a network of school readiness programs; relates to the funding of such programs by eligible providers by the Department of Education. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2004/act/Pa/2004PA-00215-R00HB-05690-PA.htm Title: H.B. 5690 Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site DE Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Proclaims May 11, 2004, as Early Child Care and Education Professionals Appreciation Day; as Early childhood educators and child care professionals are dedicated, tireless workers who are on the front lines to assist in strengthening communities and supporting families throughout the State of Delaware. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home?Openform Title: H.J.R. 27 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site GA Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Creates the Improvement of Georgia's Pre-K Program Joint Study Commission; report due December 31, 2004. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sr760.htm Title: S.R. 760 Source: Georgia Legislative Web site GA Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Changes the name of the "Office of School Readiness" to "Bright From The Start: Georgia's Office of Early Care and Education;" makes the office a separate budget unit; revises definitions; changes certain provisions relating to the director of the office; adds powers and duties of the office; revises certain references for conformity purposes. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/sb456.htm Title: S.B. 456 Source: Georgia Legislative Web site ME Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 The bill provides that by fiscal year 2009-10 the state share of kindergarten to grade 12 education funding, as described by essential programs and services, must be 55%. It also establishes a local cost share expectation for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2005. The Commissioner of Education shall annually notify each school administrative unit of its expectation. This expectation must decline over the period from fiscal year 2005-06 to fiscal year 2009-10. The expectation may not exceed 9.0 mills in fiscal year 2005-06. It may not exceed 8.0 mills in fiscal year 2009-10. The legislative body of a school administrative unit may not adopt a property tax rate that exceeds its mill expectation unless, in a vote separate from its adoption of the school budget, it votes to increase the property tax rate. The bill also places transportation operating costs into the essential programs and services funding formula. It also states that special education costs will be included in essential programs and services starting in fiscal year 2005-06. Beginning in fiscal year 2004-05, the Department of Education will provide training in state-approved guidelines for identification of special education students. The bill also places early childhood education program costs and vocational education program costs into essential programs and services no later than fiscal year 2007-08. Note Sec. 16: Basis for funding costs of education from kindergarten to grade 12. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2005-06, funding of the costs of education from kindergarten to grade 12 must be based on the cost of providing essential programs and services as described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 606-B. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/ld_title.asp?ld=1924 Title: S.P. 761 Source: StateNet NH Signed into law 05/2004 P-12 Adds representatives of Early Learning New Hampshire to the advisory committee on child care and removes obsolete member references. http://gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2004/SB0416.html Title: S.B. 416 Source: StateNet DE Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Extends a reporting date for the Task Force examining early childhood education programs as established by House Joint Resolution No. 9, as amended. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home?Openform Title: H.J.R. 19 Source: Delaware Legislative web site CT Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Concerning school readiness staff qualifications; eases staff shortages without diminishing the quality of individuals employed for school readiness programs by amending staff qualifications; includes Head Start and special education. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2004/act/Pa/2004PA-00015-R00HB-05428-PA.htm Title: H.B. 5428 Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site AZ Signed into law 04/2004 P-12 Concerns child care programs; concerns programs exempted from certain provisions; includes professional services rendered for mentally or physically impaired students as mandated; includes tutoring to improve school performance. http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/46leg/2r/laws/0023.htm Title: H.B. 2031 Source: Arizona Legislative Web site WV Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Establishes the priority for early childhood education in the basic skills of reading, mathematics and English language arts. Title: H.B. 4043 Source: StateNet WA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Establishes an advisory council on early interventions for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Title: H.B. 2765 Source: StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2004 P-12 Abolishes the Early Intervention Agencies Committee created to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive system for early intervention services and to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Education on issues that require interagency planning, financing, and resolution. Title: H.B. 15 Source: StateNet SD Signed into law 02/2004 P-12 Establishes a task force to improve the quality and availability of child care and early learning opportunities. Title: S.B. 117 Source: StateNet SC Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 02/2004 P-12 (Joint Resolution) Approves regulations of the Board of Education; relates to minimum standards for the determination of student readiness. Title: H.B. 3871 Source: StateNet UT Rule Adoption 02/2004 P-12 Establishes the eligibility criteria for new sponsors to recruit participants to child care centers and day care homes in unserved areas. Provides criteria for recruiting facilities and new and renewing institution performance standards. UTAH REG 26829 (SN) Title: R277-724 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Amends the state "Better Chance for School Success" program to remove matching requirements, set implementation goals and makes the program applicable to schools instead of districts; amends provisions regarding early childhood programs. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/HB1057.pdf Title: H.B. 1057 Source: Arkansas Legislative web site AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Amends Ark. Code § 6-15-404. Requires the state board of education and the state department of education to develop and implement a school readiness screening to validate a child's school readiness when a student enters kindergarten or an developmentally appropriate screening for a child starting school in grade 1. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB33.pdf Title: S.B. 33 § 1 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site AR Signed into law 01/2004 P-12 Postsec. Adds Ark. Code 6-15-2201. Requires postsecondary education to report on the readiness of high school students for higher education; the state board of education shall require schools and districts to develop strategies to improve student readiness for postsecondary education and reduce remediation for high school graduates. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003s2/public/SB33.pdf Title: S.B. 33 § 10 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site OK Emergency Rule Adoption 11/2003 P-12 Specifies that early childhood education includes pre-kindergarten-third grade. Expands on the competencies for teaching mathematics that teachers up to grade three must have. OKLAHOMA REG 13002 (SN) Title: OAC 210:20-9-172 Source: StateNet LA Emergency Rule Adoption 10/2003 P-12 Establishes emergency rules concerning early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment program early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. LOUISIANA REG 9136 (SN) Title: LAC 50:XV.Chapter 81 Source: StateNet CA Signed into law 10/2003 P-12 Revises existing law that provides for the licensure of family day care homes including large and small day care homes under certain conditions. Allows one of the conditions for licensure to be met if at least one child is enrolled in and attending kindergarten or elementary school and a 2nd child is at least 6 years of age. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0501-0550/ab_529_bill_20031010_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 529 Source: California Legislative Web site CA Signed into law 09/2003 P-12 Specifies a school district or county office of education that provides childcare pursuant to the California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) Program is eligible to apply for and receive funding from the Childcare Facilities Revolving Fund. Requires a school district or county superintendent of schools to also enter into formal partnership agreements, as necessary, with community-based organizations to provide child care and developmental services. http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_1651-1700/ab_1668_bill_20030925_chaptered.html Title: A.B. 1668 Source: California Legislative Web site MI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Sec. 107a. (1) The family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee is established to explore and make recommendations on implementing a new integrated system of delivering adult education and related family services beginning with the 2004-2005 school year, including, but not limited to: (a) Educational services, including, but not limited to, high school completion programs, adult basic education, general education development (G.E.D.) test preparation, English as a second language programs, and early childhood education. (b) Family services, including, but not limited to, even start programs, 21st century learning center grants, before- and after-school child care programs, parenting classes, and referrals for family and child services. (c) Employment and training services, including, but not limited to, career preparation programs and work readiness classes. (2) The family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee shall consist of the following: (a) Two members of the senate, 1 appointed by the senate majority leader and 1 appointed by the senate minority leader. (b) Two members of the house of representatives, 1 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. (c) A representative of the Michigan association of community and adult education. (d) A representative of the Michigan works! association. (e) Three local adult education program directors, appointed jointly by the legislative members appointed under subdivisions (a) and (b). (f) Three local Michigan works program directors, appointed jointly by the legislative members appointed under subdivisions (a) and (b). (g) The state director of adult education. (3) The timetable for the work of the family resource center curriculum blue ribbon study committee is as follows: (a) Not later than September 1, 2003, report on its progress to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees responsible for this act. (b) Not later than November 1, 2003, make final recommendations to the senate and house appropriations subcommittees responsible for this act. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/billenrolled/house/pdf/2003-HNB-4401.pdf Title: H.B. 4401 (multiple provisions) Source: www.michiganlegislature.org IL Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Allows a school board to establish, maintain, and operate a summer kindergarten program for grade one readiness. Provides the summer kindergarten program may be held within the school district or under a contract that must be approved by the state board of education. Removes a provision that provides that summer kindergarten expenses may be paid from district maintenance funds. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=903&GAID=3&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=3792&SessionID=3 Title: S.B. 903 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site MI Signed into law 08/2003 P-12 Sec. 703. (1) The funds appropriated in part 1 for school readiness programs shall be made available through a competitive application process as follows: (a) An applicant may be any public or private nonprofit legal entity or agency other than a local or intermediate school district except a local or intermediate school district acting as a fiscal agent for a child caring organization regulated under 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128. (b) Applications shall be submitted in a form and manner as required by the department. (c) Applications shall be reviewed by a diverse interagency committee composed of representatives of the department, appropriate community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations, and parents. (d) Priority in the recommendation for awarding of grants by the superintendent of public instruction to applicants shall be based upon the following criteria: (i) Compliance with standards for early childhood development consistent with programs for 4-year-olds, as approved by the state board of education. (ii) Active and continuous involvement of the parents or guardians of the children participating in the program. (iii) Employment of teachers possessing proper training in early childhood development, including an early childhood (ZA) endorsement or child development associate, and trained support staff. (iv) Evidence of collaboration with the community of providers in early childhood development programs including documentation of the total number of children in the community who would meet the criteria established in subparagraph (vi), and who are being served by other providers, and the number of children who will remain unserved by other community early childhood programs if this program is funded. (v) The extent to which these funds will supplement other federal, state, local, or private funds. (vi) The extent to which these funds will be targeted to children who will be at least 4, but less than 5, years of age as of December 1 of the year in which the programs are offered and who show evidence of 2 or more "at-risk" factors as defined in the state board of education report entitled, "children at risk" that was adopted by the state board on April 5, 1988. (e) Whether the application contains a comprehensive evaluation plan that includes implementation of all program components required and an assessment of the gains of children participating in an early childhood development program. (f) Applications shall provide for the establishment of a school readiness advisory committee that shall be involved in the planning and evaluation of the program and provides for the involvement of parents and appropriate community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations. There shall be on the committee at least 1 parent or guardian of a program participant for every 18 children enrolled in the program, with a minimum of 2 parent or guardian representatives. The committee shall do all of the following: (i) Review the mechanisms and criteria used to determine referrals for participation in the school readiness program. (ii) Review the health screening program for all participants. (iii) Review the nutritional services provided to all participants. (iv) Review the mechanisms in place for the referral of families to community social service agencies, as appropriate. (v) Review the collaboration with and the involvement of appropriate community, volunteer, and social service agencies and organizations in addressing all aspects of education disadvantage. (vi) Review, evaluate, and make recommendations for changes in the school readiness program. (g) More than 50% of the children participating in the program shall meet the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced price lunch, as determined under the national school lunch act, chapter 281, 60 Stat. 230, 42 U.S.C. 1751 to 1753, 1755 to 1761, 1762a, 1765 to 1766b, and 1769 to 1769h, or meet income and all other eligibility criteria for participation in the Michigan family independence agency unified child day care program. (2) Grant awards by the superintendent of public instruction may be at whatever level the superintendent determines appropriate. A grant, when combined with other sources of state revenue for this program, shall not exceed $3,300.00 per child or the cost of the program, whichever is less. (3) Except as otherwise provided, an applicant that receives a 2003-2004 grant under this section shall also receive priority for fiscal years 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 funding. However, after 3 fiscal years of continuous funding, an applicant will be required to compete openly with new programs and other programs completing their third year. All grant awards are contingent on the availability of funds and documented evidence of grantee compliance with standards for early childhood development consistent with programs for 4-year-olds, as approved by the state board of education, and with all operational, fiscal, administrative, and other program requirements. A program which offers supplementary day care and thereby offers full-day programs as part of its early childhood development program shall receive priority in the allocation of competitive funds. http://www.michiganlegislature.org/documents/2003-2004/publicact/pdf/2003-PA-0145.pdf Title: H.B. 4391 (multiple provisions) Source: www.michiganlegislature.org IL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Provides that 11% (instead of 8%) of the Early Childhood Education Block Grant shall be used to fund programs for children ages 0-3. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=2235&GAID=3&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=3446&SessionID=3 Title: H.B. 2235 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site IL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Creates the Illinois Early Learning Council Act. Establishes the Illinois Early Learning Council to coordinate existing state programs and services for children from birth to 5 years of age in order to better meet the early learning needs of children and their families. Provides for the appointment of members to the council who represent both public and private organizations and who reflect regional, racial and cultural diversity. http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/billstatus.asp?DocNum=565&GAID=3&DocTypeID=SB&LegID=3196&SessionID=3 Title: S.B. 565 Source: Illinois Legislative Web site NC Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Establishes regional interagency coordinating councils under the laws relating to early intervention services for children from birth to five years of age with disabilities; requires a Head Start representative for each region and one representative from the Military Early Intervention program, if a military base is present in the region; provides for coordination with Mental Health Local Management Entities and local educational agencies. Title: H.B. 932 Source: StateNet FL Signed into law 07/2003 P-12 Stipulates that children age 3 years to school entry who are enrolled in a licensed early education and child care program as a result of being abused, neglected or abandoned and being served by the Family Safety Program Office must participate in the program 5 days a week; provides priority for children who are served by the Family Safety Program Office; requires notice to operators of enrollment of a child under court ordered supervision. http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&Tab=session&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=1318&Chamber=Senate&Year=2003&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25201318%2D%3ESession%25202003 Title: S.B. 1318 Source: Florida Legislative Web site DE Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Relates to the Christa McAuliffe Scholarship Program for loan forgiveness to encourage academically talented residents to pursue teaching careers in a Delaware public school; expands eligibility to teachers in charter schools and teachers who provide contract services in public schools, including early intervention with developmentally delayed children under the age of 3. http://www.legis.state.de.us/LIS/LIS142.NSF/c6fe685e20e98b2b882569a60053971e/a96fcbce78adb9cc85256cfa0058dd73?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,68 Title: S.B. 68 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site DE Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Creates a task force to examine early childhood education programs; develops a plan for implementation of universal pre-kindergarten and full day kindergarten. http://www.legis.state.de.us/Legislature.nsf/fsLIS?openframeset&Frame=Main&Src=/LIS/LIS142.NSF/Home!Openform Title: H.J.R. 9 Source: Delaware Legislative Web site CT Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Requires the State Prevention Council to determine long-term goals, strategies and outcome measures to promote the health and well being of children and families including; early intervention strategies, an increase in healthy pregnant women and newborns, a decrease in child neglect and abuse, an increase in school-ready children, an increase in children who succeed in school, a decrease in children who are unsupervised after school and a decrease in juvenile suicide and crime. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00145-R00SB-00886-PA.htm Title: S.B. 886 Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site CT Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Requires testing in compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act; states an elementary teaching endorsement is valid for kindergarten to grade 6 and a comprehensive special education teaching endorsement is valid for kindergarten to grade 12; requires the state board of education to establish requirements for subject area endorsements; requires teacher certification to include teaching experience in birth-to three programs approved by the Department of Mental Retardation. http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2003/act/Pa/2003PA-00168-R00SB-01155-PA.htm Title: S.B. 1155 Source: Connecticut Legislative Web site MO Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Postsec. Alters the distribution of Gaming Commission Fund; provides funds for veterans facilities, the National Guard College Trust, early childhood development education, and the College Guaranty Fund. http://www.house.state.mo.us/bills03/biltxt/truly/HB0444T.HTM Title: H.B. 444 Source: www.house.state.mo.us HI Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Establishes the Commission on Fatherhood within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to provide for a statewide program, on a permanent and continuing basis, to promote healthy family relationships between parents and children that are father- friendly and inclusive; requires Lieutenant Governor's Office to provide staff and administrative support to the commission. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus.asp?qu=sb1423&showstatus=on&showtext=on&press1=docs Title: S.B. 1423 Source: Hawaii Legislative Web site OR Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Includes Employment Department in development of voluntary statewide early childhood system; involves local child care resource and referral agencies in work of local commissions on children and families; expands definition of child for certification and registering of child care facilities to include certain special needs or disabled children under 18 years of age; relates to child care facility requirements for certain facilities and parent cooperatives. Title: H.B. 2191 Source: StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Revises inservice training requirements for child care personnel; requires training in early literacy and language development; requires annual training and annual health and safety home inspection self- evaluation by family day care home operators; requires annual training of operators of large family child care homes, etc. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=2446&Chamber=Senate&Year=2003&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25202446%2D%3ESession%25202003 Title: S.B. 2446 Source: Florida Legislative Web site OR Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Deletes requirement that individualized family service plan for child receiving early childhood special education be reviewed every six months or more frequently if conditions warrant or if family requests review. Title: S.B. 127 Source: StateNet OR Rule Adoption 06/2003 P-12 Amends rules to streamline the process of renewal of authorization for early childhood specialists and early childhood supervisors within the Early Intervention/ Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSA) Programs. OREGON REG 24245 (SN) Title: OAR 581-015-1105, -1106 Source: StateNet ME Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Amends the Educators for Maine Program; provides financial assistance for postsecondary education to undergraduate students or students pursuing postbaccalaureate certification who demonstrate academic achievement and interest in teaching, speech pathology or child care. Added the categories of speech pathology and child care. Postbaccalaureate students must be pursuing a course of student that will lead to certification in one of the above fields. Caps Educator for Maine loans at $20,000 in total, or any funds that result in making the total financial aid award exceed the cost of attendance. An individual who received that individual's first program loan after January 1, 2000 may cancel the total amount of the loan by completing one year of return service by working in a child care facility. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/LD134001-1.asp Title: H.P. 985 (LD 1340) Source: StateNet TX Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Adds prekindergarten or after school child care programs to the provision governing subsidized childcare services. Title: S.B. 76 Source: StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2003 P-12 Implements specified provisions of State Constitution; creates voluntary universal prekindergarten education program; limits application of provisions regarding school readiness programs; requires State Board of Education to submit report with recommendations or options for on curriculum, design and standards of said program; directs Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability & Auditor General to conduct audits and submit reports to the governor and legislature. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/house/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=1334&Chamber=Senate&Year=2003&Title=%2D%3EBill%2520Info%3AS%25201334%2D%3ESession%25202003 Title: S.B. 1334 Source: Florida Legislative Web site CO Partial veto 05/2003 P-12 Concerns the procedures for the funding of public schools, including adjustments to the district size factor, minimum per pupil funding, at-risk student calculation; temporary reduction of number of children participating on the Colorado Preschool Program; changes in kindergarten funding including repeal of full-day kindergarten for unsatisfactory schools, reduction of full-day kindergarten component of preschool program, directions for use of federal funds for kindergarten programs; repeals funding for new on-line students approved by legislature in 2002; amends law regarding capital construction funding for school districts and charter schools; and makes an related appropriations in connection therewith. Governor vetoed section 43 of the bill related to kindergarten programs and two appropriation amendments. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/C9D735028416E02F87256C5A0066CD5A?Open&target=/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/billsummary/B2A9CC94F12AE86687256C4F00525F07 http://www.leg.state.co.us/2003a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/C9D735028416E02F87256C5A0066CD5A?Open&file=248_enr.pdf http://www.state.co.us/gov_dir/leg_dir/lcsstaff/schfin/SummaryMemoSB03-248.pdf Title: S.B. 248 Source: Colorado Legislative Web site MD Vetoed 05/2003 P-12 Authorizes early childhood educational and developmental programs to enter specified agreements to promote early childhood educational programs. States that the purpose of the agreement is to collaborate and develop a plan to provide parents of indigent or at-risk children with information on the importance of early childhood education and the availability of specified services and programs such as mental health services for young children and children with developmental disabilities. Requires the state department of education to assist in developing the agreement, monitor and review results from the agreement, and submit an annual report to the legislature on the program's effectiveness in promoting early childhood educational and developmental programs. Governor letter regarding veto: http://mlis.state.md.us/2003rs/veto_letters/hb0635.htm and bill as submitted to governor: http://mlis.state.md.us/2003rs/bills/hb/hb0635e.rtf Title: H.B. 635 Source: mlis.state.md.us ME Resolve No. 05/2003 P-12 Applies uniform fire code standards to preschool facilities located in public schools regardless of whether they are a child care center or a Head Start center. http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billdocs/LD110501.doc Title: H.P. 808 (LD 1105) Source: www.mainelegislature.org TN Signed into law 05/2003 P-12 Revises the criteria for determining at-risk children for pre-school and early learning programs from those "who live below the poverty line determined pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 9847" to those "who meet eligibility requirements identical to those met by school age children qualifying for free and reduced lunch pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 1771. http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB1975.pdf Title: S.B. 1975 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us ND Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requires the state board to issue major equivalency endorsements and minor equivalency endorsements (new requirement). Also adds new requirement for early childhood by requiring the education standards and practices board to issue an optional early childhood education teaching license or endorsement to an applicant who meets the requirements set by the board. Deletes prior requirements and replaces them with provision that preK and kindergarten teachers must be licensed to teach by the education standards and practices board. Also must: 1. Have a major in elementary education and a kindergarten endorsement; 2. Have a major equivalency in elementary education and a kindergarten endorsement; 3. Have a major in elementary education and an early childhood education endorsement; H. B. No. 1489 - Page 3 4. Have a major equivalency in elementary education and an early childhood education endorsement; 5. Have a major in early childhood education; or 6. Have a major equivalency in early childhood education. Title: H.B. 1489 Source: North Dakota Legislature Web Site SC Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 04/2003 P-12 (Joint Resolution)The CSAB was administered for the last time in fall 2001. The Education Accountability Act of 1998 (EAA) required the development/selection of developmentally appropriate readiness assessments for grades one and two. The South Carolina Readiness Assessment (SCRA) fulfills the requirements of the EAA, obviating the need for the CSAB. The SCRA is identified as the Assessment Program in 24 S. C, Code Ann. Regs. 43-262 (to be codified at Supp. 2002.) Therefore, this regulation needs to be repealed. http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess115_2003-2004/bills/3870.htm Title: H.B. 3870 Source: StateNet SC Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 04/2003 P-12 (Joint Resolution) Approves regulations of the Board of Education; relates to basic skills assessment programs kindergarten objectives. Title: H.B. 3869 Source: StateNet OK Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Creates the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Act; states intent, purposes, and goals; creates the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board; states powers and duties of the Board; requires annual report and specifies contents of report; designates Department of Human Services as lead agency. The Board is to promote school readiness supporting community-based efforts to increase the number of children who are ready to succeed by the time they enter school, and shall consist of representatives from the private and public sectors as follows: 1. Fifteen private sector representatives, two of whom shall be parents of children eight (8) years of age or younger and one of whom shall be a representative of licensed child care providers, appointed by the Governor from a list submitted by an existing private-sector school readiness initiative that includes in its focus community mobilization and public engagement activities; and 2. To insure that existing resources are being utilized effectively, thirteen public sector representatives. http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2003-04HB/hb1094_enr.rtf Title: H.B. 1094 Source: StateNet KS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Authorizes local boards to (1) enter into cooperative or interlocal agreements with one or more other boards for the establishment, operation and maintenance of preschool programs; (2) Contract with private, nonprofit corporations or associations or with any public or private agency or institution for the establishment, operation and maintenance of preschool programs. (3) Prescribe and collect fees for providing preschool programs. States that fees for providing preschool programs may only recover the costs incurred for operating preschool programs. Requires revenues from fees collected by a board for a preschool program to be deposited in the general fund of the school district and to be considered reimbursements to the district for the purpose of the school district finance and quality performance act. Allows such revenues to be expended whether the same have been budgeted or not and amounts so expended shall not be considered operating expenses. http://www.kslegislature.org/enrollbills/approved/2003/82.pdf Title: S.B. 82 Source: www.kslegislature.org MS Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Establishes oversight committee to assess all prekindergarten or school readiness programs run by any public or private school or Head Start program in the state, as well as any school readiness program operated by any licensed childcare center in the state. Specifies what data every assessment must collect, including teacher qualifications, child eligibility criteria. In light of the findings of the assessment, the oversight committee must make recommendations on the need for additional early childhood programs and measures needed to guarantee that early childhood programs in operation in Mississippi meet or surpass recognized standards of excellence. The oversight committee must report to the legislature on these findings and recommendations by January 15, 2004. Requires the oversight committee to cause to be developed a single assessment instrument to gather and synthesize the required data into a single report. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/SB/2600-2699/SB2636SG.htm Title: S.B. 2636 Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Creates the Better Chance for School Success Program to provide early education for low-income, 3- and 4-year-old children in low-performing school districts. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2376.pdf Title: H.B. 2376 Source: Arkansas Legislative Web site NM Pocket Veto by GOVERNOR. 04/2003 P-12 Requires that certain state funds for head start programs be used for collaboration with private and nonprofit providers. Title: S.B. 572 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Expands the Arkansas Better Chance Program; allows any licensed early childhood program with early childhood accreditation by the Department of Human Services and meeting the Arkansas Better Chance Core Quality Approval Standards of the Department of Education to apply for funding, regardless of the sponsorship of the program. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB2402.pdf Title: H.B. 2402 Source: State legislative web site NM Signed into law 04/2003 P-12 Requires that certain state funds for Head Start programs be used to contract and subcontract with private and nonprofit programs that meet federal Head Start performance standards. Title: H.B. 658 Source: StateNet MS Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires the department of education to conduct a needs assessment to determine what areas do not currently have pre-kindergarten programs, and a cost-benefit analysis creating statewide pre-kindergarten programs. Requires department to perform cost-benefit analysis of making kindergarten mandatory statewide. Requires the department to study developing an optional occupational diploma that would include course requirements to make sure that students possess mastery of skills and employment competencies. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2003/html/HB/0800-0899/HB0859SG.htm Title: H.B. 859 Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us KY Adopted 03/2003 P-12 Allows that if no certified early childhood education teacher is available, the superintendent may ask that a one-year probationary interdisciplinary early childhood education certificate be granted. Establishes prerequisites for this probationary certificate. Establishes requisites for one-year renewals of the probationary certificate. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/016/002/140.htm Title: 16 KAR 2:140 Source: www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar KY Adopted 03/2003 P-12 Establishes rules regarding the professional certificate for interdisciplinary early childhood education, birth to primary, the teacher standards, and the standards for approval of a program leading to this certificate. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/016/002/040.htm Title: 16 KAR 2:040 Source: StateNet AR Signed into law 03/2003 P-12 Requires the department of education to develop a list of skills that child should have in order to be prepared to enter kindergarten. The department must publish this list and distribute it to parents and early childhood educators. The list does not create pre-requisites for kindergarten entry, but is rather intended to serve as a guide for helping parents and early educators prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/ftproot/bills/2003/public/HB1951.pdf Title: H.B. 1951 Source: State legislative web site NM to governor 03/2003 P-12 House Joint Memorial 12 requests that the Interagency Coordinating Group (ICG) study the alignment of early care education programs in New Mexico, establish a framework for a statewide comprehensive and universal system of preschool programs and fully delineate the procedures and methodology necessary to implement such a framework; and that the group report its finding to the Legislative Education Study Committee by November 2003. Link to fiscal note: http://legis.state.nm.us/Sessions/03%20Regular/firs/hjm012.pdf Title: H.J.M. 12 Source: http://legis.state.nm.us WV Adopted 01/2003 P-12 Provides rules relating to West Virginia's universal access to the state's Pre-Kindergarten System. WEST VIRGINIA REG 4202 (SN) Title: Title 126, Series 28 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 01/2003 P-12 Establishes emergency rules pertaining to coverage and payment for Kentucky Early Intervention Program services. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/911/002/200E.htm Title: 911 KAR 2:200E Source: StateNet KY Adopted 01/2003 P-12 Establishes rules regarding the provisions relating to early intervention services for which payment shall be made on behalf of eligible recipients. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/911/002/200.htm Title: 911 KAR 2:200 Source: StateNet KY Emergency Rule Adoption 12/2002 P-12 Establishes emergency rules pertaining to early intervention program assessment and service planning. http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/911/002/130E.htm Title: 911 KAR 2:130E Source: StateNet AK Rule Adoption 11/2002 P-12 Pertains to child care licensing and facility operation and management. Expands the requirements regarding removal of employees or volunteers from contact with children. Requires certain books be available for parent use. Relates to life and fire safety. Clarifies fire extinguisher maintenance requirements, and the requirements of cribs for infants. Provides an exemption from the definition to certain attendants of children with special needs. http://www.educ.state.ak.us/regs/filed/993-03-0071CCLFurtherClarificationsFINAL.pdf Title: 4 AAC 62.120; 4 AAS 62.310; 4 AAC 65.510, 65.540, 65.990 Source: StateNet FL Approved by voters 11/2002 P-12 Proposes a Constitutional amendment (Article IX, Section 1)that every four- year-old child in Florida shall be offered a high quality pre-kindergarten learning opportunity by the state no later than the 2005 school year. Provides that the voluntary program shall be established according to high quality standards and shall be free for all Florida four-year-olds without taking away funds used for existing programs. Analysis: (brochure) http://www.cepri.state.fl.us/pdf/Pre-K%20Brochure.pdf (report): http://www.cepri.state.fl.us/pdf/Pre-K%20Summary%208-9-02.pdf (http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/initdetail.asp?account=34708&seqnum=1) Florida Board of Education supports Amendment 8. (http://www.flboe.org/SpecialFeatures/proposed_amend_02/) (http://www.flboe.org/SpecialFeatures/proposed_amend_02/Amendments_Talking_Points31.pdf) Title: Constitutional Amendment 8 Source: Florida Division of Elections; CEPRI MO Rejected by voters 11/2002 P-12 Imposes an additional tax per cigarette and other tobacco products, with the new revenues placed into a Healthy Families Trust Fund to be used for hospital trauma care and emergency preparedness; health care treatment and access; prescription drug assistance for seniors; health care initiatives for low income citizens, women, minorities and children; medical research and smoking prevention; and grants for early childhood care and education. Title: Proposition A Source: Missouri Secretary of State Web site NM Adopted 11/2002 P-12 Sets forth the competencies required for early childhood educators. Title: 6.61.8.10 Source: State Net PA Issued 10/2002 P-12 Task force was charged with examining proven, evidence-based school readiness strategies available for early childhood care and education for children age 0-8 and existing state services targeted to that age group. Task force had to provide estimated implementation costs for each strategy. (http://sites.state.pa.us/oa/Executive_Orders/2002-2.pdf) Summary of recommendations: (1) Gubernatorial leadership; (2) Quality early care and education systems components - care and education, health and family support; (3) Foundation elements for early care and education - high quality standards, accountability, financial incentive to achieve and maintain quality, qualified and competent workforce, resource and referral system, and transition information; (4) Public engagement. (http://www.state.pa.us/papower/lib/papower/earlychildhoo.pdf) Title: Executive Order 2000-2 Source: Pennsylvania State Web site CA Vetoed 09/2002 P-12 Requires the State Department of Education to develop the State Master Plan for Child Care and Development in consultation and collaboration with an oversight task force, which the bill would require to be established, comprised of prescribed members. Specifies the contents of the plan. Title: S.B. 390 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 09/2002 P-12 Makes an applicant who otherwise meets the Assumption Program for Loans for Education eligibility requirements and agrees to teach full time for at least 4 consecutive academic years after obtaining a special education credential in a child development program or early childhood education program that is under a school district or county office of education eligible to enter into an agreement for loan assumption. Title: A.B. 2068 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2002 P-12 Relates to Child Care Development Services Act. Revises and consolidates the definitions of children with exceptional needs, children with special needs, and severely handicapped children. Repeals provisions that require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to disburse funds for extended day care programs in accordance with specified procedures. Revises needs assessment factors. Makes other changes to provisions governing local planning councils. Title: A.B. 2311 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 Authorizes the Children and Families Commission to expend money allocated to it under the Children and Families Act of 1998, to ensure that children are ready to enter school. Authorizes the commission to allocate funds to county commissions established pursuant to the act. Title: A.B. 2800 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 Requires department's statewide child care resource and referral system to include a child care home provider registry to provide information about registered child care home providers. Adds to duties of department's child care resource and referral system, specifying that system must help child care providers and programs become registered as child care home providers; collect provider information for the referral database that includes the licensure, certification and registration status of providers; and provide outreach services that include public awareness information to parents and providers about the child care home provider registry and the benefits of using the registry or becoming registered. Specifies other required components of child care home provider registry. See section 21: http://www.azleg.state.az.us/legtext/45leg/2r/laws/0241.htm Title: Omnibus--H.B. 2213 Source: http://www.azleg.state.az.us MA Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 Permits districts to establish full-time or part-time preschool, after-school or summer school programs English language learners programs, although these programs may not substitute for English language learners programs provided during the regular school year. http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm Title: H.B. 5010 Source: http://www.state.ma.us/legis/bills/house/ht05010.htm MD Signed into law 08/2002 P-12 Requires districts by 2007-08 school year to provide free prekindergarten programs to all eligible children within district. Defines "eligible children" as free/reduced lunch eligible if child were in kindergarten; any whose parent wishes to enroll in public prekindergarten program; and who are 4 years old by September 1 of the school year in which the parent wishes to enroll the child. In each district's comprehensive master plan, board must identify strategies to ensure that publicly-funded prekindergarten programs are available to all eligible children by the 2007-08 school year. Releases publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs from minimum school day/holiday requirements of K-12 schools. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0856e.rtf Title: S.B. 856 Source: mlis.state.md.us IL Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Amends the Child Care Act of 1969; excludes certain programs operated by private entities on the grounds of public or private elementary or secondary schools from the definition of "day care center". Provides that the exception concerning programs operated by private entities on the grounds of public or private elementary schools applies only to the facility and not to the private entities' personnel operating the program. Title: H.B. 3662 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter No. 07/2002 P-12 Provides that if a contracted agency which provides child care and development service, places a person who has been convicted of specified theft-related crimes in a defined position of fiscal responsibility or control, the agency may have its contract suspended or terminated immediately, upon review and recommendation of the general counsel of the State Department of Education. Requires the agency to receive 90 days prior notice of the termination. Title: A.B. 2555 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 07/2002 P-12 Establishes tobacco tax as well as special fund to dedicate tobacco tax revenues for education funding. Monies are to 1) provide unrestricted grants to districts; 2) assist local lead agencies and Baltimore City under the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program; and 3) provide funding for adult education and literacy services. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0856e.rtf Title: S.B. 856 Source: mlis.state.md.us NY To governor 06/2002 P-12 Extends the effectiveness of provisions of law authorizing medical assistance payments to certain clinics or diagnostic and treatment centers for services they render to preschool children with handicaps. Title: S.B. 6287 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet DE Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 This Act requires day care centers operating part of the day with 13 or more children to be licensed by Child Care Licensing. Currently only those day care centers operating part of the day with 12 or fewer children are so licensed. Title: S.B. 233 Source: http://www.legis.state.de.us/billtracking CO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Creates the School-Readiness Child Care Subsidization Program on and after January 1, 2003, which program offers three-year school-readiness subsidies to county departments of social services to increase the school readiness of children age 5 and younger enrolled in the Colorado child care assistance program or enrolled at a child care facility. A county department is eligible to apply for funds if it has in its boundaries one or more neighborhood elementary schools rated "low" or "unsatisfactory" in the state accountability system. Creates a voluntary school-readiness rating system to evaluate the services provided by a child care provider to prepare children for elementary school. County-level pilot site agency community is designated as recipient of subsidation applications. http://www.leg.state.co.us/2002a/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/F453E914F9BF456F87256B22004BB389?Open&file=1297_enr.pdf Title: H.B. 1297 Source: www.leg.state.co.us FL Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Community College Increases from 40 to 45 clock hours the introductory training course requirement for operators of large family child care homes and for child care personnel and operators of family day care homes; provides for community college credit in early childhood education for such coursework. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1550er.html&Directory=session/2002/Senate/bills/billtext/html/ Title: S.B. 1550 Source: Lexis-Nexis MO Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Defines family literacy and permits districts to create family literacy programs and to use at-risk funding to support them. Makes family literacy an area of critical need. Beginning in FY 2005, 1.5% of line 14 funding will be used to fund family literacy programs in unaccredited and provisionally accredited districts and academically deficient schools. Title: H.B. 1711 Source: House Research Staff Summaries OK Signed into law 06/2002 P-12 Relates to funding for parent education programs; relates to the development and implementation of a Technology Intern Partner Program; relates to procedures and funding for such intern program; authorizes school districts to operate as federal Head Start Program grantees; exempts students enrolled in and teachers teaching in Head Start programs from being counted towards the calculation of State aid to school districts. Title: S.B. 1212 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TN Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Applies the state board's of education child care standards to programs operated by private schools. Any funds or personnel involved in the regulation of schools covered under this bill are to be transferred from DHS to the department of education. Title: S.B. 2380 Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/Summary.asp?BillNumber=SB2380 CA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Modifies 1999 Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools Program (IIUSP), which formerly required that every participating school district contract with an external evaluator for assistance in development of the school's action plan. Bill allows district to alternatively contract with an entity that has proven, successful expertise specific to the challenges inherent in low-performing schools, including institutions of higher education, county offices of education or school district personnel. Modifies High Priority Schools Grant Program for Low-Performing Schools to automatically approve school for participation upon school's completion of an action plan for participation in the federal program meeting certain requirements that plan for IIUSP participation must meet, and changes deadlines for submission and approval of school action plan during FY 01-02. Increases to $400 the amount of per-pupil money provided under the High Priority Schools Grant Program for Low Performing Schools. Specifies that High Priority Program school must assess pupils' progress with curriculum-based tests proven to be "valid and reliable." Mandates that already-required department study on sustainability of funding for low-performing schools include "(1) An objective rather than a comparative view of the necessity of sustaining supplemental funding over time to address the ongoing needs of low-performing pupils, and the impact of policies that only provide funding over a specified period of time. (2) A description of the ongoing needs of low-performing schools, as identified in needs assessments submitted pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of 52055.620 and the sources of funding schools used to meet these needs. (3) An analysis of the use of funds provided pursuant to this article and the effectiveness of that use in meeting the continued or changing needs of communities served by low-performing schools. This analysis shall include an evaluation of the growth in academic achievement realized by participating schools and the ability of those schools to sustain growth in academic achievement if funding is continued. (4) An assessment of whether local, state, and federal resources are likely to be sufficient to sustain all or some of the academic improvements made in low-performing schools after this state subsidy expires, taking into account prospects for the subsequent pupil population's incidence of poverty and low socioeconomic status." Requires every school district with any schools participating in High Priority Schools Grant Program to submit to state superintendent an analysis of the impact, costs and benefits of the program to the district and local participating schools. Requires the state superintendent to develop and the state board to approve guidelines for an RFP for an independent evaluator to create a multiyear comprehensive evaluation of the implementation, impact, costs and benefits of the program and to release the results of the report to the General Assembly, the Governor and other interested parties. Also specifies that average daily attendance funds are to be allocated to local education agencies and that child care and preschool programs whose average daily enrollment helps determine the allocation must be operated by local education agencies under contract with the Child Development Division of the State Department of Education. Bill modifies means of determining the average daily enrollment of children in preschool and child care programs. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0501-0550/sb_508_bill_20020516_chaptered.html Title: S.B. 508 Source: info.sen.ca.gov GA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Creates the Joint Study Committee on Early Childhood Education. Mandates the committee to undertake a study of the importance of early childhood education in Georgia´s future and any and all issues related to its success. Such issues include the impact of this system on families, employers, welfare reform, pre_k programs, and the future education of children; funding concerns; general management and oversight issues related to creating the most efficient and effective model to manage and stimulate this system; and innovative programs from other states. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hr1105.htm Title: H.R. 1105 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us IA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Appropriates $1,153,250 from the Healthy Iowans tobacco trust to the school ready children grants account. http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Legislation/HF/02600/HF02615/Current.html Title: H.B. 2615 Source: www.legis.state.ia.us MD Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Establishes a Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program in the department to provide a statewide community-based interagency system of comprehensive early intervention services to children birth to age 2 and their families. Funds program at $4,044 per year starting in FY04, with inflationatory increases each following year. Requires study of program effectiveness to be completed by December 15, 2005. http://mlis.state.md.us/2002rs/bills/sb/sb0419e.rtf Title: S.B. 419 Source: mlis.state.md.us GA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Creates the voluntary Georgia's Pre-K Program; requires all printed materials relating to the program to refer to it as Georgia's Pre-K Program. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb97.htm Title: H.B. 97 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us GA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Relates to service creditable toward retirement benefits under the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; provides that any member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia may obtain creditable service for years employed in certain early childhood development programs or certain private schools. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/Legis/2001_02/fulltext/hb765.htm Title: H.B. 765 Source: www.legis.state.ga.us IA Signed into law 05/2002 P-12 Requires state board to establish standards for district and area education agency career development programs and for individual teacher career development plans. Requires state director to develop a transition plan for implementation of the career development standards established in statute relating to licensure renewal. Moves national board certification registration deadline for purposes of payment of one-half of national board certification fee from June 30, 2002 to June 30, 2005. Teachers must likewise register for national board certification by June 30, 2005 and be certified in three years to obtain 2,500 annual award. Eliminates age limitations of employees eligible for early retirement incentives, leaving these to local board discretion. Includes licensed preschool teachers in definition of "beginning teachers," "classroom teachers," and "teachers." Eliminates requirement that beginning teacher's mentor be classroom teacher. Creates new defintions for "intensive assistance" and "performance reviews" for non-beginning teachers. Revises section requiring boards to provide for evaluations of beginning teachers and performance reviews for non-beginning teachers. Requires state board to adopt state director-developed model criteria for teacher evaluation, advancement and career development. Encourages districts to evaluate their current career development alignment with their student achievement goals and research-based instructional strategies, and implement district career development plans. Reduces from 5 to 3 years the frequency with which teacher performance reviews must be conducted, and requires that these be based in part on individual career development plans. Makes additional changes to beginning teacher evaluation system and teacher career development programs. Establishes timeline for development of administrator preparation program. Establishes minimum teacher salary requirements. Requires department to undertake study of feasibility of change to student achievement and teacher quality program. Creates statewide career path pilot program: http://www.legis.state.ia.us/GA/79GA/Legislation/HF/02500/HF02549/Current.html Title: H.B. 2549 Source: www.legis.state.ia.us OK Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 An Act relating to children; amending 10 O.S. 2001, Section 401, which relates to the Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act; requiring specified entities to develop a single child care licensure process for certain use; clarifying formatting; and providing an effective date. Title: S.B. 1584 Source: http://www.lsb.state.ok.us/ MD Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Establishes a Child Care Quality Incentive Grant Program in the Department of Human Resources; authorizes the Department to award grants as an incentive for child care providers to improve the quality of care being provided to children; makes it a misdemeanor to make or cause specified false statements. Title: H.B. 986 Source: LexisNexis AL Act No. 04/2002 P-12 Appropriates a certain amount from the Education Trust Fund to the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission for the East Alabama Child Development Center in Anniston for the support and maintenance for a program of child care, educational, health and nutritional services for pre-school children in 14 east central Alabama counties; provides that the appropriation is subject to certain provisions of the Code of Alabama 1975.http://alisdb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2002rs/bills/hb152.htm Title: H.B. 152 Source: alisdb.legislature.state.al.us MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Lawrence County board is authorized to contribute services to Head Start Program Centers. Title: H.B. 1879 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet HI Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Defines the term "school readiness" to mean that young children are ready to have successful learning experiences in school when there is a positive interaction among the child's developmental characteristics, school practices, and family and community support. http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/sb2283_sd1_.htm Title: S.B. 2283 Source: www.capitol.hawaii.gov VA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Provides that regulations for licensed child care centers adopted by the state board of social services or the child day-care council shall not require the membership, affiliation or accreditation services of any single accreditation or certification agency. Title: H.B. 1208 Source: http://legis.state.va.us/ LA Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Revises early childhood development program for four-year-olds. Allows applicants to seek a waiver for the requirement of enrichment activities provided before and after the regular school day if providing a full ten hour day is not possible for reasonably feasible or economically justifiable reasons. Applicants seeking a waiver must have specific and achievable plans for meeting the full ten hour requirement by no later than the beginning of the third year of operation. http://www.legis.state.la.us/leg_docs/021ES/CVT6/OUT/0000JIZB.PDF Title: S.B. 33A Source: www.legis.state.la.us ME Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Changes the day care center references to child care facility; changes the definition of children in the laws governing nursery schools, which is based on the age of a child; changes the definition of day care centers and nursery school; removes provision in the laws governing nursery schools regarding communicable diseases, ratios, and administration of medications. http://janus.state.me.us/legis/bills/billdocs/LD202701.doc Title: H.B. 1523 Source: janus.state.me.us MS Signed into law 04/2002 P-12 Relates to Tunica County; allows the board of supervisors to make a contribution to the Institute for Community Service for an additional Head Start class and additional vehicles to transport children. Title: H.B. 615 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NE Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 LB 326 is the Nebraska Read, Educate, and Develop Youth Act. The bill requires the state department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies to develop a packet to be given to parents of each child born in the state beginning January 1, 2003*. The agencies may solicit private financial assistance. A READY Cash Fund is established for receipts from private sources to underwrite the costs of the act. The fund is to be administered by HHS-Finance & Support. It is estimated there are 23,500 births each year. The agencies estimate the costs for materials and distribution will be $5.00-$8.00 per packet. Annual costs to provide the information are estimated to be $117,500-$188,000. Funds appropriated through L.A. 326 http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/Legal/SLIP_LB326.pdf Title: L.B. 326 Source: www.unicam.state.ne.us IN Signed into law 03/2002 P-12 Extends the expiration date of the law establishing the board for the coordination of child care regulation and the terms of board members; permits the board or a subcommittee of the board to meet any time; requires the board to establish a subcommittee to make recommendations concerning revisions to the child care system and the regulation of preschools. http://www.in.gov/serv/lsa_billinfo?document=HE/HE1214.1.html&year=2002 Title: H.B. 1214 Source: www.in.gov ME Signed into law 02/2002 P-12 Establishes as major substantive rules sections establishing and maintaining a statewide network that ensures the provisions of childfind for families and children from birth to 5 and rules governing the eligibility for and delivery of free appropriate public education for children with disabilities from birth to 5 years of age and their families. Title: H.B. 1476 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY Signed into law 12/2001 P-12 Provides for child day care to eligible families during breaks in activities; provides child day care for up to a month in certain cases; provides that a social services district may use the funds allocated to it from the block grant to provide child care assistance to families with certain income who are attending a post secondary educational program and working at least 17 1/2 hours per week. Title: S.B. 4861 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2001 P-12 Requires State-funded preschool or infant and toddler program to provide a child's records to a public school when the child transfers, as specified. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to advise local education agencies regarding related federal Head Start requirements. Makes other conforming changes. Title: A.B. 1539 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TN Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 Establishes and implements a mandatory child care agency report card system and a separate and voluntary child care agency rated licensing system. Child care providers that participate in the voluntary 3-star ratings system will receive an increase in the rate of payment for the care of low-income children. Payments will increase by 5%, 15% and 20%, respectively, for each star earned. Title: S.B. 1667; same as H.B. 1390 Source: OR Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 Directs the Commission on Children and Families, the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services to jointly establish polices for voluntary statewide early childhood system; specifies that these agencies develop a plan for sharing and linking data to implement a common data system for early childhood programs. Title: H.B. 3659 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CT Signed into law 07/2001 P-12 Concerns education and equitable wages for early childhood education professionals; increases the number of highly qualified early childhood education professionals. Title: H.B. 6931 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OR Vetoed 07/2001 P-12 Directs state department to provide instructional phonics game to each approved Oregon prekindergarten. Title: S.B. 593 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet PA Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Act No. 26 of 2001. Amends the Pennsylvania Adult Basic and Literacy Education Act; provides for short title, for findings and purpose, for definitions, for grant program, for limitations on funding, for interagency coordinating council, for audits and records and for monitoring and reporting; stresses family literacy: "Family literacy education is an opportunity for undereducated adults and their children to increase the child's readiness for school and chances for academic success, the parent's involvement in the child's education and the parent's basic skills." Title: S.B. 35 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet LA Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Establishes a program of universal early childhood education and care classes for four-year olds in any public school system that wishes to participate. Title: S.B. 776 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CO Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Postsec. Requires the State Commission on Higher Education to establish and maintain an Early Childhood Professional Loan Repayment Program; makes such individuals eligible for two years of loan repayment; provides the program to be funded through the Federal Child Care Development Program. Title: H.B. 1293 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Signed into law 06/2001 P-12 Expands the resident teacher program to include early childhood teachers. (One-year residency program is required as part of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act.) Title: S.B. 499 Source: http://www2.lsb.state.ok.us/2001-02SB/sb499_enr.rtf CO Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Concerns the required expenditure of a portion of a school district's per pupil operating revenue for the school district's preschool program. Title: S.B. 123 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Districts are required to offer prekindergarten classes if the district identifies 15 or more children who are eligible (English learners, educationally disadvantaged, or homeless) and are at least four years of age. A school district may offer prekindergarten classes if the district identifies 15 or more eligible children who are at least three years of age. A district may not charge tuition for a prekindergarten class offered under this section.b) A district that offers a prekindergarten program on a tuition basis: (1) may not adopt a tuition rate for the program that is higher than necessary to cover the added costs of providing the program, including any costs associated with collecting, reporting, and analyzing data under Section 29.1532(c); and (2) must submit the proposed tuition rate to the commissioner for approval. Title: S.B. 596 Source: Texas Legislative Web Site ME Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 (LD 1002) Authorizes the Department of Human Services to adopt rules for the safe operation of nursery schools. Title: S.B. 291 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Relates to Early Childhood Education Grant Evaluation; provides that the legislative council shall develop outcome measures to indicate the effectiveness of the Early Childhood Education Program; provides that the auditor general shall conduct programming evaluations of the Healthy Families Program, the Family Literacy Program, and the Healthy Start Program. Title: S.B. 1516 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IN Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Provides that a child care ministry that receives child care development voucher may only be required by a local Step Ahead Council to meet child care standards; specifies that a local Step Ahead Council may not require child care ministries to meet additional standards unless those additional standards are approved by the General Assembly or the Division of Family and Children; requires applicant for certain child care license to meet certain standards. Title: S.B. 110 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Vetoed 05/2001 P-12 Relates to prevention of learning problems in young children; authorizes a demonstration program to be called Learning Gateway; creates a steering committee; provides for membership and appointment of steering committee members; establishes duties of the steering committee; authorizes demonstration projects in 3 counties; authorizes designed agencies to share confidential information related to the program. Title: S.B. 1018 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 The following programs have been repealed by S.B. 1162: 1) Gold Seal Quality care program, a three tiered quality rating system 2) Early screening and intervention program for children in subsidized child care programs 3) Child Development Associate Training Grants for preschool teachers 4) Community resource mother or father programs 5) Public Prekindergarten program 6) First Start Program (birth to three program for children with disabilities and at risk children) Title: S.B. 1162 - Omnibus Source: TN Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Preschool Funding: Requires schools for preschool children organized as public schools or as public school classes to be maintained and supported from state, local and federal funds which hereafter may be appropriated specifically for preschool purposes, or from such gifts, donations or grants as may be received for preschool purposes. Allows state funds generated through the Basic Education Program (BEP) formula and local matching funds to be used for preschool purposes. If funded through the BEP, preschool would be based upon average daily preschool membership. Title: S.B. 1881/H.B. 1921--Omnibus Bill Source: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Relates to the creation of an office within the Health and Human Services Commission for coordinating the delivery of early childhood services. Title: S.B. 665 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Establishes Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H) pilot projects to assist teachers in retaining employment in the field of child care. Authorizes the commission, in establishing and administering the program, to consult with any other early childhood teacher pilot project. Requires the commission to operate the pilot program in at least three locations throughout the state, one of which is to be an urban community, one of which is to be a rural community, and one of which is to be a community in the region of the state that borders the United Mexican States. To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, a teacher must be employed in a child care program that has a provider agreement with a local workforce development board to serve families that receive subsidized child care services. Title: S.B. 1294 Source: Texas Legislative Web Site TX Signed into law 05/2001 P-12 Requires each Head Start or Early Head Start program provider to coordinate with the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards regarding subsidized child care services. Requires the coordination required by this section to include coordinating to ensure, to the extent practicable, that full-day, full-year child-care services are available to meet the needs of low income parents who are working or participating in workforce training or workforce education. Authorizes the coordination to also include certain other activities. Title: S.B. 1293 Source: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/ AR Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Requires the Department of Education to develop and conduct readiness testing for children who are entering kindergarten. Title: H.B. 2195 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AR Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Authorizes the establishment of a foundation for early childhood care and education. Title: H.B. 1801 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NE Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 LB 759 changes current law pertaining to early childhood education pilot program grants. The bill provides for an Early Childhood Education Grant Program in lieu of the pilot projects that are currently funded. Programs selected for grants may be provided one-half of the total budget of the program per year. Pilot projects previously funded shall be eligible for continuation grants if their programs adhere to the requirements of the bill. The State Department of Education (NDE) may use up to 5% of the total appropriation for the grant program to evaluate and provide technical assistance to the early childhood education programs. NDE is to develop rules and regulations to implement the program. The state provided $560,000 of general funds in 2000-01 for pilot program grants for early childhood education programs. The bill does not require any additional funding for early childhood education program grants. Section 3 requires preschool programs, established by school boards or educational service units, to be approved by NDE. All teaching and administrative staff who are providing educational services in early childhood education programs are required to have training in early childhood education and have a permit or certificate issued by NDE. NDE indicates this is current practice, so no fiscal impact is estimated for these provisions. Title: L.B. 759 Source: http://www.unicam.state.ne.us NM Signed into law 04/2001 P-12 Relates to public education; provides for even start family literacy programs; provides for benchmarks, performance standards and evaluations; makes an appropriation. Title: H.B. 33 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AR Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 , Amends the application process for the Arkansas Better Chance Program; provides funding for early childhood programs. Title: H.B. 2241 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CO Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Requires school district preschool program councils to periodically assess whether alternative community providers are available and to ensure the highest quality service at the lowest cost. Title: S.B. 49 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CO Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Provides certain significant family risk factors of a child's home environment for eligibility in the preschool program. Title: S.B. 120 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CO Signed into law 03/2001 P-12 Concerns the duties of the Colorado Department of Education in providing oversight of the Colorado Preschool Program. Title: H.B. 1041 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WY Signed into law 02/2001 P-12 Relates to regional development preschool system teachers; includes employment as a teacher in the regional development preschool system as school district service credit; modifying the teacher seniority adjustment computation under the foundation program formula to include such service. Title: H.B. 113 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 11/2000 P-12 Relates to State aid for school districts with concentrations of low-income pupils; establishes minimum period of school district eligibility for early childhood and demonstrably effective program aids; provides budget cap exclusion for demonstrably effective program aid. Title: S.B. 838 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 11/2000 P-12 Establishes a Division of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Education; states the division shall be responsible for program standards, staff credentials, program design and facilities, the coordination of early childhood programs and services in cooperation with the Department of Human Services, funding, assistance to school districts to implement programs and evaluation and monitoring of programs; provides for a report to the Legislature and the public. Title: A.B. 2123 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 11/2000 P-12 Establishes the Commission on Early Childhood Education in but not of the Department of Education; provides for its membership and appointment of members; provides for the commission to provide advice on early childhood issues such as staff credentials for pre-school educators, program standards, development of facility standards, coordination of such programs across State agencies and funding levels for trained teachers, curriculum, materials and facilities. Title: A.B. 2122 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Appropriates a sum to the State Department of Education for specified child care purposes. Declares appropriations for these purposes to be General Fund revenues appropriated to school districts. Title: S.B. 1703 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to contract with a nonprofit organization that has staff with expertise in financing and capital expansion, are knowledgeable about the child care field, and have the ability to develop and implement a plan to increase the availability of financing to renovate, expand, and construct child day care facilities. Title: A.B. 2778 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NJ Signed into law 09/2000 P-12 Exempts child care centers operated by a non-profit organization in a public school building from radon testing and certain other requirements. Title: S.B. 982 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Vetoed 08/2000 P-12 Revises and recasts the indicators of quality child care and development programs. Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop an evaluation system for all state funded child care and development programs that would be required to include program performance standards, assessment and evaluation instruments, program reviews, data reporting, and a program rating and accountability system. Title: A.B. 1986 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet CA Signed into law 08/2000 P-12 Relates to existing law which states the intent of the Legislature to establish a comprehensive, continuous, community-linked, and school-based program, to be known as the Cal-SAFE Program, that focuses on youth development and dropout prevention for pregnant and parenting pupils and on child care and development services for their children. Title: S.B. 541 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Authorizes medical assistance payments to certain clinics or diagnostic and treatment centers for services they render to preschool children with disabilities. Title: S.B. 6735 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Relates to public records; provides access to student records by school readiness coalitions and the Florida Partnership for School Readiness; provides an exemption from public-records requirements for records of children in subsidized child-care programs and school readiness programs. Title: S.B. 2250 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Public Act No. 91-831; Provides that beginning October 1, 2000, the Department of Human Services shall operate a Great Start (Strategy to Attract and Retain Teachers) program to improve children's educational outcomes in child care by encouraging increased professional preparation by staff and staff retention. Title: H.B. 4021 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Public Act No. 91-765; Amends the School Code; exempts all persons holding a special certificate with a special education endorsement from provisions of the School Code concerning preschool educational programs, provided these persons meet all the other requirements for teaching. Title: H.B. 2940 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 , Relates to children; creates a Blind Babies Program; provides for early-intervention education for certain children who are blind or visually impaired and for their parents, families, and caregivers. Title: S.B. 924 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 06/2000 P-12 Establishes the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps scholarship program to help low-wage early childhood staff obtain further training;relates to health care assistance for children (Medikids); provides for dental benefits under the Florida Kidcare program; provides for assistance to families in evaluating summer recreation and day camp programs; increases family income limits for subsidized child care; relates to federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funding; relates to child care facility licensing. Title: S.B. 212 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet OK Vetoed 06/2000 P-12 Creates the Partnership for School Readiness Act to facilitate community collaboration of efforts and services that will prepare children to enter school healthy and ready to succeed. Goal also to stress importance of reading to children for 15 minutes per day. Creates an advisory board. Up to six pilot projects (rural and urban) to be selected. Title: S.B. 1597 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet FL Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Relates to school readiness; provides sovereign immunity for school readiness coalitions; revises funding for prekindergarten early intervention programs; authorizes the Governor at the request of the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to request approval of the Administration Commission for transfer of funds by the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Education to the partnership for school readiness programs. Title: S.B. 2088 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AL Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Creates the Office of School Readiness within the Department of Children's Affairs; provides for the operation and management of a voluntary pre-kindergarten program. Title: S.B. 132 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Vetoed 05/2000 P-12 Establishes the Judith P. Hoyer Early Care and Education Centers and Education Enhancement Grant Program for the development of collaborative approaches to delivery of full-day early care and education and family support services; defines terms; designates the Department of Education as the agency supervising the grant program; requires the Department to distribute the funds to local systems on a competitive basis; limits local school use of funds. Title: S.B. 793 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Creates the Judith P. Hoyer Blue Ribbon Commission on the Financing of Early Child Care and Education; provides for the purpose, duties, and membership of the Commission; provides for the terms and compensation of members; provides for the appointment of members; requires the Commission to meet at specified times and issue reports on or before specified dates; provides for the staffing of the Commission. Title: S.B. 869 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NY Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Relates to state aid for school districts; funds a workforce education program in New York City; creates the Universal Prekindergarten Reserve Fund; provides State aid for conversion to full day kindergarten; relates to administration of the School Tax Relief Program; relates to 1997 and later assessment rolls; relates to tuition assistance program awards; relates to allowances for members of the Legislature, funding for the Legislature and legislative commissions. Title: A.B. 9291 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MN Signed by governor 05/2000 P-12 Extends the fiscal year 2000 increase in early childhood family education aid to fiscal year 2001. The additional aid amount is equal to $2.46 times the greater of 150 or the number of children under five years of age residing in the school district on October 1 of the previous school year. Title: H.B. 3800 Source: MS Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Authorizes the State Board of Education to issue a standard license to teach in public prekindergarten through kindergarten classrooms to persons holding a Bachelor of Science degree with child development emphasis from a program accredited by the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Title: H.B. 419 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet NH Signed into law 05/2000 P-12 Creates a Parents as Teachers Pilot Program to create a partnership between parents and early childhood development professionals; provides there shall be 2 school district based programs, one in an urban community and one in a rural community in Sullivan county. Title: S.B. 170 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet KY Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Relates to reorganization; creates the Office of Early Childhood Development within the Office of the Governor. Title: H.B. 240 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Act No. 655., Creates the Peachcare for Kids Program (children's health insurance); changes the provisions relating to eligibility; provides for Department of Education and local boards of education cooperation and assistance regarding the program. Title: H.B. 1214 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MS Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Establishes an Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council; provides for the membership and organization of the Council; defines the responsibilities of the Council; establishes an interagency advisory committee to the Council; provides for the membership, organization and responsibilities of the advisory committee. Title: H.B. 418 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet HI Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Expands the life of the Good Beginnings Alliance to 2010; expands the membership of the Interdepartmental Council by 2 members; expands the representation of the GBA Board of Directors by 5 representatives. Title: H.B. 536 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet KY Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Establishes the Early Childhood Development Authority in the Office of the Governor to manage expenditures of the early childhood development fund; requires 17 members to be appointed; sets term limits for members of the authority; establishes duties of the authority; requires the authority to develop a state plan for funding priorities and programs; creates community early childhood councils for service areas designated by the authority. Title: H.B. 706 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Relates to individual income tax credits for tuition paid for preschool for children with disabilities; defines "handicapped" student as a student who is hearing impaired, visually impaired, preschool moderately delayed, preschool severely delayed, and preschool speech or language delayed; adds preschools for students with disabilities to the qualified schools for which the tax credits can be claimed. Title: H.B. 2226 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Establishes the Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Care and Education Program, a grant program for early child care and education centers and education enhancement for the development of collaborative approaches for the delivery of full-day early care and education and family support services; designates the Maryland Department of Education as the agency supervising the grant program. Title: H.B. 1249, S.B. 1249 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet MD Signed into law 04/2000 P-12 Requires the State Board of Education to distribute grants to organizations that promote literacy at an early age during --- child health visits to a pediatrician; requires an organization that is awarded a grant to use the grant to purchase books and train health care providers; requires the Governor to include funding for the grants in the State budget; requires the State Board to adopt regulations to implement the Act. Title: H.B. 1172, S.B. 750 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AL Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Relates to preschool programs; requires preschools receiving funding under the early childhood block grant program to become accredited. Title: H.J.R. 96 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet AZ Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Relates to preschool programs; requires preschools receiving funding under the early childhood block grant program to become accredited. Title: H.B. 2398 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 There is created an Early Intervention Program in kindergarten and a Primary Grades Early Intervention Program in grades 1-3. These programs are for students performing below grade level. The Office of Education Accountability and the State Board of Education both have responsibility for administering and setting the definitions for who qualifies for the Early Intervention Programs. The Education Coordinating Council also must adopt the standards and definitions for these programs. Special education students are eligible for this program, but may only be counted for funding for either the early intervention program or a special education category. The school must provide timely notice and an opportunity for a conference with the student and his or her parents or guardians to discuss the student's developmental deficiencies and options for addressing those deficiencies. Delivery models may include, but are not limited to, class augmentation, pull-out or self-contained classes, and the Reading Recovery Program. Title: H.B. 1187 Source: Georgia Department of Education GA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 There is created voluntary pre-enrollment of two-year-olds in local school systems. Parents must include a certification of immunization as a condition of pre-enrollment. Title: H.B. 1187 Source: Georgia Department of Education ID Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Appropriates funds to the Executive Office of the Governor for fiscal year 2001; limits the number of full-time equivalent positions to 24; provides legislative intent regarding the Parents as Teachers Program. Title: S.B. 1538 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet UT Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 The amendments to this act provide for increased "parents rights" in the realm of public education. The new law states that parents have the right to "…control the care, supervision, upbringing, and education of their children…" When a new policy or rule is adopted by the state board of education it must include a report detailing its impact on these parents' rights. In addition, this new law states that schools are prohibited from requiring in-home educational or parenting programs without parental permission. Title: H.B. 102 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet VA Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Provides that the guidelines for the at-risk four-year-old preschool program may be differentiated according to the agency delivering the services in order to comply with various federal or state requirements; requires (i) one teacher for any class of ten students or less, (ii) if the average daily membership in any class exceeds 10 students but does not exceed 20 students, a full-time teacher's aide must be assigned to the class, and (iii) the maximum class size must be 20 students. Title: S.B. 170 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet WY Signed into law 03/2000 P-12 Relates to preschool programs; provides a school district may establish a preschool program under certain conditions; provides for funding a preschool program; provides certain limitations on enrollment; provides for technical assistance under certain circumstances; provides for program assessment; provides for reporting of program assessments. Title: H.B. 185 Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet IL Adopted 01/2000 P-12 State Board of Education position statement, adopted January 20, 2000, committing to develop, deliver and support early childhood programs, practices and services that will enable all children to be successful students and responsible citizens.  (http://www.isbe.state.il.us/earlychi/posstate.htm) Title: Position Statement Source: Illinois Board of Education Web site