The Board of Trustees recognizes that high-quality preschool experiences for children ages 3-5 help them develop knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to be successful in school and provide for a smooth transition into the elementary education program. Such programs should provide developmentally appropriate activities in a safe, well-supervised, cognitively rich environment.
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6143 - Courses of Study)
Collaboration with Community Programs
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with other agencies, organizations and private preschool providers to assess the availability of preschool programs in the community and the extent to which the community's preschool needs are being met. The Board encourages the development of a community-wide plan to increase children's access to high-quality preschool programs.
(cf. 1020 - Youth Services)
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
(cf. 1700 - Relations Between Private Industry and the Schools)
Information about preschool options in the community shall be provided to parents/guardians upon request. The District may provide further outreach as funds permit.
The Superintendent or designee shall establish partnerships with feeder preschools to facilitate articulation of the preschool curriculum with the district's elementary education program.
District Preschool Program
When the Board determines that it is feasible, the district may provide preschool services at or near district schools.
The Board shall set priorities for establishing or expanding services as resources become available. In so doing, the Board shall give consideration to the benefits of providing early education programs for at-risk children and/or children residing in the attendance areas of the lowest performing district schools.
(cf. 0520 - Intervention for Underperforming Schools)
(cf. 0520.1 - High Priority Schools Grant Program)
(cf. 0520.2 - Title I Program Improvement Schools)
(cf. 6171 - Title I Programs)
On a case-by-case basis, the Board shall determine whether the district shall directly administer preschool programs or contract with public or private providers to offer such programs.
Facilities for preschool classrooms shall be addressed in the district's comprehensive facilities plan, including an assessment as to whether adequate and appropriate space exists on school sites. As necessary, the Superintendent or designee shall provide information to the Board regarding facilities financing options for preschool classrooms and/or facilities available through partnering organizations.
(cf. 7110 - Facilities Master Plan)
(cf. 7210 - Facilities Financing)
To enable children of working parents/guardians to participate in the district's preschool program, the Superintendent or designee shall recommend strategies to provide a full-day program and/or to link to other full-day child care programs in the district or community to the extent possible.
(cf. 5148 - Child Care and Development)
(cf. 5148.1 - Child Care Services for Parenting Students)
Inasmuch as parents/guardians are essential partners in supporting the development of their children, the Superintendent or designee shall involve them in program planning. Program staff shall encourage volunteerism in the program and shall communicate frequently with parents/guardians of enrolled students regarding their child's progress.
(cf. 1240 - Volunteer Assistance)
(cf. 5124 - Communication with Parents/Guardians)
The Board shall adopt standards which identify the knowledge, skills, and experience that students will be expected to attain in the district's preschool program in order to be prepared for the early primary grades, including but not be limited to, development of language, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills.
The district's preschool program shall provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services and support the needs of English learners. The program also shall provide appropriate services for students with disabilities, including but not limited to early screening to identify special needs among preschool students and intervention services to assist students identified with special needs in accordance with law.
(cf. 6164.4 - Identification of Individuals for Special Education)
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504)
To maximize the ability of children to succeed in the preschool program, program staff shall support students' health through proper nutrition and physical activity and shall provide or make referrals to health and social services.
(cf. 3550 - Food Services/Child Nutrition Program)
(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)
(cf. 5141.32 - Health Screening for School Entry)
(cf. 5141.6 - Student Health and Social Services)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that administrators, teachers, and paraprofessionals in district preschool programs possess the appropriate credential(s) or permit(s) issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and meet any additional qualifications established by the Board.
(cf. 4112.2 - Certification)
(cf. 4112.4/4212.4/4312.4 - Health Examinations)
(cf. 4112.5/4312.5 - Criminal Record Check)
(cf. 4212.5 - Criminal Record Check)
(cf. 4222 - Teacher Aides/Paraprofessionals)
The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement an annual plan of evaluation which conforms to state requirements. (5 CCR 18279)
He/she shall regularly report to the Board regarding enrollments in district preschool programs and the effectiveness of the programs in preparing preschool students for transition into the elementary education program.
(cf. 0500 - Accountability)
(cf. 6190 - Evaluation of the Instructional Program)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
8200-8498 Child Care and Development Services Act, especially:
8200-8209 General provisions for child care and development services
8230-8226 Migrant Child Care and Development Program
8235-8237 State Preschool Programs
8240-8244 General child care programs
Legal Reference continued: (see next page)
8250-8252 Programs for children with special needs
8263 Eligibility and priorities for subsidized child development services
8360-8370 Personnel qualification
8400-8409 Contracts
8493-8498 Facilities
54740-54749 Cal-SAFE program for pregnant/parenting students and their children
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
1596.70-1596.895 California Child Day Care Act
1596.90-1597.21 Day care centers
120325-120380 Immunization requirements
CODE OF CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
18000-18122 General provisions, general child care programs
18130-18136 State Preschool Program
18180-18192 Federal and State Based Migrant Programs
18210-18213 Severely Handicapped Program
18270-18281 Program quality, accountability
18290-18292 Staffing ratios
18295 Waiver of qualifications for site supervisor
18300-18308 Appeals and dispute resolution
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
6311-6322 Title I, relative to preschool
6319 Qualifications for teachers and paraprofessionals
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20 (continued)
6381-6381k Even Start family literacy programs
6391-6399 Education of migratory children
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
9858-9858q Child Care and Development Block Grant
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 22
101151-101239.2 General requirements, licensed child care centers, including:
101151-101163 Licensing and application procedures
101212-101231 Continuing requirements
101237-101239.2 Facilities and equipment
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 45
1301-1310 Head Start
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Expanding Access to High-Quality Preschool Programs: A Resource and Policy Guide for School Leaders, 2005
CDE PUBLICATIONS
Pre-kindergarten Learning Development Guidelines, 2000
First Class: A Guide for Early Primary Education, 1999
CDE MANAGEMENT BULLETINS
01-06 The Desired Results for Children and Families System, May 31, 2001
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
Good Start, Grow Smart, April 2002
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Association for the Education of Young Children: http://www.caeyc.org
California Children and Families Commission: http://www.ccfc.ca.gov
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
California Head Start Association: http://caheadstart.org
Child Development Policy Institute: http://www.cdpi.net xFirst 5 Association of California: http://www.f5ac.org
National Institute for Early Education Research: http://nieer.org
National School Boards Association: http://www.nsba.org
Preschool California: http://www.preschoolcalifornia.org
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Policy AROMAS-SAN JUAN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted September 7, 2005 San Juan Bautista, California