BP 6148Early Education Programs

The Superintendent or Designee, in consideration of appropriate District need, may seek a grant for an early education program under AS 14.03.410 and 4 AAC 60.200. Before applying for a grant, the District will , to avoid duplicate programs and facilitate resource sharing to improve early education within the district, consult with each local and tribal head start program within the district's boundaries. The Superintendent must ensure that the District has the resources and intent to create an early education program.

The District-wide early education program must:

1.    Adopt an evidence-based program of learning.
2.    Have a certificated teacher in charge of the program.
3.    Implement the guidelines for an early education program described in the Department of Education and Early Development's State of Alaska Early Learning Guidelines under 4 AAC 60.170.
4.    Have a minimum day in session of two hours per day, five days per week.
5.    Accommodate the early education needs of district children and their families, regardless of socioeconomic circumstances.

The District will provide an annual ADM assurances report regarding its early education program in a format prescribed by the Department of Education and Early Development.

During the grant period, a school district that receives a grant award under 4 AAC 60.200 must demonstrate progress towards meeting or exceeding the standards for a high quality early education program under AS 14.07.165(a)(5) and 4 AAC 60.190 by complying with the Department's grant reporting requirements and submitting a year-end report to the department.

The District’s early education program must also comply with the requirements under 4 AAC 60.205.

Legal References:

ALASKA STATUTES
AS 14.03.410 Early education programs; grants

ALASKA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
4 AAC 60.190 High quality early education program standards
4 AAC 60.195 District accountability; revocation of approval of district-wide early education program
4 AAC 60.20 District-wide early education program grants; applications; duration; award determinations 4 AAC 60.205 District-wide early education program grant recipient obligations
4 AAC 60.210 Criteria for inclusion of district-wide early education program students within a district's ADM 4 AAC 60.990 Definitions