Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A.
All LEAs shall provide kindergarten programs for all eligible students of
appropriate age. The placement of students shall be clearly communicated to
parents by the school.
B. Each LEA
shall provide for and offer in every school having a first grade, or in a
kindergarten center, a full-day kindergarten program in accordance with
standards set in this bulletin.
1. School
systems may establish a registration deadline for student entry into the
kindergarten program. This date shall not apply to those students previously
enrolled in a kindergarten program.
C. Each LEA shall require that every child
entering kindergarten for the first time be given a nationally recognized
readiness screening. The results of this screening shall be used in placement
and for planning instruction. The pupil progression plan for each LEA shall
include criterion for placement.
1. The
parent or guardian of each child shall be advised of the nature of the child's
level of readiness.
2. Each LEA
shall report to the LDE screening results by school on an annual basis by
December 1 of each year.
D. Each LEA may develop and offer
prekindergarten instruction.
1. The goal of
prekindergarten instruction shall be to improve academic readiness, individual
development skills and social skills.
2. Prior to implementing prekindergarten
instruction, an LEA shall set forth a statement of the needs the program is
intended to address, the anticipated results, the basis upon which the results
are expected, an outline of the implementation steps, a detailed plan for staff
usage, a detailed budget, and a plan for the evaluation of the program
results.
E. Beginning
with the 2023-2024 school year, each LEA shall work to develop a mixed-provider
delivery model for full-day, year-round, high-quality prekindergarten
instruction to each child residing within the boundaries of the school district
and obtaining four years of age by September 30 of the year in which the child
enrolls for prekindergarten, in accordance with the guidelines set forth in
R.S.
17:24.8.
1.
As used in this Section, the following words shall have the following meanings.
a.
Full-Day means at least
eight hours.
b.
Mixed
Provider Delivery Model means a program between the school board and
one or both of the following:
i. Child care
providers rated proficient and above on the most recent performance rating in
accordance with LAC 28:CLXVII.509, operating and overseeing programs on school
property, pursuant to an agreement with a city, parish, or other local public
school board.
ii. Child care
providers rated proficient and above on the most recent performance rating in
accordance with LAC 28:CLXVII.509, operating and overseeing private child care
within the boundaries of the school district with at least one infant and one
toddler classroom and offering prekindergarten seats in the private program,
pursuant to an agreement with a city, parish, or other local public school
board.
c.
Year
-Round means for a full calendar year, excluding weekends and
holidays, or 260 days a year.
2. Each LEA shall submit student data in the
same manner as described in LAC 28:I.1107 for all students served through
prekindergarten and early childhood programs offered by the school board,
including the seats provided through the mixed provider delivery
model.
3. No later than March 1,
2024, and annually thereafter by March 1, each LEA shall report to the LDOE the
following information.
a. The distribution of
seats among each school and quality rated child care provider.
b. Input from at least the majority of
providers in the community network, including how the distribution of seats has
impacted the stability of infant and toddler care.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
17:24.8,
R.S.
17:151.3, and
R.S.
17:391.11.
