New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Chapter II - Regulations of the Commissioner
Subchapter I - Scholarships and Grants
Part 151 - Apportionment for Prekindergarten Programs
Subpart 151-2 - Experimental Prekindergarten Programs
Section 151-2.2 - Definitions

(a) Developmentally appropriate means early childhood activities that demonstrate awareness of and sensitivity to the stages of each child's intellectual, physical, cultural, emotional, and social development.

(b) Economically disadvantaged child means a child whose family is eligible for some form of assistance such as Aid to Families of Dependent Children, free or reduced price school lunch, food stamps, Medicaid, unemployment compensation, or disability compensation.

(c) Learning center means a designated area in the prekindergarten classroom designed for specific kinds of activities.

(d) Local early childhood community coordination committee means a group of individuals including parents, representatives from other agencies which serve the families of young children, policymakers, and personnel from local colleges and universities.

(e) Parent means a parent, a legal guardian or another person in parental relation to a prekindergarten child.

(f) Parent advisory committee means a group of parents, representative of the population served that meets at least four times a year with the prekindergarten staff to discuss concerns and issues pertaining to the education of prekindergarten children enrolled in the program and to make recommendations for improving the quality of life for these families.

(g) Prekindergarten children means children who will be four years of age on or before December 1st of the current school year, or who will otherwise be first eligible to enter public school kindergarten commencing with the following school year, or who attend a program for which an application to serve any three or four year olds has been approved. Applications for funding to serve any three or four year olds may be submitted by districts which will be reviewed for approval based upon the demonstrated ability of the district to serve interested and eligible four year olds.

(h) Prekindergarten program means an early childhood program which provides activities for prekindergarten children for not less than 12 hours per week and not less than two and a half hours per day that meets the developmental needs of the children.

(i) School district shall mean either a school district or a Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) acting on behalf of more than one school district.

(j) School year means the period commencing on the 1st day of July in each year and ending on the 30th day of June next following.

(k) Base year means the school year prior to the school year for which a grant is paid pursuant to this Subpart.

(l) Educationally deprived child means a prekindergarten child whose educational attainment on a screening device approved by the department is below the level appropriate to such child's age.