Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 3, March 22, 2024
I. Program Goals
A. To place an emphasis on early childhood
education and prevention.
B. To
focus the state's resources on academic success and prevention of academic
problems.
C. To establish the
expectation that by providing extra assistance and learning time, all children
will be prepared for the fourth grade.
D. To promote the advancement of
developmentally appropriate curriculum.
E. To promote coordinated programs from
preschool through grade three which are supportive of the curriculum for grades
four through twelve.
F. To allow
districts and schools greater flexibility in providing targeted, coordinated
programs of student assistance.
G.
To plan for accelerating the performance of students performing below their
peers.
II. Requirements
A. Districts and schools shall develop and
implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum model from pre-school
through grade three.
If alternatives to the options listed in the guidelines are
chosen for use in the Early Childhood Assistance Programs, they should be based
on the needs assessment performed as a part of the district and/or school
comprehensive plan and on strategies found to be effective in research.
B. Schools shall establish
programs of activities for assisting children and their parents with the
transitions between the various levels of schooling.
C. Districts and schools shall integrate the
planning and direction of the half-day program for four-year-olds with other
early childhood initiatives.
D.
Districts and schools shall integrate the planning and direction of the
parenting/family literacy program established in Section
59-1-450
with the early childhood initiatives.
E. Districts and schools shall design methods
of assessing the efficacy of the early childhood programs or strategies
implemented.
F. Districts and
schools shall demonstrate coordination of the program or strategies implemented
with federally-funded early childhood programs.
G. Districts and schools shall demonstrate
the interrelationship of the various components of the early childhood
initiatives for grades K-3 and the academic assistance programs for grades
4-12.
H. Districts and schools
shall implement a program that expands and improves early child development
activities.
I. Districts and
schools shall implement an Early Childhood Assistance program that plans for
accelerating the performance of students performing below their
peers.
III. Funding
The General Assembly shall determine an appropriation level for
the funding.
A. The number of students
in kindergarten through grade three who are eligible for the federal free and
reduced-price lunch program will generate funds at a specified add-on
weight.
B. Funds generated shall be
used to provide needed academic assistance to any student in these
grades.
C. Funds may be used to
support other components of the early child development initiative as detailed
in each district/school's comprehensive plan.
D. Districts may request a waiver from the
State Board of Education to use a portion of the funds generated by students in
kindergarten through grade three for students in grades four through twelve, if
such a change promotes better coordination of state and federal
funds.
E. A portion of the funds
may be used to support other components of the early childhood initiatives in
order to better prepare children for entering school.
F. Expenditures must adhere to definitions
and guidelines established by the Office of Finance, South Carolina Department
of Education, or the State Procurement Code.
IV. Professional Development
Appropriate training to prepare teachers and administrators in
the teaching techniques and strategies needed to implement the regulations
shall be included in the district strategic plan and school renewal
plans.
V. Guidelines
Additional information relating to the implementation of this
regulation, including but not limited to:
1. definition of terms,
2. explanation of program models,
3. procedures for selecting alternative
options for methods of service
is contained in the "Guidelines for Implementing Early
Childhood Assistance Programs --Grades K-3" available at the State Department
of Education. The State Board of Education will review and update, if required,
the "Guidelines" on an as needed basis.
Statutory Authority: 1976 Code Section
59-5-60
and 1993 Act #135, The Early Childhood Development and Academic Assistance
Act
