Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 22 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Sub-Agency 000 - GENERAL › Chapter 035 - PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION (2600) › Section 22 000 035 - PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION (2600)

Current through June, 2024
Selected Definitional Sections and Statutory
				  Authority.
See
				  16 V.S.A. §
										11(a)(31) for the definition
				  of "prekindergarten education." See also
				  16 V.S.A. §
										11(a)(6) for the definition
				  of "kindergarten,"
				  16
				  V.S.A. §
										1073(a) for
				  the definition of "legal pupil."
Rule
				No.2601 Statement of Purpose and Applicability
The purpose of prekindergarten education is to provide young
				  children with developmentally appropriate learning, and developmental
				  experiences that are responsive to each child's strengths, interests, and
				  needs, and aligned with Vermont Early Learning Standards. These rules establish
				  standards for prekindergarten education which shall be offered by local school
				  districts in accordance with
				  16 V.S.A. §
											829.
Rule No.2602 Definitions
The following definitions shall apply to terminology which is
				  used throughout these rules:
(1)
				Average Daily Membership (ADM). Average daily membership is defined in
				accordance with
				16 V.S.A. §
											4001(1). A district of
				residence may include within its average daily membership any prekindergarten
				child for whom it has provided prekindergarten education or on whose behalf it
				has paid tuition pursuant to this section.
(2) Developmentally Appropriate.
				Developmentally appropriate describes practices which are based upon principles
				of how children develop and learn, as articulated by the National Association
				for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); these practices are responsive to
				each child's individual strengths, interests and needs, and are aligned with
				Vermont's Early Learning Standards;
(3) Effective Parental Participation.
				Effective parental participation in a prekindergarten education program means
				the opportunity for parents and guardians to be actively involved in the
				program, and may include involvement in program development, policy work,
				program evaluation, curriculum development, and helping in the class;
(4) Early Childhood Special Education
				Services. Early Childhood Special Education services (ECSE) means early
				childhood special education services and supports for eligible children which
				are provided pursuant to Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
				Act, and in accordance with 16 V.S.A., Chapter 101,and which may be provided as
				part of a prekindergarten education program;
(5) Full-time Equivalent for Prekindergarten.
				For purposes of ADM, a full-time equivalent for prekindergarten is defined as
				ten hours of prekindergarten education per week for 35 weeks
				annually.
(6) National
				Accreditation. National accreditation means accreditation by the National
				Association for the Education of Young Children;
(7) Prekindergarten Child. Prekindergarten
				child means: a child who is three, four or five years of age by the date
				established by the district of residence for kindergarten eligibility and not
				yet enrolled in kindergarten.
(8)
				Prekindergarten Education. Prekindergarten education means services designed to
				prekindergarten children with developmentally appropriate early learning and
				developmental experiences based on Vermont's Early Learning
				Standards.
(9) Prequalified
				Prekindergarten Education Program. A prequalified public or private
				prekindergarten education program means a program or provider of
				prekindergarten education which at a minimum satisfies the requirements set
				forth in Sections 2604-2606 of these rules and that has been approved by the
				Agencies of Education and Human Services;
(10) Program Expansion. Program expansion is
				when a school district seeks to increase the number of children served in a
				district operated program and such an increase would require additional,
				teachers and/or classrooms;
(11)
				School District. School district is defined in accordance with 16 V.S.A. §
				(11)(a)(10);
(12) Step Ahead
				Recognition System (STARS). The Step Ahead Recognition System is Vermont's
				graduated quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for early learning and
				development programs, based upon the state's established program quality
				standards;
(13) Tuition. Tuition in
				these rules means the annual statewide rate paid by a district to a public or
				private prequalified prekindergarten education program for ten hours per weeks
				for 35 weeks annually for prekindergarten education.
(14) Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS).
				The Vermont Early Learning Standards are state-recognized performance standards
				and learning outcomes children birth through grade three.