As used in this part:

1. (1) “Arkansas Better Chance (ABC)” means a developmentally appropriate early care and education program that offers high-quality early education services to children birth to five (5) years exhibiting developmental and socioeconomic risk factors;

2. (2)

   1. (A) “Arkansas Better Chance for School Success (ABCSS)” means a developmentally appropriate early care and education program for children three (3) and four (4) years of age created under Arkansas Code § 6-45-105(a)(1)(B).
   2. (B) Unless standards for the ABC Program and the ABCSS Program are listed separately, the term ”ABC” will be used to refer to all participating programs;
3. (3) “ADE” means Department of Education;
4. (4) “AECPDS” means Arkansas Early Childhood Professional Development System;
5. (5) “Agency” means any entity funded under the Arkansas Better Chance Program or Arkansas Better Chance for School Success Program;
6. (6) “APSCN” means Arkansas Public School Computer Network;
7. (7) “Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)” means a federally funded subsidy program administered by the Office of Early Childhood designed to provide reimbursement to providers for meals and snacks served to children from low-income families;

8. (8)

   1. (A) “Childcare family home (CCFH)” means a situation in which children are cared for in a caregiver’s own family residence or in some other suitable family-type residence.

   2. (B)

      1. (i) There shall be no more than one (1) license issued per home or structure.
      2. (ii) This does not apply to situations such as a duplex where two (2) licenses could be issued to two (2) separate applicants;
9. (9) “CDA” means Child Development Associate;
10. (10) “Child assessment” means a web-based instrument used by ABC Programs to assess a child’s progress towards school readiness in various domains;

11. (11)

    1. (A) “Classroom” means a physical space that is partitioned for the purpose of ABC Program instruction and activities.
    2. (B) Each classroom must meet licensing requirements and state Arkansas Better Chance Program Core Quality Approval Standards.
    3. (C) “Single-site classroom” means one (1) ABC Program classroom at a geographic location.
    4. (D) “Multi-classroom site” means multiple ABC Program classrooms located on the same premises;
12. (12) “Classroom quality rating tool” means a nationally recognized rating scale to measure various elements of classroom quality for prekindergarten, infant-toddler, and childcare family homes;

13. (13) “Core quality components” means the six (6) key areas of ABC Programs that serve as the basis of ABC Program funding levels, and includes:

    1. (A) Low student-to-teacher ratio;
    2. (B) Well-qualified and compensated staff;
    3. (C) Professional development;
    4. (D) Developmental screening and child assessment;
    5. (E) Proven curricula and learning processes; and
    6. (F) Meaningful parent and community engagement activities;
14. (14) “DESE” means Division of Elementary and Secondary Education;
15. (15) “Developmental screener” means a tool used to identify possible developmental and behavioral delays;
16. (16) “DHS” means Department of Human Services;
17. (17) “FPL” means federal poverty level;
18. (18) “HIPPY” means Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters U.S.A.;
19. (19) “IDEA” means the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.;
20. (20) “IEP” means individualized education program;

21. (21)

    1. (A) “In-kind services” means support services provided at either no cost or without monetary exchange.
    2. (B) To use in-kind services as match, services must be provided to the ABC Program;
22. (22) “Investigating, Discovering, and Exploring (INDEX)” means the state-approved curriculum training on Math and Science for Young Children;

23. (23)

    1. (A) “Kindergarten-ready children” means children who have the social, emotional, and academic knowledge, skills, and behaviors for school success and lifelong learning.

    2. (B) Kindergarten readiness includes the following domains:

       1. (i) Physical health, well-being, and motor skills;

       2. (ii) Social-emotional development, including:

          1. (a) (a) Self-regulation; and
          2. (b) (b) Relationships with peers and adults;

       3. (iii) Language and literacy development, including:

          1. (a) (a) Language understanding;
          2. (b) (b) Emergent literacy; and
       4. (c) (c) Early writing;

       5. (iv) Cognition and general knowledge, including:

          1. (a) (a) Math;
          2. (b) (b) Science; and
       6. (c) (c) Problem solving; and

       7. (v) Approaches to learning, including:

          1. (a) (a) Initiative;
          2. (b) (b) Attentiveness;
       8. (c) (c) Persistence; and
       9. (d) (d) Play.
    3. (C) Kindergarten readiness will be measured by a Department of Education state-approved assessment aligned with the Early Learning Standards in Arkansas.
    4. (D) Kindergarten readiness occurs when families, schools, and communities support the healthy foundation of children’s growth so they are successful in school and in life;
24. (24) “Local education agency (LEA)” means a public school district or open-enrollment public charter school;
25. (25) “OEC” means Office of Early Childhood;
26. (26) “PAT” means Parents as Teachers;
27. (27) “PDR” means Professional Development Registry;
28. (28) “Shall” means mandatory standard;
29. (29) “Should” means standard is recommended but not mandatory;
30. (30) “Staff Qualifications Plan (SQP)” means a process by which the Office of Early Childhood can approve staff not meeting minimum qualifications to work in an ABC Program classroom under certain restrictions;
31. (31) “SSN” means Social Security number; and
32. (32) “State data system” means a web-based information technology system used to capture and maintain data for all children, families, staff, and programs enrolled and participating in an ABC Program.