A local school system shall:

1. A. A local school system shall:

   1. (1) Develop and maintain a policy for determining the eligibility and selection of prekindergarten sites as well as the eligibility of 4-year-old students for prekindergarten programs consistent with the requirements of this chapter;
   2. (2) Develop criteria in reference to Regulation .03B and C of this chapter that establishes procedures to include children in the prekindergarten program who are not eligible under Regulation .03A of this chapter;
   3. (3) Operate the prekindergarten educational program 5 days per week for a minimum of 2.5 hours per day consistent with the school calendar approved by the local board;
   4. (4) Analyze the Department-approved kindergarten assessment system information described in COMAR 13A.08.01.02-3 to evaluate the effectiveness of the prekindergarten program, and make necessary adjustments to the prekindergarten instructional program;
   5. (5) Provide data in the Bridge to Excellence Master Plan needs assessment to indicate progress on prekindergarten program goals;
   6. (6) Provide staffing for each session of prekindergarten to include a teacher who possesses a current State professional certificate in early childhood education and a para-professional with a minimum of a high school diploma, or its equivalent, or a CDA;
   7. (7) Align each prekindergarten program with the Maryland Common Core State Curriculum;
   8. (8) Based on the September 30 enrollment count, maintain an average staff to student ratio of 1:10 with an average of 20 students per classroom; and
   9. (9) Provide responses to Department requests for information and data related to the operation of the prekindergarten program.

2. B. A qualified vendor shall:

   1. (1) Maintain State or national early childhood program accreditation;
   2. (2) Have the capacity to meet the responsibilities identified in this regulation;
   3. (3) Be licensed to operate a child care center pursuant to COMAR 13A.16; and
   4. (4) Provide responses to Department requests for information and data related to the operation of the prekindergarten program.

Authority: Education Article §§2-205(c) and (g) and 7-101.1, Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date: March 8, 1999 (26:5 Md. R. 392)

Regulations .01—.07 repealed and new Regulations .01—.05 adopted effective April 12, 2004 (31:7 Md. R. 585)

Regulation .01 amended effective October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1346)

Regulation .02B amended effective January 14, 2010 (37:1 Md. R. 15); October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1346)

Regulation .03 amended effective October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1346)

Regulation .04 amended effective October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1346)

Regulation .05 amended effective October 31, 2011 (38:22 Md. R. 1346)