Chapter 228: STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL-BASED CHILD CARE SERVICES AND PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

SUMMARY STATEMENT:

These rules will serve to define the standards for school based child care services and parenting and child development education and serve as a guideline to school administrative districts In the development and implementation of such programs.

I. SCOPE AND PURPOSE

The implementation of 20-A MRSA, 6651-6653, part of P.L. 1988, c.767, will provide minimum standards for school-based child care services and parenting and child development education for the purpose of:

A. Making it possible for student parents to continue attending or return to school; B. Providing parenting education and training in child development for teenage parents; C. Aiding teacher/school personnel recruitment and retention.

This shall be accomplished through a program which is:

A. Developmentally based; B. Available on a priority basis first to children of students in the school administrative unit and second to children of teachers or other employees in the unit and C. Includes training in parenting and child development for the student parents of the children in the program; to ensure quality and accessible child care services.

II. DEFINITIONS

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings:

A. SCHOOL-BASED. "School-based" means located on or adjacent to

school premises.

1. B. PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION. 'Parenting and child development education' means training for parenting and child development which includes both theoretical and practical instruction.
2. C. SAU. 'SAU' means school administrative unit.
3. D. SCHOOL PERSONNEL, 'School personnel' means, for the purpose of this chapter, all employees of the SAU except teachers.
4. E. DEVELOPMENTALLY-BASED. 'Developmentally-based' includes predictable changes that occur in all domains of development: physical, emotional, social and cognitive. Individual appropriateness recognizes that each child is a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth, as well as an individual personality, learning style and family background.
5. F. TEEN PARENTS. 'Teen parents' means, for the purpose of this chapter, those school-aged teens with dependent children.
6. G. SUBSIDIZABLE COSTS. 'Subsidizable costs' means costs of providing services allowable under this chapter which are reimbursed under the School Finance Act of 1985.
7. H. DE. THE DEPARTMENT 'DE' or 'The Department' means Department of Education herein referred to as the Department.
8. I. DHS. 'DHS' means Department of Human Services.
9. J. CHILD CARE PROVIDER. 'Child care provider' means any qualified care giver, not an instructor, who is responsible for continuous care and supervision of dependent infants/children.

III. MANDATORY COURSE

A school administrative unit which provides child care services under 6651 shall offer a one-semester course in parenting and child development education to student parents.

IV. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

School-based child care services and parenting and child development education

offered in accordance with Chapter 767, P.L. 1988, shall meet the following requirements:

A. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Instructional Staff

Parenting and child development education courses shall be taught by individuals certified to teach in the areas of Consumer & Home Economics Education, Early Childhood Education or Vocational Child Care.

Note: See 20-A MRSA Chapter 502, Certification of Educational Personnel and DE implementing rules 115 and 115-A.

2. Curriculum

a. The curriculum shall provide for a minimum of one semester of theoretical and laboratory instruction in parenting and child development for the student parents of the children in the program.

b. The curriculum shall be developmentally based and provide for sequential instruction encompassing the stages of human growth and development physical, intellectual, social and emotional.

One example of a satisfactory curriculum may be found in DE Child Care Curriculum Guide which may be obtained from the office of the Vocational Child Care Consultant

c. The program shall provide for supervised teen parent/child interactions in conjunction with the parenting and child development curriculum.

d. Continued attendance or successful completion of a parenting and child development education program as described in Section III shall be a requirement for the receipt of child care services by the teen parent.

3. Materials and Resources

a. Instructional materials and resources shall be accurate in content and up-to-date to reflect current parenting/child development concepts and practices.

1. b. Instructional materials and resources shall be adequate in quantity and quality for the achievement of the prescribed curriculum objectives.4. Child Care Providers- a. Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
2. b. Must be at least 18 years of age.
3. c. Must meet minimum health requirements as promulgated in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day Care Homes.
4. d. Must have a minion of three years work experience in licensed day care/nursery school;orPossess appropriate credentials/license/ certification in pediatrics, early childhood, home economics, or elementary education.5. Staff/Child Ratio for Child Care Services- a. At a minimum, the staff/child ratio identified in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day Care Homes shall be adhered to.
5. b. Within the context of this chapter, notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 4 above, the teen parent may be counted as 'staff' while providing care for his/her own child.
6. c. Within the context of this chapter, notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 4 above, students, other than teen parents, enrolled in child care and development training programs may be counted as staff while on site at the child care services facility, provided that such students function under the direct supervision of a certified teacher.6. Program Accessibility: Written Policies- a. The program shall be available on a priority basis first to children of students in the school administrative unit and second to children of teachers or other employees in the unit; and

b. The school administrative unit shall enforce local school policies relative to admission, retention, dismissal and completion.

7. Record Keeping

The SAU shall adhere to the minimum requirements for record keeping as outlined in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day Care Homes Such records shall be made available for inspection by DE.

B. FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

1. Facilities

a. Facilities shall meet the minimum standards contained in DHS Chapter 28, Rules for the Licensing of Day Care Homes. b. Facilities for child care services shall be on-site or adjacent to the school(s) which the teen parents attends. c. Facilities shall meet all applicable Federal/ State/local requirements for health, sanitation, and safety.

2. Equipment Requirements

Equipment shall be sufficient to meet the objectives of the training program and shall be maintained in good condition.

V. FUNDING

A. Eligibility

Local costs of providing school based child care services and parenting and child development services identified in this chapter shall be identified as "program" costs for the purpose of computing State school subsidy under the School Financial Act of 1985.

In order for a program to be eligible for subsidy, the SAU shall demonstrate compliance with all provisions of this chapter as contained in sections III & IV.

B. Subsidy

1. Child Care Services for Teen Parents - are subsidized 100% on a per-child basis.

2. Child Care Services for Teachers and Other Employees - are calculated in accordance with a policy to be established by the local school board which determines the basis for participation. The SAU shall charge a fee for the provision of such services which is at least equal to the per-child cost defined in 20-A MRSA section, 6651-3.

C. No Cost to Parents

Parenting and Child Development Education There shall be no cost to student parents for parenting and child development education, and related child care services.

VI. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT

DE will collect information through systematic program reviews. Such reviews will serve as a basis for program evaluation and final reporting to the Education Committee in January of 1990.

Such information shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

A. Numbers served Teen parents School personnel B. Numbers completed dropped out C. Participant evaluation D. Fiscal impact E. Program Compliance

VII. SUPERVISION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

A. The Department will supervise the conduct of schoolbased child care services and parenting and child development education programs.

B. The Department will make available technical assistance, where needed, to educational institutions and facilities to facilitate implementation and operation of such programs.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 20-A MRSA §6653

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 27, 1989

EFFECTIVE DATE (ELECTRONIC CONVERSION): May 19, 1996