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District of Columbia Official Code 2001 Edition. |
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Division VI. Education, Libraries, and Cultural Institutions. |
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Title 38. Educational Institutions. |
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Subtitle I. Public Education-Primary and Secondary. |
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Chapter 2A. Pre-Kindergarten Education System. |
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Subchapter II. Enhancement of Existing Pre-K Programs.
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(a) The OSSE shall develop high-quality content standards and program requirements that pre-k programs that receive funds under this chapter are required to meet by September 1, 2014.
(b) The program requirements shall include:
(1) An adult-to-child ratio of one-to-8 for children 30 months to 3 years of age and of one-to-10 for children 4 years of age or older, or as otherwise approved by OSSE;
(2) A comprehensive curriculum that is aligned with the District of Columbia Early Learning Standards;
(3) Accreditation by a national accrediting body approved by OSSE;
(4) The minimum hours and days of operation;
(5) Valid and reliable assessments that meet accepted standards of technical adequacy to measure educational objectives and outcomes;
(6) Teacher qualifications, which may include a waiver of certain academic and degree requirements for current teachers, or current assistant teachers, with a minimum of 10 years of experience as of July 18, 2008, who are employed in programs meeting the educational objectives and outcomes of the HQ standards; provided, that by September 1, 2017, all teachers and assistant teachers shall be required to meet the academic and degree requirements as established by the OSSE and approved by the State Board of Education;
(7) A professional development and training plan for pre-k teachers and assistant teachers;
(8) A plan to foster parental support and involvement;
(9) A plan to coordinate support services;
(10) A plan to ensure inclusion of children with disabilities, in accordance with federally-stated goals;
(11) Facilities requirements;
(12) Licensure requirements; and
(13) A process for continuous improvement, classroom assessment, and child outcome assessment.
(July 18, 2008, D.C. Law 17-202, § 201, 55 DCR 6297; Mar. 8, 2011, D.C. Law 18-285, § 2(d), 57 DCR 11005.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 18-285 rewrote subsec. (a), which had read as follows:
"(a) Within 120 days of July 18, 2008, OSSE shall establish high-quality content standards and program requirements, which have been approved by the State Board of Education, that all pre-k programs are required to meet by September 1, 2014."
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(d) of D.C. Law 18-142 rewrote subsec. (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The OSSE shall develop high-quality content standards and program requirements that pre-k programs that receive funds under this act are required to meet by September 1, 2014.".
Section 5(a) of D.C. Law 18-142 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Pre-K Acceleration and Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-304, January 28, 2010, 57 DCR 1475).
For temporary (90 day) addition of section, see § 4103 of Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-463, July 2, 2010, 57 DCR 6542).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Pre-k Acceleration and Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-602, December 1, 2010, 57 DCR 11039).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Pre-k Acceleration and Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 19-4, February 11, 2011, 58 DCR 1399).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 17-202, see notes following § 38-271.01.
For history of Law 18-285, see notes under § 38-271.01.
Miscellaneous Notes
Short title: Section 4101 of D.C. Law 18-223 provided that subtitle K of title IV of the act may be cited as the "Pre-K Expansion and Program Assistance and Workforce Development Act of 2010".
Section 4103 of D.C. Law 18-223 provides:
"Sec. 4103. (a) The OSSE shall ensure that funds utilized to support pre-k community-based classrooms maximize the use of and supplement, not supplant, existing federal and local funding sources, such as Head Start and Child Care Subsidy, that finance education programs for children of pre-k age in the District of Columbia.
"(b) For each provider that meets the high-quality standards established pursuant to section 201 of the Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Amendment Act of 2008, effective July 18, 2008 (D.C. Law 17-202; D.C. Official Code § 38- 272.01), the OSSE shall ensure that local funding shall be allocated in such a manner that each provider receives in total funding per student funding an amount equal to the Uniform Per Student Funding Formula, established pursuant to section 2401 of the District of Columbia School Reform Act of 1995, approved April 26, 1996 (110 Stat. 1321-107; D.C. Official Code § 38-1804.01)."
(a) By July 2009, each pre-k program in the District shall have completed an evaluation, by an independent evaluator, and a financial audit to determine its standing in relation to the required HQ standards.
(b) Within 30 days of July 18, 2008, the Mayor shall submit to the Council for its approval, a plan, including the name of a proposed independent evaluator, to evaluate pre-k programs in accordance with this section. Within 60 days of Council approval, the Mayor shall execute a contract with the approved evaluator.
(c) The Mayor shall submit to the Council by September 30, 2009, the results of the program and financial audits.
(July 18, 2008, D.C. Law 17-202, § 202, 55 DCR 6297.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 17-202, see notes following § 38-271.01.
(a) The OSSE shall establish and administer a grant program to assist existing and new pre-k programs in public schools, public charter schools, and CBOs in meeting the required HQ standards. Each grant shall be a 2-year grant.
(b) The OSSE shall establish the criteria for eligibility to receive a grant; provided, that, in evaluating grant applications, OSSE shall give priority to those applications that demonstrate need and a capacity to achieve and maintain the HQ standards.
(c) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, shall issue revised administrative and procedural rules for the grant program and HQ standards and submit the rules to the Council within 45 days of March 8, 2011. If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, by resolution, within the 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.
(July 18, 2008, D.C. Law 17-202, § 203, 55 DCR 6297; Mar. 8, 2011, D.C. Law 18-285, § 2(e), 57 DCR 11005.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 18-285 rewrote subsec. (a); and added subsec. (c). Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows:
"(a) Beginning in September 2009, OSSE shall establish and administer a 5-year grant program to assist pre-k programs in meeting the required HQ standards. Each grant shall be a 2-year grant. The last grants to be awarded pursuant to this section shall be awarded in 2013."
Temporary Amendments of Section
Section 2(e) of D.C. Law 18-142 rewrote subsec. (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The OSSE shall establish and administer a grant program to assist existing and new pre-k programs in public schools, public charter schools, and CBOs in meeting the required HQ standards. Each grant shall be a 2-year grant.".
; and added subsec. (c) is added to read as follows:
"(c) The Mayor, pursuant to Title I of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1204; D.C. Official Code § 2-501 et seq.), shall issue administrative and procedural rules for the grant program and HQ standards and submit the rules within 45 days of the effective date of the Pre-K Acceleration and Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2010, passed on emergency basis on January 5, 2010 (Enrolled version of Bill 18-603). If the Council does not approve or disapprove the proposed rules, by resolution, within the 45-day review period, the proposed rules shall be deemed approved.".
Section 5(a) of D.C. Law 18-142 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(e) of Pre-K Acceleration and Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-304, January 28, 2010, 57 DCR 1475).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(e) of Pre-k Acceleration and Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-602, December 1, 2010, 57 DCR 11039).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(e) of Pre-k Acceleration and Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 19-4, February 11, 2011, 58 DCR 1399).
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 17-202, see notes following § 38-271.01.
For history of Law 18-285, see notes under § 38-271.01.
(July 18, 2008, D.C. Law 17-202, § 204, 55 DCR 6297; Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 9061(b), 58 DCR 6226.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For Law 17-202, see notes following § 38-271.01.
For history of Law 19-21, see notes under § 38-271.01.
