Maine Department of Education
ESTABLISHING A FOUR YEAR OLD PROGRAM
-Things to consider in your planning process-
Community Approaches to Four Year Old Programs
Involve your community in the decision to implement a four year old program as other child care, head start, nursery/pre school providers may be impacted. Determine the need in your community.
- How will your program interface and plan with the child care community (center based and/or family child care) or local Head Start programs) for a regionalized approach?
- What are the extended day needs of children and families?
- How will your program address the needs of working parents?
- Include Child Development Services (CDS) in the planning process.
- Your local Child Care Resource Development Center (RDC) can help you coordinate with local child care /early education programs.
Enrollment
- Will there be enrollment criteria for a targeted population?
- Will you be able to serve all eligible children (universal access)? Is there a long range plan to do that?
- Will there be an application process?
- What kind of information will you seek about children/families?
Environment
- Is your school structure is adapted to the needs of younger children, eg, providing flexible and open classroom space, reducing travel time on bus, implementing parent outreach activities?
- Is there consistency with DHHS child care licensing rules in relation to needs of younger children? i.e. child/adult ratios, square footage requirements
- Will children be impacted by multiple daily transitions?
- Is your environment designed to be inclusive of both typically developing and children with special needs?
Curriculum
- What are your plans for a developmentally appropriate curriculum with an emphasis on play and active learning?
- Do your teachers have a child development background? The required endorsement for a teacher is the new Birth-5, 081 endorsement.
- Use the Early Learning Guidelines as a guide for best practice.
WEBSITE: www.maine.gov/dhhs/occhs/publications.htm
- Are you familiar with NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children?
- Consider NAEYC Accreditation criteria as a goal. The National Association of Elementary School Principals recommends that these criteria guide implementation of programs.
- Are you familiar with Maine Roads to Quality Accreditation Facilitation Project and other Professional Development activities? Information is included in your packet.
Transition
- How will your program facilitate the transition of children between programs if necessary (i.e. preschool to childcare)?
- How will your program facilitate the transition of children to kindergarten?
Nutrition
- What nutrition components/meals do you plan to offer?
Transportation
- As per Title 20-A MRSA, Chapter 215, schools must provide transportation for students, a part of or the whole distance, to and from the public four year old program.
Screening/Referral
- Do you have a plan for vision, hearing and any other health or developmental screening?
Family Outreach
- Will your program include outreach and support programs designed to improve parent-school relations, school readiness and parenting skills?
- What type of supports will you provide to parents choosing to be home with their children
Parent Involvement
- How will you involve parents and other family members in program and policy decisions?
Monitoring and Evaluation
- What criteria will you adopt to measure program outcomes?
Possible Sources of Funding:
- State Funding: EPS, K-2 Weighted Funds
- Federal Funding: IDEA97, Section 619-3-5 Year Olds; Part B, Section 611, 3-20 Year Olds.
- Title I, Title V (NCLB), Twenty First Century (NCLB)
- Coordinate with Evenstart, Partner with HeadStart
