 |
MSDE Fact Sheet
- What are prekindergarten programs?
Prekindergarten is a state-funded prekindergarten program for four year-old children who are potentially at-risk of failing in school. The overall goal of prekindergarten is to provide learning experiences to help children develop and maintain the basic skills necessary for successful school performance. The program's goal is being achieved by providing appropriate experiences that address the literacy, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs of young children.
- Who operates prekindergarten programs?
Local school systems are required to develop local policies and procedures for implementing prekindergarten programs that are in accordance with state regulations. Under these regulations, a prekindergarten site typically operates a morning and afternoon session five days a week for a minimum of 2.5 hours daily per session consistent with the local school system calendar. Each classroom session has an average of 20 students and is staffed with one state-certified early childhood teacher and a qualified full-time assistant. Local school systems are required to implement the prekindergarten content standards, and many local school systems use the MSDE prekindergarten quality standards that define program management, the quality of early education in the classroom, staff development, and procedures for communication with kindergarten and first grade teachers as well as public/private partnership with child care programs.
- Who is eligible for prekindergarten?
Eligibility for enrollment is extended to four year-old children who come from families with economically disadvantaged backgrounds or who are homeless. The Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act required that by 2007-2008 local schools systems admit all eligible 4 year-old children whose parents or guardians seek to enroll them. After the initial enrollment of these children, local school systems may fill any remaining vacancies by enrolling children who exhibit a lack of readiness in personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematical thinking, scientific thinking, social studies, the arts, or physical development and health. Beginning with the 2005-2006 school year and each school year thereafter, a child admitted to the prekindergarten program in the public schools shall be 4 years-old or older on September 1 of the school year in which the child applies for entrance.
- What are the long-term effects of prekindergarten?
The results of an analysis on the long-term effects of the Maryland prekindergarten programs indicate that enrollment in the program has a positive effect on the participants' school performance through elementary and middle school. The findings also suggest that participation in prekindergarten programs significantly reduces the number of children who were identified as having disabilities or placement in special education.
- How is prekindergarten funded?
The Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, which significantly increased funding to all local school systems, is fully phased-in for FY08. As a result, there is no dedicated budget line item for prekindergarten. Local school systems use their General Education funds to provide the prekindergarten program.
REVISED August 2007
|
