| 1. | | Are Title 1 and State Compensatory Education funded prekindergarten programs regulated by COMAR?
Yes. All public school prekindergarten programs regardless of funding source, fall under the prekindergarten requirements identified in COMAR 13A.06.02.
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| 2. | | Can kindergarten eligible children be enrolled in prekindergarten?
No. According to COMAR 13A.06.02, the Prekindergarten Program is a state-funded program for 4 year-old children who are potentially at-risk of failing in school However, under rare circumstances, the local school system superintendent may grant a waiver:
| 2. 1 | | The child's development is severely delayed and no other high intensity early childhood services are available. |
| 2. 2 | | Representatives of the local school system have concurred that placement in the prekindergarten program is more beneficial than placement in the kindergarten program. This provision is not designed to place young kindergarten children in prekindergarten. |
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| 3. | | What level of effort is required regarding prekindergarten?
In accordance with COMAR 13A.06.03 A.-B., each local school system is required to enroll 4 year-old children from families with economically disadvantaged backgrounds or who are homeless whose parents seek to enroll them. For remaining vacancies, a local school system may enroll 4 year-old children who are not from families with economically disadvantaged backgrounds but who represent a student population that exhibits 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. In accordance with COMAR 13A.06.02.04 A.-B. and the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, each local school system is required to develop a facilities plan to identify appropriate sites to ensure that a publicly-funded prekindergarten program is available to eligible children in its jurisdiction. The Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act mandated that beginning in 2007-2008 local school systems must provide prekindergarten services to all eligible 4 year-olds. The plan may include local school system agreements with qualified vendors and Head Start to provide prekindergarten program services that meet the local school system responsibilities identified in COMAR 13A.06.05.
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| 4. | | What funding sources may be used to operate the prekindergarten program?
Local school systems may combine federal, local, and other state resources to operate prekindergarten programs.
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| 5. | | May local school systems sub-contract prekindergarten services to nonpublic vendors?
Yes. Local school systems may use prekindergarten funds to establish agreements with qualified vendors and Head Start to provide prekindergarten program services that meet the local school system responsibilities in accordance with COMAR 13A.06.02.05. A qualified vendor is a state or nationally accredited child care center or nonpublic school approved by the Maryland State Department of Education to provide prekindergarten program services. MSDE recommends to subcontract with nationally or state-accredited vendors of nonpublic schools or centers that are approved and licensed by MSDE's Division of Early Childhood Development/Office of Child Care.
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| 6. | | May local school systems establish all-day prekindergarten programs?
Yes. Local school system superintendents may choose to establish all-day prekindergarten program in their jurisdictions.
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| 7. | | How is funding supplied for prekindergarten programs?
The Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act significantly increased state funding to local school systems, which use their General Funds to provide prekindergarten for all eligible 4 year-old children whose parents seek to enroll them. There is no dedicated budget line item for prekindergarten beginning with FY08.
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REVISED August 2007
