More at FourMore at Four Pre-Pre-

Kindergarten Kindergarten ProgramProgram

Ready for SchoolReady for School

More at FourMore at Four Purpose/Goals: Purpose/Goals:Governor Easley’s VisionGovernor Easley’s Vision

• Readiness for Kindergarten (closing the gap)

• Focus on at-risk children• Developmentally appropriate

educational program• Voluntary• Build on existing service delivery

system

Estimated Estimated Unserved/UnderservedUnserved/Underserved

• # 4 year olds# 4 year olds 110,862110,862

• # at-risk 4 year olds # at-risk 4 year olds

(FRL)(FRL) 44,345 44,345• # 4/5 y.o. preschool # 4/5 y.o. preschool

disabilities (not in other) disabilities (not in other) 5,342 5,342

Total # At-RiskTotal # At-Risk 49,678 49,678• # Currently served# Currently served

(Title I, 4/5-star, Head Start) -(Title I, 4/5-star, Head Start) -25,802 25,802

Total Unserved & UnderservedTotal Unserved & Underserved 23,876 23,876•Estimated 1-3 star centersEstimated 1-3 star centers - -13,19813,198

Total Estimated UnservedTotal Estimated Unserved 10,687 10,687

More at FourMore at Four Legislation Legislation• $6.456 million 2001-02 (1621 slots)• $28 million expansion 2002-03 (to

7621 slots)• $8.6 million expansion 2003-04 (to

10,000 slots)• Requirement for Local Contribution• Joint DHHS and DPI initiative• More at Four Task Force Oversight

More at FourMore at Four Legislation - Legislation - continuedcontinued

• Essential “program” requirements• External Evaluation (no longer in

legislation as of 03-04)• Child-Specific Database with ability

to link to public school database• Study of all funding sources going to

four-year olds; recommendations for any changes

Program Requirements in BriefProgram Requirements in Brief

• Maximum class size 18; 9:1 ratio• 6 to 6 ½ hour school day• Specific criteria for at-risk children• Five domains of development

addressed; Required research-based curriculum

• Staff qualifications established• Facility/environment requirements• Family involvement• Screening & ongoing assessments

required

Domains of DevelopmentDomains of Development• Health and physical development• Social/emotional development• Approaches to learning• Language

development/communication• Cognition & general knowledge

At-Risk Criteria 2002-03: At-Risk Criteria 2002-03: 2003-04 Optional2003-04 Optional

• Family Income• Child’s Health Status• Identified Special Needs• Parent Education• Parent Employment• Family Composition• Housing Stability• English Proficiency• Minority Status (in combination w/

others)

At-Risk Criteria: 2003-04 Optional At-Risk Criteria: 2003-04 Optional Required 2004-05Required 2004-05

• 130% & below of poverty 5 pts.• 131-185% of poverty 4 pts.• 186-200% of poverty 3 pts.• 201-250% of poverty 2 pts.Extra weighted factors:• Limited English proficiency1 pt.• Identified disability 1 pt.• Chronic health problem 1 pt.

At-risk Criteria: 2004-05 At-risk Criteria: 2004-05 (continued)(continued)

For children 251-300% poverty level, can be eligible for following reasons:

•Limited English proficiency•Identified disability•Chronic health problem•Development/educational need

No more than 20% of a county’s slots may be filled in this manner.

Order of Priority for ServiceOrder of Priority for Service1. Unserved Children (never or

currently unserved)2. Eligible for subsidy but not

receiving it3. Unregulated care4. Other children meeting at-risk

criteria, including those in programs not meeting More at Four standards

Recommended CurriculaRecommended Curricula• High Scope• Creative Curriculum• Bright Beginnings• Montesorri• Bank Street CollegeNote: 1. Other curricula may be reviewed2. Other materials may be used in

combination with a comprehensive curricula

Staff Qualifications: Staff Qualifications: Minimum CredentialsMinimum Credentials

• Lead teachers - B-K license or pre-school add-on (4 years to attain)

• Assistants - CDA credential; two-year ECE/CD degree strongly encouraged

• Administrators - schools: principal license; degree in ECE/CD a goal

• Administrators – other pre-K settings: Level II working toward Level III

• Salaries and benefits “comparable” to public schools

Implementation ProcessImplementation Process• State Collaboration: DHHS, DPI,

NCPC, Governor’s Office• State develops standards/guidelines• Community Collaboration – all

relevant early childhood groups• Develop Local Plan for Use of Slots

and Leveraging of Resources-Designates Administrator

• Orientation & Curriculum Training by State More at Four Office

Putting the Pieces TogetherPutting the Pieces Together

How do they all fit?How do they all fit?

DHHS

More at Four Task Force

Dept. of Public

Instruc-tion

More at Four Program

Not This Neatly, But it Works

Smart Start

Organizational & ManagementOrganizational & ManagementStructureStructure

More at Four Pre-K Office

(Governor’s Office)

DHHS, Secretary’s Office(budget/contracts)

Dept. of Public Instruction

More at Four State-Wide Task Force

NCPC/Smart Start

Chair Chair

County Administering Agency

Sites: PublicSchools

Sites: Private Child Care Sites: Head Start

County Planning Comm: Chairs, Supt.

& Smart Start Bd. Chair

(Executive Committee)

Implementation Status: Implementation Status: 2001-022001-02

• 165 classes; 1621 child positions approved

• 28 grants; 34 counties• 55% classrooms in public schools

Implementation Status: Implementation Status: 2002-032002-03

• Expansion to 7,621 positions • Moved to formula allocation process

for all counties• 91 of 100 counties under contract• Slower implementation than desired

due to late budget, budget cuts, space issues; qualified staff

• Over 6400 children served

Implementation Status: Implementation Status: 2003-042003-04

• 99 Counties under contract; last county considering participation

• 9,661 child slots under contract as of November 30th; continuing to complete all 10,000

• 8550+ children served to date

More at Four Children by More at Four Children by Facility Type: 2002-03Facility Type: 2002-03

Public Schools

(286) 50%

For-profit Child Care

Centers (146) 25%

Head Start Programs in

Public Schools (24)

4%

Head Start Program (42) 7%

Non-profit Child Care

Centers (76) 13%

Other (7) 1%

More at FourMore at Four Children by Children by Facility Type: 2003-04Facility Type: 2003-04

5.2%,

47.5% 47.0%Public School

Head Start

Child Care Centers

Comparisons from 2002-03 Comparisons from 2002-03 to 2003-04to 2003-04

• Slight decrease in number of slots in public schools

• Increase in private child care centers• More for-profit centers than non-

profits• Decrease in Head Start slots

(although may increase)

More at FourMore at Four Web Page Web Page

www.governor.state.nc.us

(Look for the rectangular link)

919 – 715-0040

Carolyn.cobb@ncmail.net