Section 2050.30 Additional Program Components for Preschool Education Proposals

TITLE 23: EDUCATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

SUBTITLE A: EDUCATION

CHAPTER XI: DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

PART 2050 EARLY CHILDHOOD BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 2050.30 ADDITIONAL PROGRAM COMPONENTS FOR PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROPOSALS

Section 2050.30  Additional Program Components for

Preschool Education Proposals

a)         In

addition to the requirements set forth in Section 2050.20, applications for

funding for preschool education programs and activities, as defined in Section 2050.10(a)(1),

must provide:

1)         a

description of how the proposed educational program is developmentally

appropriate for each child, which shall:

A)        be

accepted based upon evidence in the proposal that the results of the

individualized assessment profile for each child will be the basis for

determining that child's educational program; and

B)        address

the domains of development specified in Section 2050.20(c)(6) and how a

language and literacy development program shall be implemented for each child

based on that child's individual assessment;

2)         a

description of how the risk factors to determine eligibility reflect the

community to be served and will be weighted to ensure that the children most at

risk of academic failure are enrolled;

3)         the

child/staff ratio for each classroom, which shall not exceed a ratio of 10

children to one adult, with no more than 20 children being served in each

classroom;

4)         a description

of the written transition plan to ensure that those children who are

age-eligible for kindergarten are enrolled in school upon leaving the preschool

education program;

5)         for

school district applicants, a description of the steps to be taken to ensure

that the provisions of Article 14C of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/Art. 14C] and

23 Ill. Adm

each

classroom;

4)         a description

of the written transition plan to ensure that those children who are

age-eligible for kindergarten are enrolled in school upon leaving the preschool

education program;

5)         for

school district applicants, a description of the steps to be taken to ensure

that the provisions of Article 14C of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/Art. 14C] and

23 Ill. Adm. Code 228 (Transitional Bilingual Education) are met;

6)         a

description of the provisions to be made to allow for the participation of

children with disabilities in the program; and

7)         a

description of the steps to be taken to ensure that a child who is not yet

toilet trained is not excluded from the program.

b)         Each

applicant also shall describe whether the program qualifies as a program

serving primarily at-risk children or a program serving primarily children

whose families meet the income guidelines set forth in Section 2-3.71(a)(4.5)

of the School Code.

1)         A

program serving "primarily at-risk children" is one that:

A)        has 80

percent or more of the enrolled children identified as being at risk of

academic failure (see Sections 2050.10(a)(3) and 2050.20(c)(6));

B)        gives

priority for enrollment to academically at-risk students over those students

who have not been identified as academically at risk; and

C)        has

taken specific proactive measures to ensure that parents of children who may be

at risk of academic failure are aware of the opportunity to enroll in the

preschool education program.

2)         A

program serving "primarily children whose families meet income guidelines"

is one that has 80 percent or more of the enrolled children from families

meeting the income guidelines and does not qualify under subsection (b)(1) as

serving primarily academically at-risk children

be

at risk of academic failure are aware of the opportunity to enroll in the

preschool education program.

2)         A

program serving "primarily children whose families meet income guidelines"

is one that has 80 percent or more of the enrolled children from families

meeting the income guidelines and does not qualify under subsection (b)(1) as

serving primarily academically at-risk children.

3)         Each

applicant shall estimate the percentage of children to be enrolled who are

considered to be at risk of academic failure or whose families meet income

guidelines, as applicable.

c)         Programs serving

primarily at-risk children shall describe:

1)         the process

to ensure that, if the program has a waiting list of children to be enrolled,

all children identified as being at risk of academic failure are enrolled

before other children not identified as being at risk; and

2)         the

specific proactive measures the program has taken or will take to ensure that

parents of children who may be at risk of academic failure are made aware of

the opportunity to participate in the preschool education program.