3602-E - Universal prekindergarten program.
§ 3602-e. Universal prekindergarten program. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: a. "School district" shall mean all public school districts eligible for total foundation aid pursuant to subdivision four of section three thousand six hundred two of this article, such term shall not include boards of cooperative educational services. b. "Eligible agencies" shall mean a provider of child care and early education, a day care provider, early childhood program or center, or community-based organization, including but not limited to approved pre-school special education programs, head start, and nursery schools so long as the standards and qualifications set forth pursuant to subdivision twelve of this section have been met. c. "Eligible children" shall mean resident children who are four years of age on or before December first of the year in which they are enrolled or who will otherwise be first eligible to enter public school kindergarten commencing with the following school year. d. "Pre-kindergarten program plan" shall mean a plan approved by the board of education or, in the case of a school district having a population of one million or more, by the community superintendent and the chancellor that is designed to effectively serve eligible children directly through the school district or through collaborative efforts between the school district and an eligible agency or agencies. e. "Session" shall mean one universal prekindergarten program class operating pursuant to time, staff ratio and other regulatory requirements as set forth by the board of regents and the commissioner for such purpose. 2. The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to award grants for the establishment and implementation of a prekindergarten program to serve eligible children. 5. In any school district, other than the city school district of the city of New York, that seeks an apportionment pursuant to this section, the school district shall develop and submit an application pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted by the board of regents and the commissioner for such purpose. Such application shall be submitted by a date and in a form prescribed by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision eight of this section, including the program elements as provided for in subdivision seven of this section and shall be consistent with the plan adopted by the district. a. If the school district chooses to coordinate proposals for prekindergarten program services, it shall conduct a competitive process in accordance with procedures set forth by the commissioner and with the requirements and regulations set forth in, and pursuant to, subdivisions seven, eight and twelve of this section. b. An application developed by coordinating proposals submitted by eligible agencies pursuant to a competitive process shall ensure delivery of prekindergarten program services in an effective, efficient and non-duplicative manner. c. The results of the competitive process for prekindergarten program services shall be made public at a regular meeting of the board of education. An eligible agency may request a written statement from the board of education stating why the application was not accepted. d. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the school districts shall be authorized to enter any contractual or other arrangements necessary to implement the district's prekindergarten plan. e. Not less than ten percent of the total grant award to the school district shall be set aside for collaborative efforts with eligible agencies, provided that the commissioner may waive such set asiderequirement based upon documented evidence that the school district was unable to use the set aside to make a collaborative arrangement that would meet all requirements of this subdivision because of unavailability of eligible agencies willing to collaborate or other factors beyond the control of the school district, or for school districts which have fully implemented a universal prekindergarten program by serving all eligible four year olds in the nineteen hundred ninety-eight--ninety-nine school year and due to parental choice the ten percent set aside requirement exceeds the total of the district's aid per kindergarten pupil multiplied by the number of pre-kindergarten pupils in collaborative programs. In such cases, school districts shall set aside, for collaborative efforts with eligible agencies, the total of the district's aid per kindergarten pupil multiplied by the number of prekindergarten pupils in collaborative programs. f. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, two or more school districts may submit a joint application to operate a joint universal prekindergarten program. For purposes of paragraph e of this subdivision and all other provisions of this section except subdivision ten, all references to a school district shall be deemed a reference to all school districts participating in such joint program as if they were a single district. For purposes of subdivision ten of this section, the grant award for the joint program shall be the sum of the grant awards computed for each participating district pursuant to such subdivision ten. 6. In the city school district of the city of New York, if a community school superintendent seeks to receive an apportionment pursuant to this section, the community school superintendent shall submit such plan to the chancellor for adoption, modification or rejection. a. If the chancellor adopts such plan as submitted or as modified by the chancellor, the chancellor shall submit an application in accordance with subdivision five of this section. b. If the chancellor rejects such plan, he or she shall notify the community superintendent in writing and shall state the reasons for such rejection. The community superintendent may modify and resubmit such application to the chancellor for adoption. 7. In order to receive approval from the commissioner to implement a prekindergarten program, applications and proposals shall demonstrate that the program to be implemented contains, at a minimum, the following components: a. provides for an age and developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities which are learner-centered; b. provides for an assessment of the development of language, cognitive and social skills; c. ensures continuity in the program with instruction in the early elementary grades; d. encourages children to be self-assured and independent; e. encourages the co-location and integration of children with special needs; f. utilizes staff who meet the qualifications set forth pursuant to the rules of the board of regents; g. provides for strong parental partnerships and involvement in the implementation of and participation in the plan; h. provides staff development and teacher training for staff and teachers in all settings in which prekindergarten services are provided pursuant to this section; and i. establishes a method for selection of eligible children to receive prekindergarten program services on a random selection basis where thereare more eligible children than can be served in a given school year, provided, however, that a school district that operated a targeted prekindergarten program in the base year may use the selection process established for such program. 8. Each application for a prekindergarten program pursuant to this section shall be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include, but not be limited to: a. a prekindergarten program plan identifying specific goals, including how the district will expand its program to assure that all eligible children may be served, and a proposed timetable for the implementation and achievement of such goals; b. a proposed budget and a description of the proposed use of the grant funds including the mechanism for the distribution of such funds; c. the local share to be used, as defined by the commissioner, which may include resources which may be available from the community; d. the participation and contribution of each of the collaborative partners; and e. a description of any costs associated with the administration of the program. 9. a. Each year, the commissioner shall determine the maximum allocation that each district would be eligible to receive pursuant to this section in the following school year based on pupil data on file with the commissioner on a date prescribed by the commissioner, and applying the formula specified in subdivision ten of this section. No later than April thirtieth of the base year, the commissioner shall notify districts of the maximum allocations they may be eligible for pursuant to this section in the following school year, and such maximum allocations shall be deemed final and not subject to change thereafter. b. The board of regents and the commissioner shall develop criteria for awarding all grants pursuant to this section. The commissioner shall give preference to those applications which demonstrate innovative methods for serving eligible children, are strong collaborative arrangements which maximize, to the extent possible, the utilization of existing resources of the school district, eligible agencies and the community, have an immediate capacity for providing services, and which can most effectively address the prekindergarten needs of each of the eligible children. 10. Universal prekindergarten aid. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for aid payable in the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year, the grant to each eligible school district for universal prekindergarten aid shall be computed pursuant to this subdivision, and for the two thousand nine--two thousand ten and two thousand ten--two thousand eleven school years, each school district shall be eligible for a maximum grant equal to the amount computed for such school district for the base year in the electronic data file produced by the commissioner in support of the two thousand nine--two thousand ten education, labor and family assistance budget, provided, however, that in the case of a district implementing programs for the first time or implementing expansion programs in the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year where such programs operate for a minimum of ninety days in any one school year as provided in section 151-1.4 of the regulations of the commissioner, such school district shall be eligible for a maximum grant equal to the amount computed pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision nine of this section in the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year, and provided further that the maximum grant shall not exceed the total actual grant expenditures incurred by the school district in the current school year as approved by the commissioner.a. Each school district shall be eligible to receive a grant amount equal to the sum of (i) its prekindergarten aid base plus (ii) the product of its selected aid per prekindergarten pupil multiplied by the positive difference, if any of the number of aidable prekindergarten pupils served in the current year, as determined pursuant to regulations of the commissioner, less the base aidable prekindergarten pupils calculated pursuant to this subdivision for the two thousand seven--two thousand eight school year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner in support of the enacted budget for the two thousand seven--two thousand eight school year and entitled "SA070-8". Provided, however, that in computing an apportionment pursuant to this paragraph, for districts where the number of aidable prekindergarten pupils served is less than the number of unserved prekindergarten pupils, such grant amount shall be the lesser of such sum computed pursuant to this paragraph or the maximum allocation computed pursuant to subdivision nine of this section. b. For purposes of paragraph a of this subdivision: (i) "Selected aid per prekindergarten pupil" shall equal the greater of (A) the product of five-tenths and the school district's selected foundation aid for the current year, or (B) the aid per prekindergarten pupil calculated pursuant to this subdivision for the two thousand six-two thousand seven school year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner in support of the enacted budget for the two thousand six--two thousand seven school year and entitled "SA060-7"; provided, however, that in the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year, a city school district in a city having a population of one million inhabitants or more shall not be eligible to select aid per prekindergarten pupil pursuant to clause (A) of this subparagraph; (ii) "Base aidable prekindergarten pupils". "Base aidable prekindergarten pupils" shall equal the sum of the base aidable prekindergarten pupils calculated pursuant to this subdivision for the base year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner in support of the enacted budget for the base year, plus the additional aidable prekindergarten pupils calculated pursuant to this subdivision for the base year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner in support of the enacted budget for the base year; (iii) "Unserved prekindergarten pupils" shall mean the product of eighty-five percent multiplied by the positive difference, if any, between the sum of the public school enrollment and the nonpublic school enrollment of children attending full day and half day kindergarten programs in the district in the year prior to the base year less the number of resident children who attain the age of four before December first of the base year, who were served during such school year by a prekindergarten program approved pursuant to section forty-four hundred ten of this chapter, where such services are provided for more than four hours per day; (iv) "Additional aidable prekindergarten pupils". For the two thousand seven--two thousand eight through two thousand eight--two thousand nine school years, "additional aidable prekindergarten pupils" shall equal the product of (A) the positive difference, if any, of the unserved prekindergarten pupils less the base aidable prekindergarten pupils multiplied by (B) the prekindergarten phase-in factor; (v) the "prekindergarten aid base" shall mean the sum of the amounts the school district received for the two thousand six--two thousand seven school year for grants awarded pursuant to this section and for targeted prekindergarten grants;(vi) The "prekindergarten phase-in factor". For the two thousand eight--two thousand nine school year, the prekindergarten phase-in factor shall equal the positive difference, if any, of the pupil need index computed pursuant to subparagraph three of paragraph a of subdivision four of section thirty-six hundred two of this part less one, provided, however, that: (A) for any district where (1) the maximum allocation computed pursuant to subdivision nine of this section for the base year is greater than zero and (2) the amount allocated pursuant to this subdivision for the base year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner on February fifteenth of the base year, pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision twenty-one of section three hundred five of this chapter, is greater than the positive difference, if any, of such maximum allocation for the base year less twenty-seven hundred, the prekindergarten phase-in factor shall not exceed eighteen percent, and shall not be less than ten percent, and (B) for any district not subject to the provisions of clause (A) of this subparagraph where (1) the amount allocated pursuant to this subdivision for the base year is equal to zero or (2) the amount allocated pursuant to this section for the base year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner on February fifteenth of the base year, pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision twenty-one of section three hundred five of this chapter, is less than or equal to the amount allocated pursuant to this section for the year prior to the base year, based on data on file for the school aid computer listing produced by the commissioner on February fifteenth of the base year, pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision twenty-one of section three hundred five of this chapter, the prekindergarten phase-in factor shall equal zero, and (C) for any district not subject to the provisions of clause (A) or (B) of this subparagraph, the prekindergarten phase-in factor shall not exceed thirteen percent, and shall not be less than seven percent; (vii) "Base year" shall mean the base year as defined pursuant to subdivision one of section thirty-six hundred two of this part. c. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the total grant payable pursuant to this section shall equal the lesser of: (i) the total grant amounts computed pursuant to this subdivision for the current year, based on data on file with the commissioner as of September first of the school year immediately following or (ii) the total actual grant expenditures incurred by the school district as approved by the commissioner. 11. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision ten of this section, where the district serves fewer children during the current year than in the base year, the school district shall have its apportionment reduced in an amount proportional to such deficiency in the current year or in the succeeding school year, as determined by the commissioner, except such reduction shall not apply to school districts which have fully implemented a universal pre-kindergarten program by making such program available to all eligible children. Expenses incurred by the school district in implementing a pre-kindergarten program plan pursuant to this subdivision shall be deemed ordinary contingent expenses. 12. The board of regents and the commissioner shall be authorized to adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section and which shall prescribe uniform quality standards for such prekindergarten programs. In developing such regulations, the board of regents and the commissioner shall consider and seek to coordinate any regulations which may currently be applicable to any existing programs or eligible agencies. In addition, the regents when developing regulations shall consider and recognize the diversity of settings and models available for the delivery of prekindergarten programs operated by eligibleagencies in alternative settings, including libraries and community based organizations, that comply with this section. Such regulations shall include but not be limited to: a. minimum qualifications for personnel providing instructional and other services in prekindergarten programs. In promulgating such regulations, the commissioner and the board of regents shall take into account the availability of certified teachers and teaching assistants to provide instruction in prekindergarten programs and shall consider ways to increase the pool of qualified personnel; b. minimum curriculum standards that ensure that such programs have strong instructional content that is integrated with the school district's instructional program in grades kindergarten though twelve; c. performance standards for prekindergarten programs, which shall include procedures for assessing the performance of such programs and establishing mechanisms for tracking progress of such programs and reporting such progress to parents of prekindergarten students and the public; * d. transitional guidelines and rules which allow a program to meet the required staff qualifications and any other requirements set forth pursuant to this section and regulations adopted by the board of regents and the commissioner; * NB Effective June 30, 2010 * d-1. guidelines which allow personnel employed by an eligible agency that is collaborating with a school district to provide prekindergarten services and licensed by an agency other than the department, to meet the staff qualifications prescribed by the licensing or registering agency; provided however, a written plan is established for prekindergarten teachers to obtain a certificate valid for service in early childhood grades within five years after commencing employment, or by January third, two thousand thirteen, whichever is later; * NB Repealed June 30, 2010 * d-2. guidelines which allow personnel employed by an eligible agency that is collaborating with a school district to provide prekindergarten services and not licensed or registered by the department or other agency, to meet the staff qualifications prescribed by such eligible agency; provided however, a written plan is established for prekindergarten teachers to obtain a certificate valid for service in early childhood grades within five years after commencing employment, or by January third, two thousand thirteen, whichever is later; * NB Repealed June 30, 2010 e. health and safety standards; f. time requirements which reflect the needs of the individual school districts for flexibility, but meeting a minimum weekly time requirement; g. the staff/child ratio; h. reasonable grounds and basis for the non-acceptance of a proposal submitted to the school district when the proposal otherwise meets, to the extent applicable, all the regulations of the commissioner and the requirements set forth in this subdivision, as well as subdivisions seven and eight of this section; i. any other program components, such as health, nutrition or support services, which the regents deem appropriate and necessary for the appropriate and effective implementation of a prekindergarten program; j. a provision for a waiver of any inconsistent provisions of this section or the regulations implementing this section to allow school districts that operated a targeted prekindergarten program in the two thousand six--two thousand seven school year to continue to operate such program pursuant to the regulations of the commissioner that applied totargeted prekindergarten programs in such school year; provided that, notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, the amounts allocated to such targeted prekindergarten program from grants awarded pursuant to this section shall not exceed the amount of targeted prekindergarten grant funds received by the district for the two thousand six--two thousand seven school year; k. a process by which a school district must submit an application; l. a definition of the approved expenditures for which grant funds may be used, which shall include but not be limited to transportation services and lease expense or other appropriate facilities expenses; and m. a process for the waiver of the time requirements established pursuant to this subdivision in order to authorize the operation of a summer universal prekindergarten program limited to the months of July and August, upon a finding by the commissioner that the school district is unable to operate the program during the regular school session because of a lack of available space pursuant to regulations of the commissioner. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, such process shall provide for a reduction of the aid per prekindergarten pupil payable for pupils served pursuant to such waiver by one one-hundred eightieth of the aid per prekindergarten pupil determined pursuant to paragraph a of subdivision ten or subparagraph (i) of paragraph b of subdivision ten-a of this section for each day less than one hundred eighty days that the summer program is in session. 13. Each school district that has implemented a prekindergarten program shall on an annual basis report to the board of regents, the commissioner, parents, teachers and the public on the status of such program. Such annual report shall include a financial summary of the approved expenditures of the program, as defined pursuant to paragraph l of subdivision twelve of this section, setting forth the expenditures from state, local and other revenue sources, and the district shall maintain documentation to insure that all grant funds are used for such approved expenditures. 14. On February fifteenth, two thousand, and annually thereafter, the commissioner and the board of regents shall include in its annual report to the legislature, information on school districts receiving grants under this section; the amount of each grant; a description of the program that each grant supports and an assessment by the commissioner of the extent to which the program meets measurable outcomes required by the grant program or regulations of such commissioner; and any other relevant information. Such report shall also contain any recommendations to improve or otherwise change the program. 15. The commissioner shall also provide for a system for evaluation and assessment of the prekindergarten programs which have been implemented to determine the short and long-term success, outcomes and effects of the programs based on relevant and measurable performance standards. 16. The grant payable to a school district pursuant to this section in the current year shall be reduced by one one-hundred eightieth for each day less than one hundred eighty days that the universal prekindergarten classes of the district were actually in session, except that the commissioner may disregard such reduction for any deficiency that may be disregarded in computing total foundation aid pursuant to subdivision seven or eight of section thirty-six hundred four of this chapter.