MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Harden, Burton, Frazier, Gordon, Jackson, King, Lee, Little, Mettetal, Smith, Tollison, Walls, Williamson
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE STATUS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS OPERATING IN THE STATE; TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF ALL PREKINDERGARTEN SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS OPERATED BY PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OR BY HEAD START PROGRAMS; TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE CERTAIN DATA IN THE ASSESSMENT; TO DIRECT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS OPERATING PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PRESCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DATA TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO DIRECT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OR SERVICES AND THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS OPERATED BY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE MEET OR EXCEED RECOGNIZED STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE; TO DIRECT THE OFFICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS OPERATED BY LICENSED CHILDCARE CENTERS IN THE STATE; TO DIRECT THE OFFICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH TO INCLUDE CERTAIN DATA IN THE ASSESSMENT; TO DIRECT THE DIVISION OF CHILD CARE LICENSURE OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH TO ASSIST BOTH AGENCIES WITH RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO THE LICENSING OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES; TO DIRECT THE AGENCIES TO PRODUCE A REPORT ON THE FINDINGS OF THE ASSESSMENT THAT INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS OR SERVICES, THE STEPS NECESSARY TO ENSURE ALL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS OPERATING IN THE STATE MEET OR EXCEED RECOGNIZE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE, AND RECOMMENDED ENHANCEMENTS TO THOSE STANDARDS WHEN PROGRAMS SERVE AN AT-RISK CHILD POPULATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) Prior to September 1, 2003, the State Board of Education shall conduct an assessment of all prekindergarten structured school or school readiness programs, including pilot programs, operated by a public, private or parochial school or a Head Start program in the state. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, data that identifies the population served by each program, including the age and number of children served in total and in each classroom; the number and qualifications of teachers and teacher assistants in total and in each classroom; the days and hours of program operation; the criteria used to determine eligibility for enrollment; the early care and education programs attended by these children prior to enrollment, or in addition to current enrollment; hours of parental employment; identification of eligibility of the enrolled population for any other publicly-supported programs; and how each district is evaluating the success of these programs. The assessment shall also include data comparing program operation to the Regulations Governing the Operation of a Licensed Child Care Facility established by the State Board of Health and the accreditation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The assessment shall also include data comparing the benchmarks of the prekindergarten and kindergarten curriculums authorized by the State Board of Education to the developmental milestones recognized by the Department of Pediatrics of the University Medical Center as representing the optimum development of children three (3) to five (5) years of age.
(2) Local school districts operating a prekindergarten program shall provide local program data to the Department of Education as directed by the State Board of Education.
SECTION 2. Prior to September 1, 2003, the Office for Children and Youth, Mississippi Department of Human Services, shall conduct an assessment of all school readiness programs operated by licensed childcare centers in the state. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, data that identifies the population served by each program, including the age and number of children served in total and in each classroom; the number and qualifications of teachers and teacher assistants in total and in each classroom; the days and hours of program operation; the criteria used to determine eligibility for enrollment; the early care and education programs attended by these children prior to enrollment, or in addition to current enrollment; hours of parental employment; identification of eligibility of the enrolled population for any other publicly-supported programs; and how each program is evaluating the success of these programs. The assessment shall also include data comparing program operation to the Regulations Governing the Operation of a Licensed Child Care Facility established by the State Board of Health and the accreditation standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The assessment shall also include data comparing the benchmarks of the prekindergarten and kindergarten curriculum authorized by the State Board of Education to the developmental milestones recognized by the Department of Pediatrics of the University Medical Center as representing the optimum development of children three (3) to five (5) years of age.
SECTION 3. The Division of Child Care Licensure, Mississippi State Department of Health, shall assist the State Department of Education and the Department of Human Services in carrying out those responsibilities related to the licensing of childcare facilities.
SECTION 4. (1) The State Department of Education, the Department of Human Services and the State Department of Health shall consider the findings of the assessment and make recommendations on the need for additional early childhood education programs or services and the steps necessary to ensure early childhood education programs operating in the state meet or exceed recognized standards of excellence. The said agencies shall submit a report of the findings of the assessment and any recommendations based on these findings to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2004. The said agencies shall also make the report and recommendations available to the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Services and the Advisory Committee to the Council for the review and comment of the membership. Any comments and recommendations adopted by the council shall be included in the report to the Legislature.
(2) The State Department of Education, the Department of Human Services and the State Department of Health shall jointly develop a single assessment instrument and shall utilize existing staff to collect and compile data required under this section into a single report. The said agencies shall post the report on the agency website for use by the Interagency Council on Early Childhood Services in the preparation of the council's annual report to the Legislature. It is the intent of the Legislature that any funds used shall be associated with the production and duplication of the report to make the information available to the Legislature.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.