Section 92-11-002 - Definitions002.01At risk when used with reference to a child means the child is experiencing conditions or factors which could have a negative impact on his or her development or learning, including but not limited to such factors as low birth weight, poverty, being a child of teen parents or parents who did not graduate from high school, or living in a home whose occupants have limited ability to speak and understand English. 002.02Board means the State Board of Education. 002.03Center-based program means a prekindergarten program serving children in a class on a part-dav or full-day program basis. 002.04Class means a group of children who are receiving early childhood services in a classroom for a specific time period established by the school district or educational service unit. When there is more than one group of children (example: a morning group and an afternoon group). each group represents a distinct class for all purposes and must meet all requirements of this Chapter. Each class will meet instructional hour requirements for center-based programs indicated in Section 005 of this Chapter. 002.05Commissioner means the State Commissioner of Education. 002.06Comprehensive services means services other than the educational and family development and support components of the prekindergarten programs that are accessible to program participants including, but not limited to, nutritional, medical, dental, social, and mental health services. 002.07Contact Hours, when used in conjunction with home-based programs, means that program staff will have contact with each enrolled family at least three (3) times each month and a minimum total of 180 minutes per month. 002.08Curriculum means an intentional design to enhance children's learning that is appropriate for the age and development of the children and is designed and implemented to promote positive outcomes in the areas of social, emotional, intellectual, language, physical, and aesthetic development, for all children served in the prekindergarten program.002.09Department means the State Department of Education, which is comprised of the Board and the Commissioner. 002.10Developmentally appropriate means that the learning environment and teaching strategies are based on widely accepted theories and research about the typical and atypical growth, development, and learning of children. 002.11Established, when used with reference to prekindergarten programs established by a school board or educational service unit, means a prekindergarten program that is operated by a school district or educational service unit directly; or by contract with another entity; or in coordination, cooperation, collaboration or partnership agreement with another entity. 002.12Family development and support means those components of a prekindergarten program which recognize the central role of the family in their children's development. Family development and support includes, but is not limited to, home visitation, parent resources and information, conferences, and referrals for additional services for children and families. 002.13Family literacy means education and related activities which involve children and their families in interactive literacy experiences. 002.14Full-day program means a prekindergarten center-based program that provides instruction, programming, and services for 6 or more hours per day in a class setting. 002.15Home-based program means a prekindergarten program that specifically provides home visiting services and does not include a center-based component. This definition includes Sixpence programs as described in subsection 005.13, but does not apply to or include special education services in the home under Rule 51 and Rule 52 (92 NAC 51 and 52). 002.16Home visiting services means a method of service delivery for child and family development and support where guidance, information, and child development services are offered in partnership with the family. Services may be provided for either home- or center-based programs in the family home or at another location determined by the family and the home visiting specialist or teacher. This definition includes Sixpence home-visiting programs as described in subsection 005.13. but does not apply to or include special education services in the home under Rule 51 and Rule 52 (92 NAC 51 and 52). 002.17 Home visitor means a person who provides family development and support services under the supervision of a home visiting specialist or a teacher. 002.18Home visiting specialist means a person who develops, supervises, and provides home visiting services. 002.19Infant means a child age birth to 18 months.002.20Instructional hour when used in connection with center-based programs means a period of time, at least sixty (60) minutes long, which is used for teaching in the following areas of children's growth and learning: social-emotional development, cognitive learning in the areas of language and literacy, mathematics, science, and problem solving; creative arts, health and nutrition; and physical and motor development. Meal or snack time is part of the program curriculum and provides opportunities for learning and social development, as well as nutrition, and therefore, is included as part of the instruction time. Outdoor and gross motor time will be included as part of the instruction time. Time spent transporting, conducting parent/teacher conferences or home visits will not count as instructional time.002.21Instructional hour, when used in connection with home-based programs, means contact hours. Time spent conducting home visits or phone contact will count as contact hours. Parent/teacher conferences are not considered contact hours.002.22Kindergarten entrance age means five years of age on or before July 31 of the current school year.002.23Paraeducator means an individual who serves in a non-teaching role under the supervision of a teacher certificated to teach pursuant to 92 NAC 21.002.24Parent means parent or legal guardian.002.25Part-day program means a prekindergarten center-based program that provides instruction, programming, and services for less than 6 hours each day in a class setting.002.26Partnership agreement means, for the purposes of this Chapter, a formal written agreement that describes the level and nature of commitment of each party to the prekindergarten program. The partnership agreement should describe the following: resources contributed by each partner; rights and responsibilities of each partner; and any other relevant information agreed upon by all parties. The parties are not required by this Chapter to enter into partnership agreements or form a partnership under the Nebraska Uniform Limited Partnership Act.002.27Prekindergarten program means all early childhood part-day or full-day center-based programs (may be called preschool. Head Start, child care. Sixpence or some other name depicting a center-based program) and/or home-based programs provided for children who have not reached the age of five on or before July 31 of the current school year.002.28Preschooler means a child age 3 years to kindergarten entrance age.002.29School year means the time period between July 1 and June 30 each year.002.30Teach means and includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities as Found ln Neb,. Rev Stat, § 79-101(12):(a) the organization and management of the classroom or the physical area in which the learning experience of prekindergarten age children takes place;(b) the assessment and diagnosis of the individual educational needs of the children; (c) the planning, selecting, organizing, prescribing, and directing of the learning experiences of the children;(d) the planning of teaching strategies and the selection of available materials and equipment to be used;(e) the evaluation and reporting of children's progress; and(f) the provision of a learning environment and opportunities for positive relationships with children and families.002.31Teacher means a person who is certificated pursuant to 92 NAC 21 to teach.002.32Toddler means a child age 18 months to 3 years.92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 11, § 002
Amended effective 3/18/2020