Section 200-RICR-20-10-6.3 - ApplicabilityA. Tier 1- Operational Approval: Any person desiring to operate a private early childhood education program serving children between the ages of three (3) and six (6) years of age or a kindergarten program in a private school in which kindergarten is the terminal grade must first submit an application for Tier 1 approval to the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ("RIDE").. Tier 1 approval is granted to programs or schools.1. To be eligible for Tier 1 approval, applicants at the time of application must be licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Children Youth and Families ("DCYF") as a child care center.2. All applicants licensed by DCYF shall receive Tier 1 approval for a period of one year or until the date of expiration of the DCYF license, whichever is earlier B. Tier 2 - Comprehensive Approval: Any operator of an early childhood education program meeting the quality standards set forth in this Part for a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate early childhood education program may apply for Tier 2 approval at the classroom level1. At the time of application for Tier 2 approval, the classroom for which Tier 2 approval is sought must meet the requirements of the following regulations, as applicable, and/or hold one of the following approvals: a. A private early childhood education program granted Tier 1 Operational Approval under this Part;b. An early childhood education program which is part of a public school or public school district meeting the requirements of the Basic Education Program Regulations (Part 1 of this Subchapter) and/or Special Education Regulations;c. An early childhood education program which is part of a private school (PK-12) approved under the Regulations for Approval of Non-Public Schools in Rhode Island (Subchapter 20 Part 5 of this Chapter); ORd. An early childhood education program which is part of a special education school approved under the Rhode Island Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities (Subchapter 30 Part 6 of this Chapter).2. Additionally, the applicant must provide evidence that it has already or will submit an application to the state's Quality Rating and Improvement System within one year of submitting the application for Tier 2 approval.3. Application to RIDE for Tier 2 approval represents the program's desire to seek voluntary approval and designation as a "Comprehensive Early Childhood Education Program" in the state of Rhode Island.4. When a program is subject to a governmental rule or regulation that exceeds the standard outlined herein for Tier 2 approval, that rule or regulation takes precedence. When a governmental rule or regulation differs or sets a lower threshold of performance, the standard for Tier 2 approval takes precedence.5. To be eligible for Tier 2 approval, the classroom must operate for a minimum of thirty (30) hours each week of the school year and comply with the following:a. Sessions of six (6) hours or less in duration per day must comply with these standards one hundred percent (100%) of the time that they are in operation.b. Sessions of more than six (6) hours in duration per day must comply with these standards at least six (6) hours within their daily hours of operation.6. To be eligible for approval as a Tier 2 classroom, the classroom must meet Structural Standards for Schools and Agencies and Early Learning Teaching and Learning Standards set forth in §§ 6.5 and 6.6 of this Part as determined through CECE Approval Process including state monitoring and valid and reliable assessments of classroom quality.200 R.I. Code R. 200-RICR-20-10-6.3
Amended effective 12/31/2018
Amended effective 8/13/2019