W. Va. Code R. § 126-28-21

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-28-21 - Definitions

21.1. Active media. Materials that the child can control while participating in an activity such as taking pictures with cameras, making audio or video recordings or working with technology.

21.2. Adequate supervision. The observation, oversight, and guidance of the individual child or groups of children by the staff member taking responsibility for the ongoing activity of each child so that the staff member is close enough to intervene, if necessary, to protect the child from harm. Adequate supervision requires the staff member's physical presence with the children, knowledge of the child's program of activities, individual needs, habits, interests and special problems, if any, and the acceptance of accountability for the child's or groups of children's care.

21.3. Approved funding sources. Any funds used directly to support WV Pre-K classrooms for eligible children including West Virginia State Aid Funding Formula, Head Start funds, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Child Care Development Funds, funds under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), funds provided by the School Building Authority of West Virginia, funds under the Public Law 108-446, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, and any other private or public funds.

21.4. Approved WV Pre-K participating programs. Public school preschool, preschool special education, and any community provider that contracts with the county board of education including, but not limited to, child care, private preschool, Head Start, and community-based programs that meet or exceed all of the requirements of this policy and are a part of a county's verified Universal Pre-K program data. Children participating in approved WV Pre-K participating programs can be counted in the school aid funding formula and the participating programs are eligible to receive funds through contractual agreements with or direct administration by the county school system.

21.5. Collaborative contract. The legally binding agreement made between the county board of education and approved early childhood community program to delineate roles, responsibilities, and resources of each partner to meet or exceed program requirements for implementation of WV Universal Pre-K and community partner regulations.

21.6. Collaborative setting. A classroom of WV Pre-K children operated jointly by a community program and county board of education or by a community program with resource support from the state through the county board of education.

21.7. Continuous Quality Improvement Process. The ongoing program assessment process implemented by county teams utilizing classroom observations and aggregated child outcome data to make informed decisions for program improvement.

21.8. Contracted community program. Any provider of early childhood services that meets all of the requirements of this policy and has acollaborative contract with the county school system to operate a WV Pre-K classroom.

21.9. Core knowledge and core competencies for early care and education professionals. The sets of skills and knowledge that represent common standards of satisfactory practice in the early childhood field as defined in WV STARS Core Knowledge and Core Competencies for Early Care and Education Professionals.

21.10.Developmentally appropriate. Early childhood programming, curricula, and activities that address the stages of each child's cognitive, physical, social/emotional, and cultural development and utilizes a balanced approach of both child-initiated and teacher-directed instruction. Children should be actively engaged in hands-on, interactive activities for learning for a substantial portion of the day.

21.11. Direct supervision. The physical presence of a qualified staff member is in the same room, area, or vehicle with the child or group of children, visually monitoring the interactions of the children.

21.12. HealthCheck. The screening/surveillance protocol recommended for the licensed health care providers to be used for all children entering WV Pre-K. HealthCheck meets the requirements for vision, hearing, developmental, including speech and language, and oral health. The HealthCheck screening form is the preferred documentation method of licensed health care providers to record screenings.

21.13. Passive media. Materials the child cannot control while participating in an activity such as watching television, DVDs, or device streamed content.

21.14. School readiness goals. Programmatic goals based on data collection and analysis over time as part of the continuous quality improvement process to support the growth and development of children.

21.15. Staff to-child ratio. A relationship which describes the number of children qualified staff members or substitutes are permitted to supervise.

21.16. Staff member. Any paid personnel, including substitutes.

21.17. Universal access. Every eligible child in the county has access to a high quality WV Pre-K classroom that meets or exceeds all the requirements of this policy.

21.18. Universal application. An enrollment form that must be used for all classrooms identified as part of the county's WV Pre-K system to determine placement and enrollment of eligible children.

21.19. Universal precautions. Procedures to be followed for infection control in all situations to prevent the transmission of blood-borne germs that may be spread through blood or body fluids that might contain blood.

21.20. Usable space. The actual indoor classroom areas that are utilized for children's activities. Usable space includes all areas of the classroom that children may access. Usable space excludes areas that children do not access such as staff areas, staff-only furniture, storage spaces, or adjacent offices.

21.21. Verified universal pre-k program data. County pre-k information that illustrates the program structure, including classroom location, collaborative partners, operation information, and available support services, such as meals and transportation. Each county Pre-K Coordinator is required to complete WV Pre-K program data verification by October 15 annually.

21.22. West Virginia Universal Pre-K Instructional Day. The duration of time that pre-k children are present at school. This includes all required elements of the daily schedule.

21.23. West Virginia Early Learning Reporting System: Pre-K, or ELRS: Pre-K,. The section of the Early Learning Reporting System (ELRS) web-based platform utilized for housing and reporting WV Universal Pre-K program and formative assessment data. The ELRS: Pre-K is a located within a secured site that requires registration and account login by all users.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-28-21