You are required to complete the registration process with your school district. Under the criteria that an early childhood program must meet, as verified by the AOE, programs must:
● Be in compliance with Child Development Division Licensing Regulations.
● Participate in the State’s Step Ahead Recognition System at state determined level* currently under redesign
● Use Vermont’s Early Learning Standards (VELS) to plan curriculum
● Employ or contract with an AOE licensed teacher with either an Early Childhood or Early Childhood Special Education endorsement
● Assess and monitor PreK student progress using the online Assessment System Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG).
● Provide parents or guardians and AOE with a report of a child’s developmental progress at least twice per year and offer parents/guardians two opportunities per year to meet with the teacher
● Operate a minimum of 10 hours per week and 35 weeks during the academic year
● Adhere to all applicable federal and state laws.
● For children receiving early childhood special education services who are enrolled in the prekindergarten program, allow access to early childhood special education service providers:
● Assure to adhere to and report child incident data on restraint and seclusion requirements
● Adhere to and report child incident data on suspension and expulsion requirements
● Accept and educate students without discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, disability, economic status, religion, or parental marital status. ● Accept and educate students without discrimination based on toilet learning. ● Assure to permit on-site visits announced and unannounced, representatives from the Agency of Education, the Department for Children and Families, and partner School District Staff