15.01 DCCECE and ADE shall work cooperatively to ensure that the assessments are conducted as required by Act 49 of 2003.

15.02 Children in the ABC program shall be assessed annually to provide an indication of each child's progress towards school readiness.

15.03 The assessment shall address a child's strengths, progress, and needs and shall serve as a central part of an effective early childhood program. The assessment instrument selected by DCCECE and ADE shall be used for children enrolled in an ABC program.

15.04 A comprehensive longitudinal study shall be implemented to evaluate the ABC program to ensure that the program goals are achieved. The study will be designed to use sound research-based evidence to determine whether the programs meet the expected standards. This research shall include children entering the program at ages three (3) and four (4) years and follow the children through completion of the fourth grade benchmark exams. Research results will be provided annually to the Governor and the Senate Interim Committee on Education and the House Interim Committee on Education.

15.05 Within forty-five (45) days of entering an ABC program, a child shall receive a routine annual developmental screening to determine individual needs. The program agency shall be responsible for completing the developmental screening. The purpose of screening is to identify developmental delays and/or educational deficiencies. Children so identified shall be referred to Special Education within seven (7) calendar days of the date of screening. Programs shall comply with state and federal laws for Special Needs students.

15.06 The developmental screening must include, at a minimum, the following areas: vocabulary, visual-motor integration, language and speech development, fine and gross motor skills, social skills and developmental milestones.

15.07 DCCECE will provide a list to programs of all acceptable developmental screening instruments on an annual basis.

15.08 Within 45 days of the first day of attendance, every child shall receive an age-appropriate health screening, which includes a hearing and vision test, performed by a licensed physician or physician assistant. Programs should contact DCCECE for information on seeking a waiver under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-701. Programs shall work in partnership with parents to obtain health screening information.

15.09 On or before the first day of attendance, parents or guardians shall provide proof that their child is current on all required immunizations or is on an acceptable “catch up” schedule. A waiver from this requirement may be granted from the Arkansas Department of Health under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-702.

15.10 Every classroom shall be equipped with a computer with high-speed internet access (where available in the state). Each home-based educator shall also have such access to a computer. This equipment is necessary for the timely completion of enrollment data in COPA and assessment data in the Work Sampling System.