Home Table of Contents

005.24.1-13. Program Standards

AR ADC 005.24.1-13Arkansas Administrative Code

West's Arkansas Administrative Code
Title 005. Department of Education
Division 24. Early Childhood
Ark. Admin. Code 005.24.1-13
005.24.1-13. Program Standards
Currentness
13.01 All early childhood programs funded by ABC monies shall be developmentally appropriate and individualized to meet the needs of each student enrolled. The following references shall be utilized to determine developmental appropriateness:
• Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, Revised Edition, Edited by Sue Bredekamp and Carol Copple, © 2004 by NAEYC
• From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, Edited by Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D. and Deborah A. Phillips, © 2000 by National Academy of Sciences.
• Arkansas Early Childhood Frameworks
13.02 Programs shall demonstrate that the classroom arrangement satisfies “substantial portion of the day” as defined by the environmental rating scales. If used, room dividers shall be arranged and of sufficient height to prohibit distractions from other classes yet not hinder proper supervision within the classroom.
13.03 Each classroom shall be equipped with toys, books and play apparatus to take care of the needs of the total group and to provide each child with a variety of activities through the day. A variety of equipment shall be accessible from low shelves to children of all ages and shall be arranged in learning centers.
13.04 The program shall be individualized to meet the needs of each student enrolled. Each curriculum model and the actual classroom practice will be assessed using the applicable environmental rating scale to ensure the model is developmentally appropriate.
13.05 The program shall have a written overall curriculum plan which is arranged in thematic units, projects or topics of study and includes goals and objectives related to the following: cultural diversity, social/emotional development, creative/aesthetic learning, cognitive/intellectual learning, physical development and language.
13.06 All programs must utilize a curriculum approved by DCCECE. A list of approved curriculum models will be made available by DCCECE on an annual basis. A program wishing to use a curriculum not on the list may request, in writing to DCCECE, consideration of an additional curriculum. Program coordinators shall ensure teachers have adequate training on curriculum.
13.07 Children shall participate in a daily schedule that reflects a balance among the following types of activities: indoor/outdoor; quiet/active; individual/small group/large group; gross motor/fine motor; child initiated/teacher initiated.
13.08 Routine and transition times throughout the day, such as preparing for mealtime, shall be used as opportunities for incidental learning. Transition times shall be planned to avoid frequent disruption of children's activities and long waits between activities.
13.09 Programs shall maintain an individual child record on site. At a minimum, the record shall contain copies of:
• Birth certificate, hospital birth record or other official verification of birth date
• Documentation of child eligibility
• Completed and dated application form
• Emergency information, including non-parental contact and medical information
• Parental authorization for medical care, daily pick-up and field trips
• Field trip authorization
• Completed Health Form and Immunization record (or proof of current immunizations)
• Record of completed developmental screening
• Samples of child's work
• Teacher and parent observations and summaries of parent-teacher conferences
• Work Sampling Developmental Checklists
Child records or any ABC file containing personal information on families and children shall be kept in a locked file cabinet with access granted only on a need-to-know basis. The child record shall be available for inspection by DCCECE staff. If certain records must be stored offsite, copies shall be made and given to teachers to maintain in a record on-site. In maintaining and updating child and family data, ABC programs shall utilize COPA. Other than those documents required to be retained for licensing purposes, teachers shall give a copy of the child's record to the parent upon completion of or dis-enrollment from the program or forward the record to the child's kindergarten program.
13.10 The arrangement of indoor and outdoor equipment, materials and interest areas for each group shall provide for:
• Accessibility to equipment and materials so that children may select and return them easily
• An orderly, uncluttered atmosphere
• Visual and/or auditory supervision of children in all areas
• Separation of active and quiet play areas
• Traffic patterns that avoid disruption of activities
13.11 At a minimum, developmentally appropriate equipment and materials of sufficient quantity to accommodate a sustained learning environment shall be provided in the following interest areas/learning centers:
1. Blocks
2. Dramatic Play
3. Stories/Language Development
4. Art
5. Discovery/Science Sensory
6. Sand/Water Play
7. Manipulative
8. Music
13.12 Outdoor play shall be used as an extension of the learning activities that occur in the classroom. As such, ABC staff shall participate in this activity. Each ABC classroom shall offer a minimum of 60 minutes of outdoor play daily unless prevented by inclement weather.
13.13 The outdoor play area shall be developmentally appropriate and meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for outdoor play areas. The outdoor play area shall provide the following:
• A variety of surfaces
• An arrangement designed for appropriate flow of activities
• Climbing and other active play items and structures
• Open areas for running and games
• Opportunities for dramatic play
• Adequate storage for equipment and materials
• Partial shade
• Quiet, private spaces
• A separate outdoor area equipped for infants and toddlers (if applicable)
13.14 Provision should be made through program design and networking efforts to ease the transition of children moving from one program or age grouping to another or to public school kindergartens. This provision must include individual needs assessments on each child, lesson plans and specific activities written into the program design. At a minimum, the transition plan shall involve parents and appropriate school district personnel.
13.15 ABC programs are required to provide free nutritious meals and snacks for all children enrolled in ABC/ABCSS. Mealtime is an opportunity to engage children in conversation about the day and themselves. Therefore, ABC staff shall participate with the children during this time. Children shall be given an appropriate amount of time for meals and conversation.
13.16 Parents or guardians of children qualified as eligible for ABC services shall not be required to pay any fees or provide food or supplies during ABC program hours. This includes enrollment fees, field trip expenses or uniforms.
13.17 Electronic mail is a necessary means by which DCCECE communicates vital information to programs. All participating programs must maintain a working e-mail address which is checked daily. Applicable information shall be distributed to classroom staff by the program coordinator.

Credits

Adopted Oct. 26, 2012.
Current with amendments received through February 15, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credit for details.
Ark. Admin. Code 005.24.1-13, AR ADC 005.24.1-13
End of Document