49.132 Community-based option for elementary school readiness.

530 words·~2 min read·/wi/chapter-49/49-132

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)Definitions. In this section:

(a)“Child care provider” means a provider licensed under s. 48.65 or certified under s. 48.651 .

(b)“Elementary school readiness program” means an instructional program that provides 4-year-old children with the social and cognitive skills to successfully transition to 5-year-old kindergarten in an elementary school setting.

(c)“School year” has the meaning given in s. 115.001

(13).

(2)Program. The department shall establish a community-based option for an elementary school readiness program under which a participating child care provider offers an elementary school readiness program to eligible children during the school year and receives funding from the department for each eligible child participating in the program.

(3)Eligibility.

(a)Child care providers. A child care provider is eligible to participate in the program under this section if the child care provider satisfies all of the following:

1. Is in compliance with all legal, financial, and regulatory requirements imposed by law or by department rule.

2. Demonstrates to the department that it will annually provide at least 437 hours of direct child instruction in elementary school readiness to children participating in the program.

3. Demonstrates to the department that, for purposes of the program under this section, it uses a curriculum that meets the department of public instruction’s model early learning standards.

4. By no later than February 1 of the preceding school year, notifies the department of its intent to participate in the elementary school readiness program under this section according to application requirements established by the department.

5. Does not have a contract with a school district to provide a 4-year-old kindergarten for the school year in which the child care provider intends to participate in the program.

(b)Children. A child is eligible to participate in the program under this section if all of the following apply:

1. The child is 4 years old on or before September 1 in the school year that the child proposes to participate in the program.

2. The child’s parent or guardian submits an application to participate in the program under this section, on a form prepared by the department, to a participating child care provider.

3. A participating child care provider has accepted the child’s application to attend the elementary school readiness program offered by the child care provider under this section.

(4)Participating child care providers; annual notice. Annually, by February 15, the department shall post on its website a list of all child care providers that have submitted a notice of intent to participate in the program under this section in the following school year. The department shall include all of the following for each participating child care provider:

(a)The name of the child care provider.

(b)The address at which the program under this section will be provided.

(c)The name of and contact information for the provider or an employee of the provider who can answer questions about a child participating in the program under this section at the child care provider.

(d)The number of spaces available with the child care provider for children participating in the program under this section.