1.Program established.
The First 4 ME Early Care and Education Program is established under the department to provide funding to projects in order to achieve efficiencies, create opportunities and improve social, emotional, educational and health outcomes for children under 6 years of age and the children's families through the provision of comprehensive, high-quality early child care and education by funding a holistic, whole family approach that integrates comprehensive resources and services into traditional child care center and family child care settings that improve outcomes for children, families and early childhood educators.
2.Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
3.Application requirements
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1.
Program established.
The First 4 ME Early Care and Education Program is established under the department to provide funding to projects in order to achieve efficiencies, create opportunities and improve social, emotional, educational and health outcomes for children under 6 years of age and the children's families through the provision of comprehensive, high-quality early child care and education by funding a holistic, whole family approach that integrates comprehensive resources and services into traditional child care center and family child care settings that improve outcomes for children, families and early childhood educators.
2.
Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
3.
Application requirements.
A community contactor shall submit an application for approval by the department to establish a project. An application for a project must include:
4.
Project components.
Project components must include the following:
5.
Participant eligibility.
A participant in a project must be a child who is at risk and:
6.
Suspension; expulsion.
In accordance with rules issued by the department, if a child's behavior threatens the health or safety of a participant, project staff member or other person, a project must follow the suspension and expulsion procedures under 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1302.17.
7.
Community coalition; membership.
A community coalition shall assist and support a community contractor in sponsoring, developing and submitting a project application under subsection 3, including a community assessment and supporting comprehensive, high-quality early child care and education in the community. Membership of a community coalition must include the community contractor, who is the lead member of the community coalition, and at least one:
8.
Community contractor.
A community contractor shall have adequate infrastructure and qualified and credentialed staff to carry out the duties under this subsection. Duties of a community contractor include:
9.
Community contractor staff requirements.
Community contractor staff requirements include:
10.
Community provider.
A community provider:
11.
Community coach.
The community contractor shall employ or contract with a community coach to provide information and training to a community provider. A community coach must receive training from a research-based early childhood program with experience in a comprehensive, high-quality early child care and education program.
12.
Consent to data.
A community provider or community contractor may not use personally identifying data derived from services provided to a participant without the consent of a participant's parent. A community provider or community contractor may not use the personally identifying data derived from services provided to the family of a participant without the consent of the parent.
13.
Funding.
The department shall seek and apply for available federal funds or funds from any other sources to pay the costs of projects. To the maximum extent possible, the department shall use state funds received for the projects to maximize its receipt of federal funds to be used for the projects. A community coalition may accept grant funding or other funding as appropriate from the Federal Government, a department, agency or office of State Government or a political subdivision of State Government or a private entity such as an individual, foundation or business.
14.
Administration.
The department may design program implementation in consultation with an independent evaluator that has experience or expertise in early care and education. In determining program outcomes and measures, the department shall craft guidelines to ensure the development of a common set of measures of core elements of evidence-based practices. Outcome data must include reports on specific subpopulations of children, including by gender, race, disability and dual language learners. The department and the Children's Cabinet established in Title 5, section 19131 shall facilitate data linkages relating to outcome data with the Department of Education to measure ongoing school outcome data.
15.
Rules.
The department may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.