updated 06/21/11...wl

Standards

Recommended Quality Standards of Program Practice for Maine public preschool programs are based on national research cited below and input from diverse early childhood groups and individuals throughout Maine.

In addition, these two rule chapters set the overall guidance for Maine schools in guiding program practice.

• § Chapter 125: BASIC APPROVAL STANDARDS: PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
• § Chapter 127: INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM, ASSESSMENT AND DIPLOMA       REQUIREMENT        
•  http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/05/chaps05.htm

The National Prekindergarten Center developed the Prekindergarten Policy Framework to provide local, state, and federal policymakers with research-based information on how to build high-quality programs.  Program standards can be found at http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~npc/framework/framework.cfm?section_num=7&subsection_num=1

The National Association of Elementary School Principals(www.naesp.org) endorses accreditation criteria for early childhood programs developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and professional standards developed by Head Start.  NAESP recommends that these criteria guide implementation of all programs, whether they are operated by schools or other community organizations.

Principal, May/June 2011: Why Pre-K Is Critical to Closing the Achievement Gap: High-quality, universal pre-K can impact the nation’s international ranking.
http://www.naesp.org/principal-mayjune-2011-early-childhood/why-pre-k-critical-closing-achievement-gap  

• The National Association for Education of Young Children: 
• Accreditation  Performance Criteria:  www.naeyc.org/torchinfo/
• NAEYC Recommended Class Size and Teacher Ratios:
   http://www.naeyc.org/files/academy/file/Teacher-Child_Ratio_Chart_9_16_08.pdf
•  Head Start Performance Standards:
  
  Head Start Child Outcomes Framework (PDF)

The National Institute for Early Education Research 

• http://nieer.org/about/
• NIEER has ten quality benchmarks, aligned with NAEYC and Head Start, to define each state’s progress towards achieving quality pre kindergarten experiences for all children. These benchmarks include:
• Curriculum Standards; Teacher Degree Requirement; Teacher Specialized Training; Assistant Teacher Degree Requirement; Teacher in-service requirement; Maximum Class Size; Staff-Child Ratios ;Screening/Referral ;Family Support Service; Nutrition.

American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/childcare.cfm

• The AAP offers pediatricians, caregivers/teachers, and parents resources, strategies, and opportunities to learn about and use effective health and safety practices to promote health, prevent disease, and improve the quality of the care provided to all children

QUALITY for ME is a Quality Rating System for early childhood community programs licensed through the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.  Any collaborating community partner involved in the delivery of public preschool must maintain a Step Four Rating        

QRS Application Manual

• Schools offering a public pre-k program in partnership with a community agency must submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by all involved parties, on a yearly basis.