Policy Analysis | October 2014
Pre-K Quality Standards in the South
As the evidence builds for the benefits of early childhood education, states are struggling to expand opportunities for 4-year-olds to participate in high quality programs. Program design, participation, and funding remain areas of consideration and concern for state policymakers. Further, the development of appropriate educational standards remains a top priority for Southern lawmakers.
2012-13 SLC Member State Pre-K Quality Standards
State and/or Program | Comprehensive early learning standards | Teacher has BA | Specialized training in pre-K | Assistant teacher has CDA or equivalent | At least 15 hrs/yr in-service | Class size 20 or lower | Staff- child ratio 1:10 or bett | Vision, hearing, health, and one support service | At least one meal | Site visits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Arkansas | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Florida | X | X | X | |||||||
Georgia | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
Kentucky | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Louisiana 8(g) | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
Louisiana LA4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
Louisiana NSECD | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Mississippi | ||||||||||
Missouri | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
North Carolina | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Oklahoma | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
South Carolina 4K | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
South Carolina CDEPP | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
Tennessee | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Texas | X | X | ||||||||
Virginia | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
West Virginia | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |