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 |