Preschool for All
Implementation Manual
February 2016
(Rev. September 2016)
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
ISBE Position Statement ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Law ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Priority Populations............................................................................................................................................................. 5
History ................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Preschool for All Key Points ................................................................................................................................................ 7
Acronym Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................... 9
Recruitment, Enrollment & Records ........................................................................................................................... 12
Child Find, Recruitment & Outreach ................................................................................................................................. 12
Screening ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Initial Evaluations for Special Education ........................................................................................................................... 13
Eligibility Criteria ............................................................................................................................................................... 13
Residency .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Age .................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Birth Certificates ............................................................................................................................................................... 14
Homeless Status ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Child Welfare Involvement ............................................................................................................................................... 16
Immigrants or Refugees .................................................................................................................................................... 16
Children’s Records............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 17
Children with Disabilities............................................................................................................................................ 18
Recommended Practices................................................................................................................................................... 18
Initial Eligibility .................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Inclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Educational Environment Codes ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Early Childhood Outcomes System ................................................................................................................................... 19
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 20
English Learners ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Identification and ELP Screening of EL Students ............................................................................................................... 21
Establishment of Programs ............................................................................................................................................... 22
Program Models ................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Parent Notification ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
EL Teacher Certification .................................................................................................................................................... 23
TBE/TPI Program Director ................................................................................................................................................. 23
Kindergarten Placement ................................................................................................................................................... 24
Professional Development ................................................................................................................................................ 24
Program Funding ............................................................................................................................................................... 24
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
The Early Learning Environment ................................................................................................................................. 25
Physical Environment ........................................................................................................................................................ 25
Interest Centers ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Sample Classroom Floor Plan ............................................................................................................................................ 28
Gross Motor Environment ................................................................................................................................................ 29
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
Schedule .................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Schedule Components ...................................................................................................................................................... 30
Sample Daily Schedules ..................................................................................................................................................... 31
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 32
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Early Learning Curriculum & Assessment .................................................................................................................... 33
Best Practices for the PFA Classroom ............................................................................................................................... 33
Field Trips .......................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Assessment ....................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Portfolios ........................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Lesson Plans ...................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Common Core and IELDS .................................................................................................................................................. 36
Technology ........................................................................................................................................................................ 36
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 36
Social Emotional Learning .......................................................................................................................................... 38
SEL Instruction................................................................................................................................................................... 38
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) Pyramid Model ................................ 38
Relationships ..................................................................................................................................................................... 39
Positive Behavior............................................................................................................................................................... 39
Expulsion and Suspension ................................................................................................................................................. 39
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 39
Transition Plans ......................................................................................................................................................... 41
Transitioning into Preschool ............................................................................................................................................. 42
Transitioning into Kindergarten ........................................................................................................................................ 43
Individualized Transition Plans.......................................................................................................................................... 43
Collaboration between Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Teachers .............................................................................. 44
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 44
Parent & Family Involvement ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Communication ................................................................................................................................................................. 45
Defining Family Involvement ............................................................................................................................................ 45
Engaging Families .............................................................................................................................................................. 45
ISBE Family Engagement Framework:............................................................................................................................... 46
Indicators of Family Involvement...................................................................................................................................... 46
Family Involvement Records ............................................................................................................................................. 47
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 47
Community Collaboration .......................................................................................................................................... 48
Memorandum of Understanding ...................................................................................................................................... 48
Collaboration ..................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Community Systems Development ................................................................................................................................... 49
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 49
Personnel ................................................................................................................................................................... 50
Professional Staff .............................................................................................................................................................. 50
Special Education .............................................................................................................................................................. 50
English Learner Licensure.................................................................................................................................................. 50
TBE/TPI Program Director ................................................................................................................................................. 51
Noncertified Staff .............................................................................................................................................................. 51
Parent Program Noncertified Personnel ........................................................................................................................... 51
Administrators .................................................................................................................................................................. 51
Sample Job Descriptions ................................................................................................................................................... 52
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 54
Professional Development ......................................................................................................................................... 55
Professional Development Resources............................................................................................................................... 55
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 56
Budget, Financial and Reporting ................................................................................................................................. 57
Illinois State Board of Education Web Application System ............................................................................................... 57
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Project Timeline ................................................................................................................................................................ 57
Joint Agreement/Cooperatives ......................................................................................................................................... 57
Licensed Sites or Exempt Sites .......................................................................................................................................... 57
Budget Considerations ...................................................................................................................................................... 57
Supplement vs. Supplant .................................................................................................................................................. 58
Budget Detail Page ............................................................................................................................................................ 58
Payment Schedule ............................................................................................................................................................. 61
Expenditure Reports ......................................................................................................................................................... 61
Excess Cash on Hand ......................................................................................................................................................... 62
Final Expenditure Reports ................................................................................................................................................. 62
Carryover/Return of Funds ............................................................................................................................................... 63
Amendments ..................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Outstanding Obligations ................................................................................................................................................... 63
Requests for Additional Funding ....................................................................................................................................... 63
Record Retention .............................................................................................................................................................. 64
Financial Audit/Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................... 64
Student Information System: Early Childhood Data ......................................................................................................... 64
Data Elements ................................................................................................................................................................... 65
Student Health Data .......................................................................................................................................................... 65
Employment Information System ..................................................................................................................................... 65
Program Accountability .............................................................................................................................................. 66
Tips for Compliance Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................... 66
Initial Continuous Quality Improvement Plan................................................................................................................... 66
Follow-Up CQIP ................................................................................................................................................................. 66
Coaching ............................................................................................................................................................................ 66
Program Self-Evaluation.................................................................................................................................................... 67
ExceleRate Information ..................................................................................................................................................... 67
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 68
Preschool Expansion Grant ......................................................................................................................................... 69
Requirements .................................................................................................................................................................... 69
Active Recruitment ........................................................................................................................................................... 71
Priority Factors .................................................................................................................................................................. 72
Documentation/evidence of priority selection factors..................................................................................................... 72
Waiting List........................................................................................................................................................................ 73
Reserving Slots .................................................................................................................................................................. 73
Establishing Referral Relationships ................................................................................................................................... 73
Comprehensive Family Services ........................................................................................................................................ 74
Family Engagement ........................................................................................................................................................... 75
Staffing .............................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Salary Parity ...................................................................................................................................................................... 76
Sample Schedule ............................................................................................................................................................... 76
Additional Resources ........................................................................................................................................................ 77
Preschool for All Implementation Manual Evaluation ................................................................................................. 79
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