NAC432A.430. Early care and education programs.

     1. Each facility, including, without limitation, a family home and a group home, shall have an early care and education program.

     2. Each facility described in subsection 1 shall develop a written assessment plan which is designed to, without limitation:

     (a) Identify the interests and needs of each child enrolled in the facility;

     (b) Describe the developmental and educational progress of each child enrolled in the facility who is not attending public or private elementary school;

     (c) Identify the need for and referral of a child enrolled in the facility for developmental screening and the referral of the child for diagnostic assessment, if appropriate;

     (d) Describe the methodology for developing curriculum for the children enrolled in the facility;

     (e) Adapt teaching practices and the environment to the children enrolled in the facility;

     (f) Facilitate the early care and education program required pursuant to subsection 1; and

     (g) Promote communication with the family of a child enrolled in the facility.

     3. In addition to the written assessment plan which is developed pursuant to subsection 2, each facility described in subsection 1 shall, within 3 months after a child enrolls in the facility, assess the child by use of, without limitation, portfolios, observations, checklists, rating scales and screening tools. Such an assessment must be repeated biannually thereafter to monitor and support the learning and development of each child enrolled in the facility.

     4. Each facility described in subsection 1 shall develop a written plan of curriculum for the children enrolled in the facility. The plan must:

     (a) Be made available for parental review;

     (b) Be prepared before the early care and education program becomes effective;

     (c) Be kept on file at the facility for at least 1 year;

     (d) Include a program of speaking and listening to English;

     (e) Integrate age appropriate key areas of instruction, including, without limitation, literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, creative expression and the arts, and health and safety;

     (f) Incorporate instruction, concepts and activities that foster the social, emotional, physical, linguistic and cognitive development of children; and

     (g) Provide for the involvement of parents of the children enrolled in the facility in learning activities at the facility and at home.

     5. Each facility described in subsection 1 shall provide materials and equipment to carry out the written plan of curriculum developed pursuant to subsection 4 that:

     (a) Reflect the lives of the children and the families of the children enrolled in the facility;

     (b) Reflect the diversity of the children in our society with regard to the gender, age, native language, ethnicity, culture and abilities of the children enrolled in the facility;

     (c) Provide for the safety of the children enrolled in the facility while being appropriately challenging for the children;

     (d) Encourage the children enrolled in the facility to explore, experiment and discover new information and ideas;

     (e) Promote action on the part of the children enrolled in the facility and interaction among the children enrolled in the facility;

     (f) Are organized in a manner which facilitates independent use of the materials and equipment by a child enrolled in the facility;

     (g) Are rotated to reflect changes in the curriculum and to accommodate the different interests and skill levels of the children enrolled in the facility;

     (h) Allow for a variety of uses; and

     (i) Accommodate the special needs of the children enrolled in the facility.

     [Bd. for Child Care, Child Care Facilities Reg. part § 1.20 & §§ 16.1-16.4, eff. 2-28-80; § 16.5, eff. 2-28-80; A 2-5-82]—(NAC A 11-19-85; R203-97, 4-1-98; R032-07, 4-23-2009, eff. 10-23-2010)

Notation

REVISER’S NOTE.

      The regulation of the Board for Child Care filed with the Secretary of State on June 10, 1998 (LCB File No. R047-98), contains the following provisions not included in NAC regarding the amendment of this section by LCB File No. R203-97:

      “1.  A person who was approved before April 1, 1998, as:

      (a) Director of a facility for which a director is required other than an accommodation facility or a family or group home;

      (b) Director of a nursery for infants and toddlers;

      (c) Program director of a preschool; or

      (d) Director of a special needs facility,

Ê is not required to satisfy the amendatory provisions regarding the qualifications of directors set forth in LCB File No. R203-97, which was adopted by the Board for Child Care and was filed with the Secretary of State on April 1, 1998, so long as the person remains at the facility in that capacity.

      2.  If the person wishes to become director of a different facility or of a different program within his current facility, he must satisfy the amendatory provisions regarding the qualifications of directors set forth in LCB File No. R203-97, which was adopted by the Board for Child Care and was filed with the Secretary of State on April 1, 1998.”