Early Childhood Standards of Quality for ... - State of Michigan

Early Childhood Standards ofQuality for PrekindergartenIntroductionThis document stands on the shoulders of earlier efforts by the Michigan StateBoard of Education and its agency and organizational partners to definequality programs for young children and the learning that might be expected ofchildren at certain ages and stages. Several documents and initiatives were thedirect “parents” of this new document.• On November 5, 1986, the State Board of Education approved thedocument, Standards of Quality and Curriculum Guidelines for PreschoolPrograms for Four Year Olds. The purpose of that document was toprovide the framework for the design and implementation of a high-qualitypreschool program targeted to four year olds at-risk of school failure.• Recognizing the value and need for quality early childhood educationprograms for children four through eight years old, the Michigan StateBoard of Education appointed another committee to develop EarlyChildhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten Through SecondGrade, and adopted those standards on December 15, 1992. Althoughused broadly, many of the recommendations were most applicable topublic school districts because of the wide age range covered.• At about the same time, procedural safeguards and other rules wereadopted for Early Childhood Special Education (formerly Pre-PrimaryImpaired, PPI) classrooms.• In August 2002, the Michigan State Board of Education adopted thereport of its Task Force on Ensuring Early Childhood Literacy. The reportdirected the Department of Education to develop a single document,including expectations for young children’s development and learning,and quality standards defining programs that would allow them to reachthose expectations. It had become apparent that a document was neededthat focused on children ages three and four, and the programs that servethem. Additionally, varying program standards were making inclusionof targeted groups of children (e.g., children with disabilities) in someprograms difficult.• Further, emerging federal requirements for early childhood opportunitiesfor states also supported the need for a revision of the current documents.In January 2003, Michigan embarked on a journey to develop acomprehensive early childhood system, with the vision of “A Great Start forevery child in Michigan: safe, healthy, and eager to succeed in school and inlife.” This Great Start effort begins with a philosophic underpinning that everychild in Michigan is entitled to early childhood experiences and settings that willprepare him/her for success. As the systems work unfolded, it became clearthat expectations for young children’s learning and quality program standardsEarly Childhood Standards of Quality for Prekindergarten