General

Pre-kindergarten Initiative in 2013-14:
First Class Pre-K: Alabama’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program

State agency with administrative authority over pre-K:
Office of School Readiness in the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs under the Governor’s Office1

Availability of program:
67 out of 67 counties/parishes (100%)

Are districts, counties, or towns in Alabama required to offer this pre-kindergarten initiative?
No, competitive

Hours of operation per day:
School day, 6.5

Is there a formal partnership at the state level to provide extended day services through collaboration with other agencies and programs?
No

Enrollment

Fall 2013, Total children:
5,505

Fall 2011, by age:
5,505 4-year-olds

Fall 2011, by type of administering agency:
Public schools, 2,920; Nonpublic schools, 2,585

Program enrollment, Fall 2013, by operating schedule:
School day, 5,5052

Eligibility

Minimum age for eligibility:
4 by September 1

Maximum age for eligibility:
5 by August 31

Kindergarten eligibility age:
5 by September 1

Does state policy allow any exceptions to the age requirement for prekindergarten or kindergarten eligibility?
No

State policy on enrolling children in state pre-K when they are eligible for kindergarten:
Children may not enroll in pre-K if they are age-eligible for kindergarten;

Aside from age, how is eligibility determined for individual children for this state prekindergarten initiative?
All age-eligible children in districts offering the program, or in the entire state, may enroll

What was the state-specified income requirement during the 2013-14 program year?
No income requirement

To whom, or to what percentage of children, does the income requirement apply?

Is there a sliding payment scale based on income?
Yes

Is child eligibility for this state prekindergarten initiative ever reassessed after a child has been enrolled in the program?
No

Risk Factors

Risk factors besides income that can be used to determine eligibility:
Not applicable

How many of the specified risk factors must be present for eligibility?
NA

How do these risk factors relate to the income cutoff for the state pre-K program?
No income requirement

Class Sizes

Maximum class size:
4-year-olds, 183

Staff-child ratio requirement:
4-year-olds, 1 to 103

Teachers

Minimum teacher degree requirement:
BA (public and nonpublic)

Required teacher certification, licensure, and/or endorsement:
Public: ECE (P-3); Nonpublic: CD (Pre-K)7

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 by percent:
BA, 76%; MA, 24%

Education level of teachers during 2011-12 totals:
BA, 234; MA, 76

Teacher in-service requirement:
30 clock hours per year

Minimum assistant teacher degree requirement:
CDA (public and nonpublic)

Assistant teacher specialized training requirement:
Public and nonpublic: CDA (Pre-K) ; 9 credits of college coursework in CD or EC (CD or EC)

Services

Meal requirement:
Lunch; Snack4

Support services for English Language Learners and families:
State policy does not regulate services for English Language Learners6

Support services required for all programs:
Parenting support or training; Parent involvement activities; Child health services; Transition to K activities; Parent conferences and/or home visits

Regulations

Screening and referral requirements:
Required: Vision; Hearing; Immunizations; Full physical exam; Developmental; Dental; Locally determined: Height/Weight/BMI; Blood pressure; Psychological/Behavioral; Other5

State’s early learning standards document in 2013-14.
Alabama Developmental Standards for Preschool Children

For more information about the early learning standards in 2013-14:
www.children.alabama.gov

Funding

Days per week the state prekindergarten initiative is funded to operate using state funds:
5 days per week

Annual operating schedule for this state-funded prekindergarten initiative:
Academic year

Actual fiscal year 2014 spending for this state prekindergarten initiative:
$35,822,672

All funding sources:
State, $23,604,115; Required local, $12,218,5578

State funding sources and amounts:
Education Trust Fund, $23,604,115

Federal funding sources and amounts:
None

Is funding for this state prekindergarten initiative determined by a school funding or state aid formula?
No

Agencies eligible to receive funding directly:
Public schools, Head Start, Private CC, Faith-based centers; Other settings: College/ University, Military Childcare, Community Agencies

Agencies with which subcontracting is permitted:
None

Is there a required local match for this program?
Yes8

Select a state program to view details.


Alabama Footnotes

  1. The State Office of School Readiness has administrative authority over the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program, however, the Governor’s office may override or approve decisions.
  2. Programs may offer extended day option but may not use state pre-K dollars for the program. The state does not collect data about which programs offer extended-day option.
  3. Head Start programs may apply for a waiver to have up to 20 children per classroom and a staff-child ratio of 1:10
  4. Breakfast is also offered by many programs, but not required.
  5. ASQ3 is used for developmental screening. Each child must have a physical and a health screening. The state does not collect the health data as in the past. Monitoring staff verifies that a physical and screenings have been completed and are on-site. Immunizations are required but state does allow for migrant, homeless, or other religious-based or health-based exceptions.
  6. Local providers develop ELL plans.
  7. All lead teachers are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Child Development. If they are certified teachers, they must have the P in their certification.
  8. While a 25 percent match is required from each program, the state’s reporting system does not reflect the source of the match.