H1030 - 2016 Appropriations Act. (SL 2016-94)

Overview: Sec. 12B.5 of S.L. 2016-94 directs three initiatives pertaining to a child's transition from preschool to kindergarten as follows:

1. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in consultation with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and other agencies or organizations that administer, support, or study early childhood education, to collaborate on an ongoing basis, to develop and implement a statewide vision for early childhood education. The agencies must develop a comprehensive approach to early childhood education, birth through 3rd grade, create cross agency accountability, and consider the NC Pathways to Grade-Level Reading to monitor and measure success of early childhood education systems. The agencies and organizations must report their findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals resulting from the initiative, to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS Oversight) and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (Ed Oversight) as follows: an initial report must be made by January 1, 2017; a follow up report must be made by January 1, 2018; and subsequent reports may be made annually, on or before January 1, as needed.
2. Directs DHHS, in consultation with DPI, to recommend that both NC Pre-K teachers and preschool teachers in 4- and 5-star rated facility classrooms prepare a preschool-to-kindergarten transition plan for each child who receives assistance through the NC Pre-K program or the Child Care Subsidy Assistance Program transitioning to kindergarten. The transition plan must document the child's strengths and needs based on the 5 Goals and Developmental Indicator domains for children's developmental and learning progress. DHHS must report on the implementation of the transition plan, including findings, recommendations, and any legislative proposals, to the HHS Oversight and Ed Oversight committees on or before December 15, 2016. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this plan be utilized until such time as the standardized program to transition children from preschool to kindergarten is developed and implemented.
3. Directs DHHS, in consultation with DPI, to develop a standardized program to transition children from preschool to kindergarten that incorporates criteria set out in the section. DHHS must report on its development of the standardized transition program to the HHS Oversight and Ed Oversight committees on or before January 1, 2017.

This section became effective July 1, 2016.