704 KAR 3:420. Preschool associate
teachers.
RELATES TO: 156.160, 157.3175
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 156.070,
156.160, 157.3175
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS 156.160 authorizes the Kentucky Board of Education to promulgate administrative
regulations establishing standards which school districts shall meet in
student, program, service and operational performance. KRS 157.3175 authorizes
preschool education programs and authorizes that administrative regulations be
promulgated to establish eligibility criteria, program guidelines, and
standards for personnel. This administrative regulation establishes the
criteria for paraprofessional instructional personnel, including a
differentiated job description from certified teachers, qualifications for the
position, and responsibilities for certified personnel providing supervision of
preschool associate teachers.
Section 1. Definitions. (1)
"Curriculum oversight" means supervision of a preschool associate
teacher by a qualified professional.
(2) "Preschool associate
teacher" means a classified employee employed by a local school district
in a paraprofessional role to organize, manage and provide direct instruction
to children below primary school age under the supervision of a qualified
professional.
(3) "Qualified
professional" means a person who:
(a) Meets one (1) of the criteria
established in Section 3(2) of this administrative regulation; and
(b) Is responsible for the curriculum
in an early childhood classroom or program operated by a paraprofessional
preschool associate teacher.
Section 2. Role of a Preschool
Associate Teacher. (1) A local school district may employ a preschool associate
teacher to do the following:
(a) Manage the daily operation of
preschool classrooms or other early childhood programs:
(b) Provide direct instruction to
children based on identified skills:
(c) Assist in assessing the skills of
individual children;
(d) Assist in implementing individual
education programs (IEP's) of children with disabilities; and
(e) Provide parent information on
progress of individual children.
(2) A preschool associate teacher
shall receive at least weekly contact and consultation by a qualified
professional regarding the classroom, the curriculum and the teacher
performance standards in interdisciplinary early childhood education
established in 704 KAR 20:084.
(a) The qualified professional shall
determine a regular schedule for onsite visits and observation no less than
monthly and based on the skills and experience of the preschool associate
teacher. Additional onsite contact and consultation for individual children
with disabilities shall be provided as specified in the IEP.
(b) The activities of the preschool
associate teacher shall reflect the guidance of the professional assigned to
provide curriculum oversight.
Section 3. Qualifications. (1) A
preschool associate teacher shall hold one (1) of the following or its
equivalent as approved by the Department of Education:
(a) An associate degree with a
professional core of courses in early childhood education or child development;
(b) A child development associate
certificate conferred by the Council for Early Childhood Professional
Recognition; or
(c) A Kentucky vocational diploma for
preschool teacher.
(2) A local board may request
approval of a preschool associate teacher who has begun and is in the process
of completing a degree, diploma or certificate specified in subsection (1) of
this section.
(3) Curriculum oversight shall be
provided by an individual who meets one (1) of the following criteria:
(a) Holds certification or a
statement of eligibility for interdisciplinary early childhood education;
(b) Has been exempted by the Kentucky
Education Professional Standards Board from additional certification in order
to continue teaching in an early childhood position;
(c) Provided supervision to a
preschool Level III teachers under the interim requirements in 704 KAR 3:410
prior to the 1999-2000 school year; or
(d) Is qualified to serve on an
internship team for interns in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
pursuant to 704 KAR 20:690. (25 Ky.R. 2244; Am. 2986; eff. 6-7-99.)