D.C. Code § 38-271.02: Administration of pre-k.

(a)

The OSSE shall oversee CBO pre-k education services, including:

(1)

All programs, including curricula;

(2)

All related state and federal early childhood programs;

(3)

Any licensure requirements;

(4)

Fiscal matters;

(5)

Funding to:

(A)

Maximize the use of federal funds and other resources;

(B)

Minimize inefficiencies and programmatic barriers;

(C)

Ensure that children are placed on the appropriate funding streams; and

(D)

Ensure that funds authorized by this chapter are used to supplement, not supplant, other funding sources that finance education programs for children of pre-k age;

(6)

The alignment and monitoring of standards and teaching practices between pre-k and grades kindergarten through 3rd grade; and

(7)

The implementation of an external evaluation of all pre-k programs, including the measurement of progress toward school-readiness benchmarks.

(b)

The OSSE shall:

(1)

Coordinate with the Interagency Collaboration and Services Integration Commission, established by § 2-1594, to ensure that eligible families can access coordinated support services for their children of pre-k age;

(2)

In regard to pre-k programs in public schools and public charter schools, consult with local education agencies and the Public Charter School Board, established by § 38-1802.14, to ensure that the goals of this chapter are met;

(3)

Establish facilities requirements for classroom expansion and quality improvement, to be utilized by the Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization, established by § 38-451 [repealed], to complete the capital improvements and renovation of facilities;

(4)

Develop high-quality content standards for all pre-k programs, which have been approved by the State Board of Education;

(5)

Develop and oversee a monitoring, assessment, and accountability process for all programs within the pre-k-education system;

(6)

Promulgate a process for pre-k programs that fail to attain the required high-quality standards by September 1, 2014, which may include:

(A)

A reduction or elimination of local funding;

(B)

Denial of licensure; or

(C)

Revocation of licensure;

(7)

Promulgate a quality-improvement process for pre-k programs that, after 2014, fail to maintain for a period of time, as determined by OSSE, the required high-quality standards, which may include:

(A)

Adherence to a quality-improvement plan;

(B)

A reduction or an elimination of local funding;

(C)

Denial of licensure; or

(D)

Revocation of licensure;

(8)

Develop and administer the technical assistance program across all pre-k education services.

(9)

Collect and disseminate to the public on an ongoing basis child and program data; and

(10)

Consider developing a sliding-fee scale for enrollment in pre-k of children whose family income is above 250% of the federal poverty guideline.

(c)

The OSSE shall not issue a license for a child-occupied facility located within 200 feet of a dry cleaning facility that uses perchloroethylene or n-propyl bromide as a cleaning agent for clothes or other fabrics. The 200-foot restriction shall not apply at a location where a child- occupied facility is applying for renewal of an existing license.