CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Board of Education is seeking comment to state policy governing its preschool program. The board voted during its May meeting to place proposed updates on a 30-day public comment period.

Revisions to Policy 2525, West Virginia’s Universal Access to a Quality Early Education System would address the implementation of West Virginia's Universal Pre-K system by the 2012-2013 school year. 

The current policy focuses on designing and creating the system. However, beginning next school year, the revised policy will target implementation of the system and quality improvement within the system. The proposed changes improve the framework and create a new organizational structure for the policy. The revisions also highlight enrollment, eligibility, meals, transportation, environments, curriculum, and the county collaborative early childhood team. Other revisions include the annual requirements for county collaborative early childhood teams, ongoing program assessment and review, and increases to the minimum number of hours per week.

West Virginia has repeatedly received national accolades for its preschool programs, including being recognized by the Children’s Defense Fund as one of only 10 states and the District of Columbia to offer free full-day kindergarten. In addition, West Virginia students benefit from a progressive state law that established the Universal Pre-K system requiring universal preschool is available to all of the state’s 4-year-olds by the 2012-2013 school year. The law has boosted not only preschool enrollment but also kindergarten participation statewide. 

Educators, parents and community members are encouraged to review the policies and make suggestions. The policies can be viewed and comments can be submitted by logging onto the West Virginia Department of Education website at http://wvde.state.wv.us/policies.

For more information, contact the Office of Communications at (304) 558-2699.

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