W. Va. Code R. § 126-28-18

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Section 126-28-18 - Program Assessment and Continuous Quality Improvement

18.1. County collaborative early childhood teams will develop and maintain a continuous quality improvement process, (CQI process), which includes an annual plan for collecting and analyzing program assessment data to establish school readiness goals, assuring children have the best available resources prior to entering first grade. The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Process Guidance Manual is available to assist county collaborative early childhood teams in the selection of observational measurements, as well as provide information about the CQI process. The CQI process must minimally include annual program data results to determine intentional, sustained, and standards-focused professional learning opportunities and recommendations for county strategic plans. Annual data results must include:

18.1.a. County aggregated child outcome data; and

18.1.b. Classroom observation data from a research-based instrument.

18.2. The West Virginia Universal Pre-K Health and Safety Checklist must be completed annually in each WV Pre-K classroom within the first forty-five days of school for students. Results from each West Virginia Universal Pre-K Health and Safety Checklist must be electronically housed in an online platform provided by the WVDE.

18.3. Current research illustrates that coaching in early childhood programs is a high-yields practice that can produce more long-term quality outcomes than traditional professional learning alone. Head Start Performance Standards require research-based, coordinated coaching strategies for education staff. Therefore, for classrooms collaborative with Head Start, it is required that county collaborative early childhood teams implement a research-based universal pre-k coaching model that utilizes educator self-assessments and data to identify strengths and areas of needed support, as part of the CQI process. Further, it is recommended that all WV Pre-K classrooms include an effective pre-k coaching model as part of the CQI process to best support the individualized professional learning needs of education staff. Effective coaching models are inclusive of the following components:

18.3.a. coaches who have an early childhood background;

18.3.b. ongoing supports for coaches in implementation of the adopted coaching model;

18.3.c. alignment with the continuous quality improvement process to positively impact instructional strategies; and

18.3.d. a collaborative partnership between the coach and coachee, rather than a punitive process for educator.

18.4. The county board of education, in collaboration with county collaborative partners, is required to submit WV Pre-K program data to the WVDE Office of Early Learning annually. The WVDE Office of Early & Elementary Learning will compile the information and provide a summary report to the Secretary of WVDHHR and the State Superintendent of Schools. The WV Pre-K program data will include at a minimum:

18.4.a. program data verification, including classroom information, submitted annually by October 15;

18.4.b. a comprehensive WV Pre-K fiscal report submitted annually by October 15; and

18.4.c. verification of the annual collaborative contracts and budgets signed and filed at the local county board of education, noting collaborative WV Pre-K classrooms for the upcoming school year to continue to document maximization of resources through the collaborative model, submitted prior to the first day of children's attendance;

18.5. The WVDE, in collaboration with the WVDHHR and Head Start State Collaboration Office, will conduct a WV Pre-K Program Review at a minimum of once every three years.

18.5.a. The program review will consist of a desktop review, site-visits, and county collaborative team interviews. The purpose of the program review is to ensure counties continue to implement WV Pre-K programs in alignment with policy and to assist with each county's continuous quality improvement process within the comprehensive collaborative model. The program review will provide individualized technical assistance to county collaborative early childhood teams. The WVDE will provide guidance and procedures for completion of the program review.

18.5.b. A summary of the WV Pre-K Program Reviews will be provided annually to the WVBE.

18.6. The WVDE shall develop and institute a system of longitudinal, evidence-based research to track learner outcomes, family satisfaction, program continuity, and related variables in order to evaluate program impact, as funds become available. The system shall be designed in such a way to benefit on both county and state level and improve the quality of programming available for eligible children.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-28-18