21st Century Community    Learning Centers Administrative Services Adult Education & Literacy    GED/Displaced Homemaker Bilingual & Language Acquisition Child Nutrition & Food Distribution Coordinated School Health Credentialing/Paraprofessional Even Start Management Information Systems Native American Education School Approval & Accreditation School Finance & Organization School Technology Section 504 Special Education Standards & Achievement Supplemental Programs Testing & Assessment Title 1 Programs ND School for the Blind ND School for the Deaf ND State Library	Skip Navigation
	Early Childhood Education
	The State Title I office has developed this webpage to provide schools, districts, and other interested parties with guidance on the topic of early childhood education as well as to provide resources on the topic. Providing high-quality early childhood experiences can help ensure that children have the foundation to meet academic standards and experience success throughout their education process. Several studies demonstrate the powerful effects of high-quality early childhood programs on children’s later academic success.
	Preschool Programming
	The State Title I office has also created the Guidance on Operating a Title I Preschool Program document that contains information on Title I preschools in a question and answer format. Some of the questions addressed in this guidance include: What is a Title I preschool program? How would Title I funds be used to fund a Title I preschool program? What is taught in a Title I preschool program? What qualifications would the teachers and aides/paraprofessionals in a Title I preschool program need? Guidance on Operating a Title I Preschool Program North Dakota Early Learning Guidelines Serving Preschool Children Under Title I – Non-Regulatory Guidance, March 4, 2004, is a document from the U.S. Department of Education, that provides the rationale for using Title I funds for preschool services, identifies the components of a quality preschool program, and addresses many of the administrative issues that often arise when implementing a Title I preschool program. Serving Preschool Children Under Title I - Non-Regulatory Guidance Serving Preschool Children Under Title I - Non-Regulatory Guidance Word Doc In May 2008, the Department of Public Instruction, through the state Title I office, surveyed the public school districts in North Dakota offering preschool programming in the state. The link below will connect you to a compilation of the schools’ reported responses to that survey. Title I End-of-Year Preschool Survey Title I Preschool Survey Results 2007-2008 Monitoring Title I Preschool Programs Title I Preschool Monitoring Tool
	Full-day Kindergarten Programming
	In October 2006, the Department of Public Instruction, through the State Title I office, surveyed all public school districts in North Dakota to gather data on kindergarten programming in the state. The link below will connect you to a compilation of the schools’ reported responses to that survey. Kindergarten Survey Results The State Title I office developed a Title I Guidance document which includes information on how schools can implement an extended full-day kindergarten program in a Title I Targeted Assistance School, a Title I Schoolwide School, or with a Title I program using Reading First funds. State Title I Guidance The State Title I office has compiled a resource document which provides a summary of research, articles, and resources to support full-day/every day kindergarten programs. Early childhood education, which includes extended kindergarten and preschool, are key initiatives in the No Child Left Behind law. This resource is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of early initiatives to encourage more schools and districts to implement these kinds of programs. Summary of Research of Full Day Kindergarten Programming
	Other early Childhood Education Initiatives
	The North Dakota Reading First webpage includes information on Reading First regulations as well as guidance on implementing a Reading First program. Reading First is an ambitious national initiative to ensure that all students know how to read well by the end of third grade. The program is designed to select, implement, and provide professional development for teachers using scientifically based reading programs; to implement effective methods and instructional strategies in the classroom based on scientifically based reading research; and to ensure accountability through ongoing, valid and reliable screening, diagnostic, and classroom based instructional assessments. North Dakota Reading First The U.S. Department of Education has a website called Prepare My Child For School: Early Childhood Education, which contains information on the early childhood initiative, early childhood education programs, and parent programs. Follow this link to the U.S. Department of Education website The document Every Student, Every Day – A Success; Superintendent’s Initiative: Ready for School developed by the Oregon Department of Education, has information on full-day and extended-day kindergarten programs, how to fund these programs, and information on different federal programs Every Student, Every Day - A Success; Superintendent's Initiative: Ready for School The U.S. Department of Education also has a link to Early Reading First, which is a federally funded program for pre-school children. The overall purpose of the Early Reading First Program is to prepare young children to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success. Federal funds are awarded competitively to local programs that show they will enhance young children's language and cognitive development by providing high-quality instruction and ongoing professional development, based on scientifically based research. Early Reading First The North Dakota Head Start Collaboration Office has a website with a wealth of information on early childhood education. Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs, serving children from birth to age five, expectant mothers, and families. The overall goal of Head Start is to increase the social competence of children in low-income families and children with disabilities, and to improve the chances of their success in school. North Dakota Head Start The North Dakota Special Education webpage offers a link at the top of their home page with additional information on early childhood services for students with special needs. North Dakota Special Education The family is the strongest element in shaping lives. It's the most powerful support network there is. The Even Start program represents an innovative combination of programs for adult basic education, parenting education, and early childhood education. Even Start
	Additional Resources
	All links in this section are links to external websites. NDPIRC http://ndstatepirc.org Good Start, Grow Smart The Bush Administration’s Early Childhood Initiative http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/earlychildhood/toc.html National Center for Early Development and Learning http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~ncedl/ Teaching Our Youngest A Guide for Preschool Teachers and Child Care and Family Providers U.S. Department of Education http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/early/teachingouryoungest/index.html Using Individually Appropriate Instruction in Preschool International Reading Association http://www.reading.org/publications/bbv/books/bk535/abstracts/bk535-2-Venn.htm The State of Preschool: 2005 State Preschool Yearbook National Institute for Early Education Research http://nieer.org/yearbook/ New Position Statement Responds to Early Literacy Pressures International Reading Association http://www.reading.org/publications/reading_today/samples/RTY-0504-position.html Study: Full-Day Kindergarten Boosts Academic Performance By Deb Viadero (2002) Reading Rockets http://www.readingrockets.org/article/305 Foundation for Child Development http://www.fcd-us.org/ National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org/ National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center www.nectac.org
	If you have questions regarding this issue, please contact one of the following:
	Laurie Matzke State Title I Director Department of Public Instruction 600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept 201 Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Phone: (701) 328-2284 Fax: (701) 328-4770 Email: lmatzke@nd.gov	Gail Schauer Department of Public Instruction 600 E Boulevard Ave., Dept 201 Bismarck, ND 58505-0440 Phone: (701) 328-2285 Fax: (701) 328-4770 E-mail: gschauer@nd.gov

Home    |    Programs & Services    |    Resources    |    Grants    |    State Standards    |    Education Legislation

Administrative Rules    |    Links    |    Frequently Asked Questions    |    Site Map

This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher

Visit the Adobe website for PDF accessibility tools.

Send mail to dpi@nd.gov if you have any questions or comments.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Dr. Wayne G. Sanstead, State Superintendent 600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201 Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440 701/328-2260 Disclaimer Statement