§407.92. Authorization of local early learning enrollment coordinators

A. Prior to authorizing local early learning enrollment coordinators, the state board shall:

(1) Provide the governing authority of each public school system and each early learning center, nonpublic school which provides publicly funded early childhood services, and Head Start grantee located within the geographic boundaries of the public school system with an assessment of the extent to which these providers of early childhood services coordinate their efforts to:

(a) Inform families about the availability of publicly funded and Type III licensed early childhood care and education programs serving students four years of age or younger.

(b) Coordinate enrollment, eligibility criteria, and waiting lists to ensure that families are referred to other available publicly funded early childhood programs should they be ineligible for or unable to access their primary choice.

(c) Collect family preferences regarding enrollment choices for publicly funded and Type III licensed early childhood care and education programs.

(d) Enroll children who are economically disadvantaged, using available public funds, based upon stated family preferences.

(2) Provide public school systems, early learning centers, nonpublic schools, Early Head Start grantees, and Head Start grantees with a designated time period in which the local early enrollment coordination activities will be developed and implemented.

(3) Publish a list of public school systems within whose geographic boundaries there is no coordinated effort by the public school system and the early learning centers, nonpublic schools which provide publicly funded early childhood services, and Head Start grantees to:

(a) Inform families about the availability of publicly funded and Type III licensed early childhood care and education programs serving students four years of age or younger.

(b) Coordinate enrollment, eligibility criteria, and waiting lists to ensure that families are referred to other available publicly funded early childhood programs should they be ineligible for or unable to access their primary choice.

(c) Collect family preferences regarding enrollment choices for publicly funded and Type III licensed early childhood care and education programs.

(d) Enroll children who are economically disadvantaged, using available public funds, based upon stated family preferences.

(4) Provide public school systems, early learning centers, nonpublic schools, Early Head Start grantees, and Head Start grantees with a designated time period in which the local early enrollment coordination activities will be developed and implemented.

(5) Approve a process to authorize entities as local early learning enrollment coordinators to begin performing required services in the geographic boundaries of public school systems identified pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(6) Not certify any entity as a local early learning enrollment coordinator under this Section unless it is in compliance with procedures and regulations established by the state board. The entity shall be a state agency, a public school system, a nonprofit or for-profit corporation having an educational or social services mission, including but not limited to a nonprofit corporation of a philanthropic or policy nature, a Louisiana public postsecondary education institution, or a nonprofit corporation established by the governing authority of a parish or municipality.

(7) Review each proposed local early learning enrollment coordinator in a timely manner and determine whether each proposed local early learning enrollment coordinator complies with the law and rules and whether the proposal is valid, complete, and financially well-structured.

(8) Approve a process by which the department serves as the local early learning enrollment coordinator for those coverage areas without an approved entity.

(9) Promulgate rules establishing an appeals process and designating the department to oversee the process through which families and early learning centers have the opportunity to appeal decisions made by local early learning enrollment coordinators.

B.(1) The initial authorization of a local early learning enrollment coordinator shall be for a period up to five years.

(2) After the initial authorization period, the state board may grant renewal of authorization for additional periods of not less than three years nor more than five years after thorough review of the local early learning enrollment coordinator activities.

Acts 2014, No. 717, §1, eff. June 18, 2014; Acts 2018, No. 307, §1.