Child Development Division
| Subject: Change to Definition of Three-year-old and Four-year-old for California State Preschool Programs | Number: 12–15 |
Authority: Senate Bill 1016 (Chapter 38, Statutes of 2012) |
Date: August 2012 Expires: June 30, 2013 |
Attention: Executive Officers and Program Directors of California State Preschool Programs
Purpose
This Management Bulletin (MB) is to provide information on the change to the definition of a California State Preschool Program (CSPP) eligible three- and four-year-old child. Additionally, this MB provides clarification on children who are CSPP age eligible for the 2012–13 fiscal year.
Authority
Senate Bill (SB) 1016 (Chapter 38, Statutes of 2012) amended California Education Code (EC) sections 8208(ai) and (aj) changing the definition for three- and four-year-olds who are eligible to be enrolled in the CSPP.
Policy
Effective July 1, 2012, the definitions of CSPP eligible three- and four-year-old children are as follows:
- "Three-year-old children” are children who will have their third birthday on or before the date specified below, in the fiscal year in which they receive services in a CSPP.
- November 1 of the 2012–13 fiscal year
- October 1 of the 2013–14 fiscal year
- September 1 of the 2014–15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter
- "Four-year-old children” are children who will have their fourth birthday on or before the date specified below, in the fiscal year in which they receive services in a CSPP.
- November 1 of the 2012–13 fiscal year
- October 1 of the 2013–14 fiscal year
- September 1 of the 2014–15 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter
Directive
Beginning July 1, 2012, for the current fiscal year, contractors will enroll, in accordance with admission priorities specified in EC Section 8236, only CSPP age eligible children as follows:
- A “CSPP eligible four-year-old” is a child, regardless of their chronological age, who will have their fourth birthday on or before November 1, 2012. This is a child whose birthdate is between November 2, 2007, and November 1, 2008.
- A “CSPP eligible three-year-old” is a child, regardless of their chronological age, who will have their third birthday on or before November 1, 2012. This is a child whose birthdate is between November 2, 2008, and November 1, 2009. Children who turn three between November 2, 2012, and December 2, 2012, are no longer eligible for CSPP.
It is permissive, when developmentally appropriate, for a CSPP eligible three-year-old child receiving services in a toddler setting to remain in a general child care and development program contract (CCTR) until the day before their third birthday. These children are eligible for reimbursement using the toddler adjustment factor as long as they are being served in a classroom staffed pursuant to California Code of Regulation, Title 5 (5 CCR), Section 18290(b).
Kindergarten eligible children, as described in EC Section 48000(a), who were receiving full-day services as a CSPP eligible four-year-old on or before June 30, 2012, may remain in a CSPP until the child starts kindergarten, but no later than September 30, 2012.
If a contractor has enrolled a child that is not CSPP age eligible, as described above, the contractor:
- May
transfer the child’s enrollment to their CCTR contract if they are able to cover the cost of care for this child; or
- If not able to do so, issue a Notice of Action (NOA)-Termination of Services pursuant to 5 CCR, sections 18095 and 18119. Contractors must, however, adhere to the continuity of care provisions outlined in EC Section 8263(c) by attempting to transfer a child’s enrollment to another child development program for which the family is eligible, prior to the disenrollment date on the NOA.
Transitional Kindergarten
Contractors are reminded that all school districts are required to offer transitional kindergarten (TK) to children who turn five on or between November 2 and December 2 of this school year.
- These children also meet the definition of a CSPP eligible four-year-old, and therefore may be eligible to receive CSPP services.
- Families of children who are eligible for both CSPP and TK may choose the most appropriate program for their child. A family can enroll their child in both programs; however, a child shall not be enrolled in both programs for the same time period on the same day.
- A child who is only enrolled in TK, and whose family needs before or after school services, can be enrolled in a CCTR or Alternative Payment program. A CSPP contractor cannot provide before or after school services.
Questions regarding the information in this MB should be addressed to your Child Development Field Services Consultant or by phone at 916-322-6233.
This Management Bulletin is mandatory only to the extent that it cites a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement. Any portion of this Management Bulletin that is not supported by a specific statutory and/or regulatory requirement is not prescriptive pursuant to California Education Code Section 33308.5.
