Kentucky Department of Education : Preschool/Primary

Preschool/Primary

Preschool/Primary

Published: 8/30/2017 10:44 AM

Use the links to the left to find more information about the preschool and primary programs in Kentucky.

Announcing Kentucky All STARS

Kentucky All STARS is Kentucky’s expanded five-star quality rating and improvement system for early care and education programs. Studies show that children who attend high quality early learning environments have better math, language and social skills. The unified system serves all early care and education programs that receive public funding including child care centers, Head Start and public preschool. Kentucky All STARS is based on Kentucky’s Early Childhood Standards and research-based indicators of quality. It recognizes programs that have made a commitment to continuous quality improvement. On the path toward higher quality, programs can benefit from supports including training, technical assistance and coaching.

Kentucky All STARS Site List

To learn more about Kentucky All STARS and to read the Standards of Quality, click here.

Preschool

Kentucky's preschool education programs are available for all four-year-old children whose family income is no more than 160% of poverty; all three and four-year-old children with developmental delays and disabilities, regardless of income; and other four-year- old children as placements are available based on district decision.

The preschool program is designed to be developmentally appropriate for young children. "Developmentally appropriate" is defined in law to mean that the program focuses on the child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development, including interpersonal, intrapersonal, and socialization skills.

Primary

Kentucky's primary program is that part of the elementary school program in which children are enrolled from the time they begin school until they are ready to enter the intermediate program (fourth grade). The primary program includes the following critical attributes: continuous progress; developmentally appropriate educational practices; authentic assessment; multiage and multiability classrooms; qualitative reporting methods; professional teamwork; and positive parent involvement.

Student Placement in the Primary Program

Placement of students has always been at the discretion of the local district, provided they can assure they are meeting the child’s developmental needs. Through KRS 158.031, districts may advance students through the primary program when it is in the best educational interest of the child. The process districts must follow is identified in 702 KAR 7:125 Section 7 (2) (a through d), and it applies to students who are at least five but less than six years of age. The principal/school district always has the final decision on student placement (KRS 158.140) and there is no statutory or regulatory provision for an appeal process. More guidance may be found in the Student Placement guidance document.

Karen Kidwell
Office of Teaching and Learning

Division of Program Standards
300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-2106

Fax (502) 564-9848

karen.kidwell@education.ky.gov

Preschool/Primary

Primary

Student Placement in the Primary Program

​Early Childhood Single Topic Webcast

Preschool Links of Interest

Primary Links of Interest​

Early Childhood Single Topic Webcast

Primary Links of Interest