10A NCAC 09 .3002         FACILITY REQUIREMENTS

(a)  Programs serving NC Pre-K children shall maintain a four-or five-star rated license in accordance with G.S. 110-90(4) and Section .3200 of this Chapter.

(b)  NC Pre-K programs that have earned a four-or five-star rated license using the program assessment licensure pathway or the classroom instructional quality licensure pathway in Rules .3203 and .3205 of this Chapter shall have an assessment completed every three years using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Third Edition assessment tool. Classrooms that score below 5.0 shall be reassessed the following year and a minimum score of 5.0 must be achieved in order to continue to be approved as a NC Pre-K site. At least one NC Pre-K classroom shall be selected for an assessment during the reassessment process. NC Pre-K programs that have earned a four-or five-star rated license using the accreditation and Head Start licensure pathway in Rule .3207 of this Section are not required to have an assessment and shall instead comply with standards set forth by those organizations regarding program quality standards.

(c)  During the NC Pre-K day, classrooms serving NC Pre-K children shall provide outdoor time, either as part of a small group, whole group, or individual activity, for no less than 45 minutes per day when weather conditions permit as defined in Rule .0102 of this Chapter.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 110-85; 110-88; S.L. 2011-145, s. 10.7(a); S.L. 2024-34;

Eff. November 1, 2012;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2017;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2025.