There is established within the department of education an office of early learning. The office shall:
(1) Administer the pre-kindergarten classroom application process;
(2) Provide oversight, monitoring, technical assistance, coordination and training for pre-kindergarten classroom providers;
(3) Serve as a clearinghouse for information and best practices related to pre-kindergarten programs;
(4) Coordinate activities and promote collaboration with other departments of state government in developing and supporting pre-kindergarten programs;
(5) Review existing regulations and standards, and recommend needed changes, to promote a consistent approval, assessment and monitoring process for providers of pre-kindergarten programs established under §§ 49-6-103 – 49-6-110; and
(6) Provide an annual report to the governor and the general assembly on the status of pre-kindergarten programs, which shall include, at a minimum, the number, location and types of providers of pre-kindergarten classrooms and the number of at-risk children served. The annual report shall be posted on the department of education, office of early learning website to provide public access to the report.
(7) [Deleted by 2021 amendment.]
