(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program’ means the program for which the Department of Early Learning and Care allocates, awards and monitors state funds to provide comprehensive health, education and social services to children and their parents or other key family members, at any time beginning with prenatal care and continuing until the children enter kindergarten, in order to maximize the potential of those children prior to kindergarten entry.

(b) ‘Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program’ means entities that use grants received under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program to provide services through the program, in compliance with requirements prescribed by the Early Learning Council and the Department of Early Learning and Care.

(2) The Department of Early Learning and Care shall administer the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program to assist eligible children with comprehensive services including educational, social, health and nutritional development to enhance their chances for success in school and life. Eligible children, upon request of a parent or guardian, may be admitted to receive services from providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program to the extent that the Legislative Assembly provides funds.

(3)(a) In administering the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program, the department shall adopt a funding formula and methodology that will ensure that providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program offer high-quality services, including prenatal care and other services, to eligible children and their families.

(b) Until the children enter kindergarten, services may be provided under this section to pregnant women and families with children who are not participating in a federal, state or local program providing comprehensive services and who qualify for eligibility under the federal Head Start program.

(4)(a) Nonsectarian organizations, including school districts and Head Start grantees, are eligible to compete for funds to become providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program.

(b)(A) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program shall serve children eligible according to federal Head Start guidelines and other children who meet criteria of eligibility adopted by rule by the Early Learning Council.

(B) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program may serve children not described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, but not more than 20 percent of the total enrollment with a provider shall consist of children who do not meet federal Head Start guidelines.

(c) School districts may contract with other governmental or nongovernmental nonsectarian organizations to conduct a portion of the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program.

(d) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program may accept gifts, grants and other funds for the purposes of this section.

(5) Applicants shall identify how they will serve the target population and provide all components as specified in the federal Head Start performance standards and guidelines, including staff qualifications and training, facilities and equipment, transportation and fiscal management.

(6) Applicants shall identify how they will provide, at a minimum, the annual number of instructional hours required under performance guidelines and standards of the federal Head Start programs.

(7) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program shall provide lead teachers and teaching assistants with a salary that meets the minimum salary requirements established by the Early Learning Council.

(8) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program must demonstrate an ability to maximize all available federal, state and local funds.

(9) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program shall coordinate with each other and with federal Head Start programs to ensure efficient delivery of services and prevent overlap. Providers shall also work with local organizations such as local education associations serving young children and make the maximum use of local resources.

(10) Providers under the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten Program shall coordinate services with other services provided through the Oregon Early Learning System. The coordination of services must be consistent with federal and state law.

(11)(a) The governing body of a recipient of grant funds under this section shall be subject to ORS § 192.610 to 192.705 but is subject to ORS § 192.311 to 192.478 only:

(A) With respect to records created at a meeting of the governing body, minutes of a meeting of a governing body or records presented at a meeting of the governing body; or

(B) As otherwise provided by law other than this subsection.

(b) As used in this subsection, ‘governing body’ means a board or other entity of two or more persons who are authorized to make decisions with respect to a recipient or who are authorized to advise or make recommendations to a governing body of the recipient. [Formerly 326.605; 2001 c.831 § 16; 2012 c.37 § 87; 2013 c.282 1,2; 2013 c.624 5,6; 2019 c.646 § 3; 2021 c.631 § 27; 2023 c.547 1,2 ]

[Formerly 326.610; repealed by 2001 c.831 § 30]