GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1997

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 947

Short Title:  Mobile Preschool Program Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives R. Hunter; and Bonner.

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Referred to:  Appropriations.

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April 15, 1997

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE MCSMILES PROGRAM, A MOBILE PRESCHOOL PROGRAM FOR PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS.
Whereas, in the years before the McSmiles Mobile Classroom was implemented in McDowell County, there was the concern that many of the children in the county were coming to school with poor backgrounds in social and preschool readiness; and
Whereas, kindergarten teachers were having to teach basic preparatory skills in language development, gross and fine motor skills, visual and auditory development, and social skills; and
Whereas, in an effort to make each child feel safe and secure and good about himself or herself so that the child would be able to move forward toward full potential according to the child's stage of readiness, McDowell County implemented the McSmiles Program; and
Whereas, the McSmiles Program is based on a nationally validated diffusion program designed to prevent school failure through early intervention of children's developmental skills and learning styles; and
Whereas, the McSmiles Program uses a teacher and a teacher assistant on a retired school bus refurbished similar to a classroom to bring the program to the children and their parents in their communities; and
Whereas, because of the McSmiles Program, children are coming to kindergarten eager to learn, eager to participate in small and large group activities, and eager to read and write; and
Whereas, the McSmiles Program involves the parents and the communities in preparing their four-year-olds for kindergarten; and
Whereas, the McSmiles Program allows for health and other needed services to be identified and appropriate referrals made; and
Whereas, the McSmiles Program was recognized as one of six innovative programs in the country by "Community Solutions for Education 1994 Resource Guide”published for The Coalition on Educational Initiatives by USA TODAY; and
Whereas, children throughout the State would benefit from a McSmiles Program based on the McDowell County McSmiles Program; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to State Aid to Local School Administrative Units the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) for the 1997-98 fiscal year and the sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) for the 1998-99 fiscal year for teachers and teacher assistants to implement a Mobile Classroom Instructional Laboratory for Educational Success Program (the McSmiles Program).  All other costs of the McSmiles Program shall be met with non-State funds.
The McSmiles Program shall be a mobile preschool program for all unserved four-year-old children in the State, which is based on the McSmiles Program in McDowell County.  The goal of the program shall be to prevent school failure through early identification of developmental needs and learning styles of preschool children.
Section 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1997.