100.3 Program requirements for students in grades prekindergarten through four.

(a) Prekindergarten and kindergarten programs in public schools and in voluntarily registered nonpublic schools.

(1) Each such school operating a prekindergarten or kindergarten program shall establish and provide an educational program based on and adapted to the ages, interests and needs of the children. Learning activities in such programs shall include:

(i) development of communication skills and exposure to literature;

(ii) dramatic play, creative art and music activities;

(iii) participation in group projects, discussion and games;

(iv) science and mathematical experiences;

(v) large muscle activities in prekindergarten and instruction in physical education in kindergarten pursuant to section 135.4(c)(2)(i) of this Title; and

(vi) instruction in health education for students in kindergarten pursuant to section 135.3(b) of this Title.

(2) Each such school operating a prekindergarten and/or kindergarten program shall establish and provide an early literacy program based on and adapted to the needs, ages and interests of the students. Elements of early literacy programs shall include, but not be limited to:

(i) use of reading to obtain meaning from print;

(ii) frequent and intensive opportunities to read for learning and for pleasure;

(iii) activities that teach regular spelling-sound relationships;

(iv) learning about the nature of the alphabetic writing system; and

(v) understanding the structure of spoken words.

(3) Each such school operating a prekindergarten or kindergarten program shall develop procedures to actively involve each child's parents or guardians in such programs.

(b) Program requirements in grades one through four.

(1) Required subjects. During grades one through four, all students shall receive instruction that is designed to facilitate their attainment of the State elementary learning standards in:

(i) mathematics, including arithmetic, science, and technology;

(ii) English language arts, including reading, writing, listening and speaking for purposes of information and understanding, literary response and expression, critical analysis and evaluation, and social interaction, with attention given to comprehension, vocabulary, word study, spelling, grammar, usage and punctuation;

(iii) social studies, including geography and United States history;

(iv) languages other than English, pursuant to section 100.2(d) of this Part;

(v) the arts, including visual arts, music, dance and theatre;

(vi) career development and occupational studies;

(vii) where student need is established, bilingual education and/or English as a second language; and

(viii) health education, physical education and family and consumer sciences.

(a) Instruction in health education shall be pursuant to section 135.3(b) of this Title.

(b) Instruction in physical education shall be pursuant to section 135.4(c)(2)(i) of this Title.

(2) Required academic tests.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, at the specified grade level, all students shall take the following tests, provided that testing accommodations may be used as provided for in section 100.2(g) of this Part in accordance with Department policy:

(a) Beginning in January 1999, the English language arts elementary assessment and the mathematics elementary assessment shall be administered in grade four and, beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, the English language arts elementary assessments and the mathematics elementary assessments shall be administered in grades three and four; and

(b) Beginning in January 2000, the elementary science assessment shall be administered in grade four.

(ii) Students receiving home instruction pursuant to section 100.10 of this Part may take, but shall not be required to take, the State assessments required of public school students

(iii) In accordance with their Individualized Education Programs, students with disabilities instructed in the alternate academic achievement standards defined in section 100.1(t)(2)(iv) of this Part shall be administered a State alternate assessment to measure their achievement.