The Ashland Independent Early Childhood Regional Training Center was established in 1987 as a unique service delivery model for training, technical assistance, consultation, and lending of materials.  It was establed to provide services for special needs and at-rish children ages three to five.  The center provides peer to peer services which research shows is the most effective approach for working with local school district and agency personnel.  The staff from the Ashland RTC provides assistance to the local school districts and other service providers in the implementation of the preschool component of the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 and the national goal of "All children in America will start school ready to  learn." 

Early Learning

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Preschool​

Kentucky's preschool education programs are available for all four-year-old children whose family income is no more than 160% of poverty; all three and four-year-old children with developmen​​​​tal delays and disabilities, regardless of income; and other four-year-old children a​s placements are available based on district decision.​

The preschool program is designed to be developmentally appropriate for young children.  "Developmentally appropriate" is defined in law to mean that the program focuses on the child's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development, including interpersonal, and socialization skills.​

​​Andrea Bartholomew

Office of Special Education and Early Learning​

300 Sower Blvd., 5th Floor

Frankfort, KY 40601

(502) 564-4970 Ext. 4722

Fax (502) 564-6470

andrea.bartholomew@education.ky.gov

For information related to: Early Childhood Resources, Head Start Full Utilization, Preschool Administrative Resources, Preschool Outcomes Summary (COS), Preschool Professional Development and Certification, Preschool Quality, Preschool Regulations, Pyramid Model Framework, School Readiness Definition