North Dakota Century Code Title 50. Public Welfare § 50-11.1-23. Eligibility for best in class program

a. Operates an approved four-year old program, federally funded head start program, or early childhood program in this state;

b. Operates a program for children who have reached four years of age before August first in the year of enrollment, unless otherwise provided in subdivision d of subsection 1 of section 50-11.1-21;

c. Operates a program that has a duration of at least four hundred hours over a period of at least thirty-two consecutive weeks;

d. Incorporates within the program at least ten hours of research-based family engagement;

e. Has been determined to meet the standards and expectations of no less than step three in the North Dakota early childhood quality improvement system; has met the standards and expectations of a nationally recognized early childhood accrediting entity; has met the federal performance standards for head start; or has obtained approval or certification from the department of public instruction;

f. Admits children of all learning abilities;

g. Admits children who receive assistance from the child care assistance program; and

h. Operates in compliance with the program requirements, including: