Research on early brain development supports the need for high quality early childhood education programs to ensure optimal development of brain architecture, success in school, in life and in society.

Schools participating in the Nonpublic Early Childhood Development Program must meet compliance with many national quality standards. These standards include having teachers certified in early childhood education, a developmentally appropriate curriculum, small class size (20 children maximum), an adult to child ratio of 1:10 (requiring a teacher assistant for more than 10 children in a class), and before - and after-school enrichment programs.

The mission of the nonpublic school early childhood development (N.S.E.C.D.) program is to collaborate and partner with compliant nonpublic schools and class "A" daycares in providing high-quality, developentally appropriate preschool instruction and services to four-year-old children of tanf-eligible families.

All young children will have fundamental opportunities to reach their full potential.

The NSECD Program targets four-year-old children of families meeting TANF eligibility guidelines (i.e., earned income that is below 200% of the federal poverty level). All eligible children must be four years of age by September 30.

High quality early childhood education programs provide services to young children and their families to promote healthy social, emotional, physical and cognitive development.

• The Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development (NSECD) Program reimburses participating nonpublic schools throughout the state of Louisiana for providing four-year-old children with pre-kindergarten classes, before-and-after-school enrichment activities, and social services to support optimal development.
   
• Teachers must be early childhood certified by the Louisiana Department of Education.

• Classrooms must meet the child-to-adult ratio of 10 to 1 with no more than 20 children per certified classroom teacher.

• NSECD classrooms are fully integrated, having both children served through NSECD Program funds and children served through any other funding source, including private tuition payments, enrolled in the same classrooms. 

Program Director: Petrouchka Moise
Phone: (225) 342-0425
Email: petrouchka.moise@la.gov
 

Program Manager: Lindsey Bradford
Phone: (225) 219-4483
Email: lindsey.bradford@la.gov
 

NSECD Administrative Coordinator: Rebecca W. Bruton
Phone: (225) 219-0476
Email: rebecca.bruton@la.gov

Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program (NSECD)
Governor’s Office of Community Programs
150 3rd Street Baton Rouge, LA 70801