CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
H
The Committee on Ways and Means recommended the following
amendment:
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
CHAMBER ACTION
Senate House
.
.
1 .
.
2 .
.
3 .
.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 The Committee on Ways and Means recommended the following
12 amendment:
13
14 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
15 Delete everything after the enacting clause
16
17 and insert:
18 Section 1. School Readiness Commission.--
19 (1) The School Readiness Commission is established and
20 assigned to the Executive Office of the Governor for
21 administrative purposes. The commission shall carry out the
22 duties and responsibilities provided in this section and
23 delegated by the State Board of Education and is not subject
24 to control, supervision, or direction by the Executive Office
25 of the Governor or the State Board of Education. The
26 commission shall serve as an advisory body to the State Board
27 of Education and other appropriate state agencies and entities
28 on all matters relating to achievement of the first state
29 education goal, readiness to start school. In addition, the
30 commission's reports and recommendations shall be made
31 available to the Governor, the Legislature, the State Board of
1
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 Education, other appropriate state agencies and entities,
2 district school boards, central agencies for child care, and
3 county public health units.
4 (2) The commission shall be composed of 12 members of
5 the public who shall be business, community, and civic leaders
6 in the state who are not elected to public office and who do
7 not earn their income in the early education and child care
8 industry. Each member shall be appointed by the Governor.
9 Eight of the members shall be appointed from a list of 12
10 nominees, of which six must be submitted by the President of
11 the Senate and six must be submitted by the Speaker of the
12 House of Representatives. Members shall be appointed to 4-year
13 terms of office. However, of the initial appointees, three
14 shall be appointed to 1-year terms, three shall be appointed
15 to 2-year terms, three shall be appointed to 3-year terms, and
16 three shall be appointed to 4-year terms. The members of the
17 commission shall elect a chairperson annually. Any vacancy on
18 the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the
19 original appointment.
20 (3) The commission shall meet as often as it deems
21 necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
22 (4) The commission shall appoint an executive director
23 to serve at its pleasure, who shall perform the duties
24 assigned to him or her by the commission. The executive
25 director shall be the chief administrative officer of the
26 commission and shall be responsible for appointing all
27 employees and staff members of the commission, who shall serve
28 under his or her direction and control.
29 (5) Members of the commission shall serve without
30 compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
31 and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their
2
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 duties as provided in section 112.061, Florida Statutes.
2 (6) The commission shall:
3 (a) Serve as a citizen board to coordinate the efforts
4 toward school readiness in this state and provide independent
5 policy analyses and recommendations to the Governor, the State
6 Board of Education, and the Legislature.
7 (b) Prepare and submit to the State Board of Education
8 a system for measuring school readiness. The system must
9 include a screening instrument, or instruments, which shall
10 provide objective data regarding the following expectations
11 for school readiness:
12 1. The child's immunizations and other health
13 requirements as necessary.
14 2. The child's display of physical development
15 appropriate for kindergarten.
16 3. The child's compliance with rules, limitations, and
17 routines.
18 4. The child's successful engagement in kindergarten
19 tasks.
20 5. The child's demonstration of appropriate
21 interactions with adults.
22 6. The child's demonstration of appropriate
23 interactions with peers.
24 7. The child's effective coping with challenges and
25 frustrations.
26 8. The child's demonstration of appropriate self-help
27 skills.
28 9. The child's ability to express his needs
29 appropriately.
30 10. The child's demonstration of verbal communication
31 skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten.
3
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 11. The child's demonstration of problem-solving
2 skills necessary to succeed in kindergarten.
3 12. The child's following of verbal directions.
4 13. The child's demonstration of curiosity,
5 persistence, and exploratory behavior.
6 14. The child's demonstration of an interest in books
7 and other printed materials.
8 15. The child's paying attention to stories.
9 16. The child's participation in art and music
10 activities.
11 (c) Prepare a plan for implementing the system for
12 measuring school readiness in such a way that all children in
13 this state have the opportunity to undergo the screening in
14 the year prior to their entry into kindergarten. The plan must
15 include a way to make the screening instrument and the
16 training required to administer it available to public and
17 private providers of preschool and child care programs, and a
18 way to make the screening available to children who do not
19 participate in such programs.
20 (d) Establish a method for collecting data from the
21 screening instrument and establish guidelines for using the
22 data so that the measurement, the data collection, and the use
23 of the data serve the statewide goal that all children will be
24 ready for school. The criteria for determining which data to
25 collect should be the usefulness of the data to state
26 policymakers and program administrators in administering
27 programs and allocating state funds.
28 (e) Contract with an independent entity for an
29 evaluation of the measurement system. The evaluation must
30 provide the information that local and state agencies, the
31 Governor, and the Legislature need to provide for the
4
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 effective administration of programs that serve preschool
2 children. The evaluation must provide information that will
3 assist providers of private preschool and child care programs
4 in assessing the success of preschool and child care programs
5 and making decisions about improving program services to
6 prepare children for school.
7 (f) Recommend to the Governor, the Commissioner of
8 Education, and the State Board of Education rules, and
9 revisions or repeal of rules, which would increase the
10 effectiveness of programs that prepare children for school.
11 (g) Conduct studies and planning activities related to
12 the overall improvement and effectiveness of school-readiness
13 measures.
14 (h) Submit an annual report of its activities to the
15 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
16 House of Representatives, and the minority leaders of both
17 houses of the Legislature.
18
19 To ensure that the system for measuring school readiness is
20 comprehensive and appropriate statewide, as the system is
21 developed and implemented, the commission must consult with
22 representatives of district school systems, providers of
23 public and private child care, health care providers, large
24 and small employers, experts in education for children with
25 disabilities, and experts in child development.
26 (7) The commission may adopt rules necessary to
27 administer the provisions of this section relating to
28 preparation and implementation of the system for school
29 readiness, data collection, approving local coalition plans,
30 providing a method whereby a coalition could serve two or more
31 counties, awarding incentives to coalitions, and contracting
5
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 for an evaluation.
2 Section 2. School Readiness Coordinating Council.--
3 (1) The School Readiness Coordinating Council is
4 established with responsibility for advising the School
5 Readiness Commission regarding policies facilitating local
6 implementation, providing technical assistance, and helping to
7 secure waivers. The School Readiness Coordinating Council
8 shall consist of:
9 (a) The Deputy Commissioner of Education Programs in
10 the Department of Education;
11 (b) The Secretary of Children and Family Services or a
12 designated division director;
13 (c) The Secretary of Health or a designated division
14 director;
15 (d) The Chair of the Child Care Partnership Board;
16 (e) The Executive Director of the State WAGES Board;
17 (f) The President of the Florida Pediatric Society;
18 (g) The Chair of the Florida Council of 100;
19 (h) The President of the Head Start Directors'
20 Association;
21 (i) The President of the Florida Children's Forum;
22 (j) The Chair of the Developmental Disabilities
23 Council;
24 (k) The Director of the Healthy Start Coalition
25 Association;
26 (l) The President of the Florida School Boards
27 Association;
28 (m) The Chair of the Florida Association of Family
29 Child Care Homes;
30 (n) The Chair of a School Readiness Coalition;
31 (o) The President of the Florida Association of Child
6
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 Care Management;
2 (p) The Executive Director of the Early Childhood
3 Association;
4 (q) The Chair of the Florida Interagency Coordinating
5 Council for Infants and Toddlers;
6 (r) The Coordinator of the Florida Parent Resource
7 Organization;
8 (s) A representative of the Family Network on
9 Disabilities of Florida;
10 (t) The President of the Children's Services Council
11 Association of Florida;
12 (u) The Director of the Agency for Health Care
13 Administration;
14 (v) The President of the State of Florida P.T.A.; and
15 (w) An additional five members representing the
16 private-sector business community. These five members must be
17 selected by a majority vote of the other members.
18
19 The School Readiness Coordinating Council shall select a chair
20 from among the business community and a vice chair.
21 (2) School Readiness Coordinating Council members are
22 entitled to receive per diem and expenses for travel, as
23 provided in section 112.061, Florida Statutes, while carrying
24 out the official business of the council. For administrative
25 purposes only, the council shall be assigned to the Office of
26 the Governor.
27 (3) The School Readiness Coordinating Council shall
28 meet and conduct business at least quarterly or as needed to
29 carry out the duties of the council.
30 (4) The School Readiness Coordinating Council shall be
31 staffed by the Office of the Governor and draw upon state
7
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 agency personnel and resources as needed to implement policy
2 necessary to facilitate the early education and child care
3 program.
4 (5) Quarterly meetings of the School Readiness
5 Coordinating Council shall be open to the public and
6 opportunity for public comment shall be made available at each
7 such meeting. The staff of the School Readiness Coordinating
8 Council shall notify all persons who request such notice as to
9 the date, time, and place of each quarterly meeting.
10 Section 3. Section 402.265, Florida Statutes, is
11 created to read:
12 402.265 Early education and child care program.--
13 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
14 (a) The Legislature recognizes that high-quality early
15 education and child care programs increase children's chances
16 of achieving future educational success and becoming
17 productive members of society. It is the intent of the
18 Legislature that such programs be developmental, serve as
19 preventive measures for children at risk of future school
20 failure, enhance the educational readiness of all children,
21 and support family education and the involvement of parents in
22 their child's educational progress. Each early education and
23 child care program shall provide the elements necessary to
24 help prepare preschool children for school, including health
25 screening and referral, a developmentally appropriate
26 educational program, and opportunities for parental
27 involvement in the program.
28 (b) It is legislative intent that all programs and
29 services for Florida children in the first 5 years of life,
30 including health care, child care, child welfare, and formal
31 education, are school readiness programs.
8
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 (c) It is legislative intent that early education and
2 child care programs be operated within funding limits on a
3 full-day, year-round basis to enable parents to work and
4 become financially self-sufficient.
5 (d) It is legislative intent that early education and
6 child care programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
7 upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
8 programs for young children, and that these programs and
9 program funds be coordinated to achieve full effectiveness.
10 (e) It is legislative intent that the implementation
11 of an early education and child care program be optional on a
12 county-by-county basis.
13 (f) Publicly funded early education and child care
14 programs are defined as prekindergarten early intervention
15 programs, Head Start programs, programs offered by public or
16 private providers of child care, preschool programs for
17 children with disabilities, programs for migrant children,
18 Title I programs, subsidized child care programs, teen parent
19 programs, and other services.
20 (2) CREATION OF OPTIONAL PROGRAM; EXEMPTIONS.--The
21 early education and child care program consisting of publicly
22 funded programs listed in paragraph (1)(f) is established. The
23 early education and child care program is an optional program.
24 (3) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--The early education and
25 child care program shall be established for children from
26 birth to 6 years of age. The program shall consist of the
27 programs listed in paragraph (1)(f), be administered by the
28 School Readiness Coalition, and receive funds pursuant to SB
29 180 or similar legislation. Within funding limitations, the
30 School Readiness Coalition, along with all providers, shall
31 make reasonable efforts to accommodate the needs of children
9
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 for extended-day and extended-year services without
2 compromising the quality of the program.
3 (4) STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.--
4 (a) All publicly funded early education and child care
5 programs must meet the following performance standards and
6 outcome measures developed by the Department of Education and
7 the Department of Children and Family Services:
8 1. They must help prepare preschool children to enter
9 kindergarten ready to learn, as measured by criteria
10 established by the School Readiness Commission or, in the
11 absence of such criteria, by the School Readiness Checklist of
12 the Department of Education.
13 2. They must provide extended-day and extended-year
14 services to the maximum extent possible.
15 3. There must be coordinated staff development and
16 teaching opportunities.
17 4. There must be expanded access to community services
18 and resources for families to help achieve economic
19 self-sufficiency.
20 5. There must be a single point of entry and unified
21 waiting list.
22 6. If funding remains constant, they must serve at
23 least as many children as were served prior to implementation
24 of the program.
25 (b) All participating publicly funded early education
26 and child care programs must implement a comprehensive program
27 of children and family services that enhance the cognitive and
28 physical development of children to achieve the performance
29 standards and outcome measures specified in paragraph (a). At
30 a minimum, these programs must contain the following elements:
31 1. Developmentally appropriate curriculum.
10
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 2. An appropriate staff-to-child ratio, as required by
2 the respective participating programs.
3 3. A healthy and safe environment.
4 4. A resource and referral network to assist parents
5 in making an informed choice pursuant to s. 402.27.
6 (5) SCHOOL READINESS COALITIONS.--
7 (a)1. Each School Readiness Coalition must consist of
8 at least 12 members. Four members shall be appointed by the
9 district school board, four members shall be appointed by the
10 county commission for the county in which participating
11 schools are located, and four members shall be appointed by
12 the Department of Children and Family Services district
13 administrator. If a coalition has more than 12 members, the
14 additional members shall be appointed equally by the three
15 appointing entities.
16 2. School Readiness Coalition membership shall
17 include, in addition to private-sector business leaders, the
18 local public and private leaders in health care, education,
19 disabilities, and child welfare systems in each county. Three
20 members of the coalition must be administrators from each of
21 the following entities: The central agency for child care, the
22 district school board, and the Head Start program. School
23 Readiness Coalition membership must include representatives
24 from programs serving children in the early education and
25 child care programs, must include a representative from the
26 Department of Health, and may include representatives from
27 organizations such as Children's Services Councils, Central
28 Agencies for Child Care, Healthy Start Coalitions, district
29 school boards, child care licensing boards, local WAGES
30 Coalitions, Head Start, municipal and county governments, the
31 Department of Children and Family Services, the County Public
11
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 Health Unit, and chambers of commerce. A minimum of five
2 coalition members shall be from the private sector.
3 (b) The School Readiness Coalition will replace the
4 district interagency coordinating council in any county where
5 an early education and child care program is implemented.
6 (6) IMPLEMENTATION.--
7 (a) The early education and child care program may be
8 implemented in any county by a School Readiness Coalition with
9 agreement of the district school board and the Department of
10 Children and Family Services district, and with approval of
11 the School Readiness Commission. Approval by the School
12 Readiness Commission must be predicated on the submission of a
13 plan of implementation prepared and submitted by the School
14 Readiness Coalition.
15 (b) Each School Readiness Coalition shall develop a
16 plan for implementing the early education and child care
17 program to meet the requirements of this section. The plan
18 shall include a written description of the role of the program
19 in the district's effort to meet the first state education
20 goal, readiness to start school, including a description of
21 the plan to involve prekindergarten early intervention
22 programs, Head Start programs, programs offered by public or
23 private providers of child care, preschool programs for
24 children with disabilities, programs for migrant children,
25 Title I programs, subsidized child care programs, and teen
26 parent programs. The plan shall also demonstrate how the
27 program will ensure that each 3-year-old and 4-year-old child
28 in a publicly funded early education and child care program
29 receives scheduled activities and instruction designed to
30 prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Prior
31 to implementation of the program, the School Readiness
12
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 Coalition must submit the plan to the School Readiness
2 Commission for approval. The plan shall be reviewed and
3 revised as necessary, but not less than every 3 years.
4 (c) The plan for the early education and child care
5 program shall include the following minimum standards and
6 provisions:
7 1. A sliding fee scale, which is the same for all
8 programs, to be implemented and reflected in each program's
9 budget.
10 2. A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
11 registered, religious exempt, or school-based programs to be
12 provided to parents.
13 3. Instructional staff who have completed the training
14 course as required in s. 402.305(2)(d)1., as well as staff who
15 have additional training or credentials as required by the
16 respective programs.
17 (d) Persons with an early childhood teaching
18 certificate may provide support and supervision to other staff
19 in the early education and child care program.
20 (7) REIMBURSEMENT RATE.--The School Readiness
21 Coalition shall develop a reimbursement rate schedule that
22 encompasses all publicly funded early education and child care
23 programs and complies with applicable state and federal laws
24 and regulations. The reimbursement rate schedule must include
25 the projected number of children to be served and must be
26 submitted to the School Readiness Commission for approval.
27 Informal child care arrangements shall be reimbursed at not
28 more than 50 percent of the rate developed for family child
29 care.
30 (8) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO FISCAL AGENTS.--The
31 fiscal agent must be a public entity or a private nonprofit
13
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 organization. The fiscal agent shall be required to provide
2 all administrative and direct funding services as determined
3 by the School Readiness Coalition. The cost of these services
4 shall be negotiated between the fiscal agent and the School
5 Readiness Coalition. The fiscal agent shall be responsible for
6 monitoring all providers to ensure that coalition funds are
7 expended in the manner and for the purpose required by the
8 funding source. Funds from the Early Education and Child Care
9 Trust Fund may not be paid to a provider unless the provider
10 agrees to allow the fiscal agent access to fulfill its
11 monitoring responsibilities.
12 (9)(a) PARENTAL CHOICE; PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT.--The
13 early education and child care program shall be provided in a
14 manner that ensures, to the maximum extent possible, parental
15 choice through flexibility in early education and child care
16 arrangements and payment arrangements, including, but not
17 limited to, voucher, contract, and direct service provision.
18 According to federal regulations requiring parental choice, a
19 parent may choose an informal child care arrangement.
20 (b) When a voucher is provided, each voucher must bear
21 the name of the beneficiary and the program provider and, when
22 redeemed, must bear the signature of both the beneficiary and
23 an authorized representative of the provider. If it is
24 determined that a provider has provided any cash to the
25 beneficiary in return for receiving the voucher, the local
26 coalition shall refer the matter to the Division of Public
27 Assistance Fraud of the the Office of the Auditor General for
28 investigation and shall notify the agency responsible for the
29 funding source.
30 (c) The Department of Children and Family Services in
31 consultation with the office of the Comptroller shall
14
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 establish an electronic disbursement system for the
2 dissemination of funds and vouchers in accordance with this
3 subsection. Fiscal agents shall fully implement the electronic
4 funds transfer system within 3 years after plan approval
5 unless a waiver is obtained from the School Readiness
6 Commission. The fiscal agent may charge an administrative fee
7 not to exceed 1.5 percent of each voucher to offset
8 administrative costs of the early education and child care
9 program.
10 (10) EVALUATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.--Each School
11 Readiness Coalition shall conduct an evaluation of the
12 effectiveness of the early education and child care program,
13 including performance standards and outcome measures, and
14 shall provide an annual report and fiscal statement to the
15 School Readiness Commission, the Governor, and the President
16 of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
17 for review by the Legislature. This report must conform to the
18 content and format specifications set by the School Readiness
19 Commission.
20 (11) CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.--In the event of a
21 conflict between the provisions of this section and federal
22 requirements, the federal requirements shall control.
23 Section 4. Nothing in this act shall have the effect
24 of increasing the standards that must be met by family child
25 care providers; however, children who receive child care
26 services from family child care providers will participate in
27 school readiness assessment upon entering public or private
28 kindergarten or the first grade.
29 Section 5. Effective July 1, 1998, subsection (4) of
30 section 411.222, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
31 Section 6. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
15
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
2
3
4 ================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ===============
5 And the title is amended as follows:
6 Delete everything before the enacting clause
7
8 and insert:
9 A bill to be entitled
10 An act relating to early education and child
11 care; creating the School Readiness Commission
12 to serve as an advisory body to the State Board
13 of Education and other state agencies on
14 matters that relate to school readiness;
15 providing for the commission to be assigned to
16 the Executive Office of the Governor for
17 administrative purposes; providing for the
18 Governor to appoint the members of the
19 commission; requiring the commission to appoint
20 an executive director; providing for payment of
21 per diem and travel expenses of commission
22 members; establishing duties of the commission;
23 requiring the commission to prepare a system
24 for measuring school readiness; specifying
25 objectives to be measured by such system;
26 requiring the commission to contract with an
27 independent entity to evaluate the measurement
28 system; requiring the commission to make
29 recommendations to the Governor and the State
30 Board of Education; authorizing the commission
31 to adopt rules; establishing a School Readiness
16
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01
SENATE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for SB 182 & SB 1042
Amendment No. 1
1 Coordinating Council; creating s. 402.265,
2 F.S.; providing legislative intent;
3 establishing the early education and child care
4 program and providing for optional
5 participation; providing for the council to be
6 assigned to the Executive Office of the
7 Governor for administrative purposes; providing
8 for oversight; providing performance standards
9 and outcome measures; providing for School
10 Readiness Coalitions; providing for
11 implementation of programs; requiring
12 development of a plan and providing program
13 requirements; requiring a sliding fee scale;
14 providing for funding; requiring a
15 reimbursement rate schedule; providing
16 requirements relating to fiscal agents;
17 providing for parental choice and for payment
18 arrangements; providing for evaluation and
19 reporting; providing that federal requirements
20 control in the case of conflict; exempting
21 family child care providers from increased
22 standards; repealing s. 411.222(4), F.S.,
23 relating to the State Coordinating Council for
24 Early Childhood Services; providing an
25 effective date.
26
27
28
29
30
31
17
1:02 PM 03/27/98 s0182.wm.01