House Bill 0259c1
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Florida House of Representatives - 1999 CS/HB 259
By the Committee on Education Innovation and
Representatives Warner, Lynn, Murman, Chestnut, Melvin, Logan,
Patterson, Alexander, Bush, Bullard and Cantens
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to school readiness; creating
3 s. 411.01, F.S.; providing legislative intent;
4 providing definitions; creating the State
5 School Readiness Governing Board; providing
6 membership requirements, meeting requirements,
7 public records requirements, and
8 responsibilities and duties of the governing
9 board; authorizing the governing board to adopt
10 rules; providing eligibility requirements for
11 the school readiness program; requiring
12 performance standards and outcome measures
13 developed and approved by the governing board
14 to meet certain guidelines; providing for the
15 establishment of a school readiness coalition
16 in each county; providing membership of the
17 coalitions; providing for implementation and
18 phasing-in of the school readiness program;
19 requiring the development of a plan; providing
20 for exceptions to law; providing for coalition
21 initiation grants; providing incentive bonuses;
22 providing for the funding of the school
23 readiness program; requiring each coalition to
24 develop a reimbursement rate schedule for all
25 programs funded by the coalition; providing
26 requirements for school readiness agents;
27 providing for parental choice with respect to
28 child care arrangements and payments; requiring
29 the governing board to adopt an electronic
30 funds transfer system; requiring the Office of
31 Program Policy Analysis and Government
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1 Accountability to provide consultation and
2 assess outcomes; requiring each coalition to
3 conduct an annual evaluation and submit a
4 report to the governing board and requiring an
5 annual report by the governing board that
6 includes coalition report information; creating
7 s. 229.567, F.S.; requiring the Department of
8 Education to require use by the school
9 districts of a school readiness screening
10 system adopted by the governing board; amending
11 s. 216.136, F.S.; creating the School Readiness
12 Program Estimating Conference; requiring the
13 conference to develop information relating to
14 school readiness programs; specifying the
15 principals of the conference; amending s.
16 236.013, F.S.; deleting half-day kindergarten
17 and prekindergarten disabilities programs from
18 the FEFP; amending s. 414.026, F.S.; adding the
19 chair of the State School Readiness Governing
20 Board to the WAGES Program State Board of
21 Directors; amending s. 624.91, F.S.; requiring
22 the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation to work
23 cooperatively with the State School Readiness
24 Governing Board; authorizing the Governor to
25 transfer funds; authorizing the State School
26 Readiness Governing Board to make staffing
27 recommendations; providing an effective date.
28
29 WHEREAS, the voters of the State of Florida, in the
30 November 1998 General Election, amended Section 1 of Article
31 IX of the State Constitution to state that it is "a paramount
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1 duty of the state to make adequate provision for the education
2 of all children residing within its borders," and
3 WHEREAS, while the state's public school system
4 educates the kindergarten through 12th grade population, there
5 is no adequate provision for an educational component to early
6 childhood programs for the state's at-risk
7 birth-to-kindergarten population, NOW, THEREFORE,
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, is
12 created to read:
13 411.01 School readiness program.--
14 (1) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
15 (a) The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
16 programs increase children's chances of achieving future
17 educational success and becoming productive members of
18 society. It is the intent of the Legislature that such
19 programs be developmentally appropriate, research-based,
20 involve parents as their child's first teacher, serve as
21 preventive measures for children at risk of future school
22 failure, enhance the educational readiness of eligible
23 children, and support family education. Each school readiness
24 program shall provide the elements necessary to prepare
25 at-risk children for school, including health screening and
26 referral and an appropriate educational program.
27 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
28 readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis
29 to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and
30 become financially self-sufficient.
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1 (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
2 readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
3 upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
4 programs for young children, and that school readiness
5 programs be coordinated and funding integrated to achieve full
6 effectiveness.
7 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
8 implementation of a school readiness program be phased in on a
9 county-by-county basis. Each coalition's school readiness
10 program shall have available to it funding from all the
11 county's publicly funded early education and child care
12 programs, including Florida First Start programs, Even-Start
13 literacy programs, prekindergarten early intervention
14 programs, Head Start programs, programs offered by public and
15 private providers of child care, prekindergarten disabilities
16 programs, migrant prekindergarten programs, Title I programs,
17 subsidized child care programs, teen parent programs, and
18 other services, together with any additional funds
19 appropriated or obtained for purposes of this section, and
20 these programs and services shall be a part of the coalition's
21 integrated school readiness program.
22 (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
23 administrative staff at the state level for school readiness
24 programs be kept to the minimum necessary to carry out the
25 duties of the State School Readiness Governing Board, as the
26 school readiness programs are to be locally designed,
27 operated, and managed, with the State School Readiness
28 Governing Board adopting a system for measuring school
29 readiness; developing school readiness program performance
30 standards, outcome measurements, and data design and review;
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1 and approving and reviewing local school readiness coalitions
2 and plans.
3 (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that
4 appropriations for combined school readiness programs shall
5 not be less than the programs would receive in any fiscal year
6 on an uncombined basis.
7 (g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
8 school readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction
9 with the district school systems. However, it is also the
10 intent of the Legislature that the school readiness program
11 not be construed as part of the system of free public schools
12 but rather as a separate program for children under the age of
13 kindergarten eligibility, funded separately from the system of
14 free public schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale,
15 and providing an integrated and seamless system of school
16 readiness services for the state's birth-to-kindergarten
17 population.
18 (h) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
19 federal child care income tax credit be preserved for school
20 readiness programs.
21 (2) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
22 (a) "Governing board" means the State School Readiness
23 Governing Board.
24 (b) "Coalition" means a Local School Readiness
25 Coalition.
26 (c) "Plan" means a coalition's school readiness
27 program implementation plan.
28 (3) STATE SCHOOL READINESS GOVERNING BOARD.--The State
29 School Readiness Governing Board is established in the
30 Executive Office of the Governor.
31 (a) The governing board shall consist of:
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1 1. The Lieutenant Governor, or his or her designee.
2 2. The Secretary of the Department of Children and
3 Family Services.
4 3. The Commissioner of Education, or his or her
5 designee.
6 4. The chair of the WAGES Program State Board of
7 Directors.
8 5. The Secretary of Health.
9 6. The chair of the Child Care Executive Partnership
10 Board.
11 7. Five members appointed by the Governor. Four of
12 the Governor's appointees shall be appointed from a list of
13 six nominees, of which three have been submitted by the
14 President of the Senate, and three have been submitted by the
15 Speaker of the House of Representatives. Members shall be
16 appointed to 4-year terms of office. However, of the initial
17 appointees, one shall be appointed to a 1-year term, one shall
18 be appointed to a 2-year term, two shall be appointed to
19 3-year terms, and one shall be appointed to a 4-year term. Any
20 vacancy on the governing board shall be filled in the same
21 manner as the original appointment.
22
23 The appointed members shall be business, community, and civic
24 leaders in the state who are not elected to public office and
25 who do not earn their income in the early education and child
26 care industry. The members must be geographically and
27 demographically representative of the state. The Governor
28 shall select a chair and a vice chair, and shall appoint an
29 executive director, who is responsible for other staff
30 authorized by the governing board.
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1 (b) For purposes of administration of the Federal
2 Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. Parts 98 and 99,
3 the governing board may be designated by the Governor as the
4 Lead Agency, and if so designated shall comply with the Lead
5 Agency responsibilities pursuant to federal law.
6 Additionally, the governing board shall establish a reading
7 and literacy partnership with the Governor, the Commissioner
8 of Education, the chairs and ranking minority members of the
9 appropriate Senate and House education committees, and the
10 coalitions for purposes of receiving federal Reading
11 Excellence Act grants, and shall make every attempt to draw
12 down all available relevant federal funds.
13 (c) The governing board shall meet quarterly and may
14 meet as often as it deems necessary to carry out its duties
15 and responsibilities. Members of the governing board shall
16 participate without proxy at the quarterly meetings. The
17 governing board may take official action by a majority vote of
18 the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is
19 present. The governing board shall hold its first meeting by
20 October 1, 1999.
21 (d) Members of the governing board are subject to the
22 ethics provisions in part III of chapter 112, and no member
23 may derive any financial benefit from the funds administered
24 by the governing board.
25 (e) Members of the governing board shall serve without
26 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
27 and travel expenses incurred in the performance of their
28 duties as provided in s. 112.061, and reimbursement for other
29 reasonable, necessary, and actual expenses.
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1 (f) For the purposes of tort liability, the members of
2 the governing board and its employees shall be governed by s.
3 768.28.
4 (g) The governing board shall:
5 1. Be responsible for the prudent use of all public
6 and private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
7 requirements.
8 2. Provide final approval and periodic review of
9 coalitions and plans.
10 3. Provide leadership for enhancement of school
11 readiness in this state by aggressively establishing a unified
12 approach to the state's efforts toward enhancement of school
13 readiness. In support of this effort, the governing board may
14 develop and implement specific strategies that address the
15 state's school readiness programs, and may make
16 recommendations to the appropriate oversight entity to move
17 agency staff from other state agencies.
18 4. Seek the most strategic use of federal, state,
19 local, and private resources to maximize the effectiveness of
20 school readiness programs.
21 5. Adopt a system for measuring school readiness that
22 provides objective data regarding the expectations for school
23 readiness, and establish a method for collecting the data and
24 guidelines for using the data. The measurement, the data
25 collection, and the use of the data must serve the statewide
26 school readiness goal. The criteria for determining which data
27 to collect should be the usefulness of the data to state
28 policymakers and local program administrators in administering
29 programs and allocating state funds, and must include the
30 tracking of school readiness system information back to
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1 individual school readiness programs to assist in determining
2 program effectiveness.
3 6. Develop and adopt performance standards and outcome
4 measures which meet the requirements of subsection (5).
5 (h) The governing board may adopt rules necessary to
6 administer the provisions of this section which relate to
7 preparing and implementing the system for school readiness,
8 collecting data, approving local school readiness coalitions
9 and plans, providing a method whereby a coalition can serve
10 two or more counties, awarding incentives to coalitions, and
11 issuing waivers.
12 (i) The governing board shall recommend to the
13 Governor, the Commissioner of Education, and the State Board
14 of Education rules, and revisions or repeal of rules, which
15 would increase the effectiveness of programs that prepare
16 children for school.
17 (j) The governing board shall submit an annual report
18 of its activities to the Governor, the executive director of
19 the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, the President of the
20 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
21 minority leaders of both houses of the Legislature. In
22 addition, the governing board's reports and recommendations
23 shall be made available to the State Board of Education, other
24 appropriate state agencies and entities, district school
25 boards, central agencies for child care, and county public
26 health units. The annual report must provide an analysis of
27 school readiness activities across the state, including the
28 number of children who were served in the programs and the
29 number of children who were ready for school. The annual
30 report shall be submitted in a timeframe that summarizes the
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1 coalition reports pursuant to subsection (13) and the work of
2 the School Readiness Program Estimating Conference.
3 (k) The governing board shall work with school
4 readiness coalitions to increase parents' training for and
5 involvement in their children's preschool education.
6 (4) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--The school readiness program
7 shall be established for children under the age of
8 kindergarten eligibility. Priority for participation in the
9 school readiness program shall be given to children who meet
10 one or more of the following criteria:
11 (a) Children under the age of kindergarten eligibility
12 who are:
13 1. Children determined to be at risk of abuse,
14 neglect, or exploitation and who are currently clients of the
15 Children and Family Services Program Office of the Department
16 of Children and Family Services.
17 2. Children at risk of welfare dependency, including
18 economically disadvantaged children, children of participants
19 in the WAGES program, children of migrant farmworkers, and
20 children of teen parents.
21 3. Children of working families whose family income
22 does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
23 (b) Three-year-old children and 4-year-old children
24 who may not be economically disadvantaged but who have
25 disabilities, have been served in a specific part-time or
26 combination of part-time exceptional education programs with
27 required special services, aids, or equipment, and were
28 previously reported for funding part time with the Florida
29 Education Finance Program as exceptional students.
30 (c) Economically disadvantaged children, children with
31 disabilities, and children at risk of future school failure,
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1 from birth to 4 years of age, who are served at home through
2 home visitor programs and intensive parent education programs
3 such as the Florida First Start Program.
4 (d) Children who meet federal and state requirements
5 for eligibility for the migrant preschool program but who do
6 not meet the criteria of economically disadvantaged.
7
8 An "economically disadvantaged" child means a child whose
9 family income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty
10 level. Notwithstanding any change in a family's economic
11 status, but subject to additional family contributions in
12 accordance with the sliding fee scale, a child who meets the
13 eligibility requirements upon initial registration for the
14 program shall be considered eligible until the child reaches
15 kindergarten age.
16 (5) STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.--
17 (a) All publicly funded school readiness programs
18 shall be required to meet the performance standards and
19 outcome measures developed and approved by the governing
20 board. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
21 Accountability shall provide consultation to the governing
22 board in the development of the measures and standards. These
23 performance standards and outcome measures shall be applicable
24 on a state-wide basis and must:
25 1. Help prepare preschool children to enter
26 kindergarten ready to learn, as measured by a methodology
27 adopted by the governing board with input from the Department
28 of Education.
29 2. Provide extended-day services and extended-year
30 services when needed.
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1 3. Include a staff development plan to ensure that the
2 program has qualified professionals.
3 4. Provide for expanded access to community services
4 and resources, including adult literacy assistance, to help
5 families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
6 5. Provide for a simplified point of entry and unified
7 waiting list.
8 6. Serve at least as many children as were served
9 prior to implementation of the program.
10 7. Establish a community plan to address the needs of
11 all eligible children.
12 8. Meet all state licensing guidelines, where
13 applicable.
14 9. Assess the developmental status of each child upon
15 the child's entry into a school readiness program and exit
16 from the program for the purpose of assisting program
17 effectiveness determinations.
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19 The governing board shall develop a phase-in schedule through
20 which all publicly funded school readiness programs shall be
21 measured by these performance standards.
22 (b) All publicly funded school readiness programs
23 shall be required to implement a comprehensive program of
24 children and family services that will enhance the cognitive,
25 social, and physical development of children to achieve the
26 performance standards and outcome measures specified in
27 paragraph (a).
28 (6) LOCAL SCHOOL READINESS COALITIONS.--
29 (a) Each coalition shall consist of at least 14
30 members but not more than 21 members, including the following
31 local officials:
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1 1. The Department of Children and Family Services
2 district administrator or his or her deputy or the equivalent.
3 2. The district superintendent of schools or his or
4 her deputy or the equivalent.
5 3. The regional workforce development board chair or
6 director, where applicable.
7 4. The county health department director or his or her
8 designee.
9 5. The Children's Services Council chair or executive
10 director, if applicable.
11 6. The child care licensing agency head.
12 7. Two members appointed by the Department of Children
13 and Family Services district administrator.
14 8. Two members appointed by the board of county
15 commissioners.
16 9. Two members appointed by the district school board.
17 10. The central child care agency administrator.
18 11. Head Start director or directors.
19 12. Up to 7 additional members appointed by the
20 coalition.
21 (b) All members shall be voting members, except that a
22 member shall not vote on an issue relating to funding for an
23 entity represented by that member.
24 (c) No member of a coalition may appoint a designee to
25 act in his or her place. A member who is unable to attend may
26 send a representative to coalition meetings, but that
27 representative will have no voting privileges.
28 (d) Members of the coalition are subject to the ethics
29 provisions in part III of chapter 112.
30 (7) IMPLEMENTATION; PHASING-IN OF PROGRAM; EXCEPTIONS
31 TO LAW.--
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1 (a) The school readiness program is to be phased-in as
2 prescribed by the procedures for implementation provided in
3 this subsection and subsection (8). Until the coalition
4 implements its plan, the county shall continue to receive the
5 services identified in paragraph (1)(d) through the various
6 agencies that would be responsible for delivering those
7 services under current law.
8 (b) In order to obtain plan approval by the governing
9 board, the coalition must submit to the governing board a plan
10 that includes strategies to meet the requirements of this
11 section, including:
12 1. Specific eligibility priorities for children within
13 the coalition's county pursuant to subsection (4).
14 2. Performance standards and outcome measures
15 established by the governing board or alternatively, standards
16 and outcome measures to be used until such time as the
17 governing board adopts such standards and outcome measures.
18 3. Reimbursement rates that have been developed by the
19 coalition.
20 4. A sliding fee scale.
21 5. A business plan, which must include the contract
22 with a school readiness agent if the coalition is not a
23 legally established corporate entity. Coalitions may contract
24 with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multiple-county
25 services, and such contracts may be part of the coalition's
26 business plan.
27
28 As part of the plan, the coalition may request the Governor to
29 apply for a waiver to allow the county to administer the Head
30 Start Program to accomplish the purposes of the school
31 readiness program. If any school readiness plan can
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1 demonstrate that specific statutory goals can be achieved more
2 effectively by using procedures that require modification of
3 existing rules, policies, or procedures, a request for a
4 waiver to the governing board may be made as part of the plan.
5 Upon review, the governing board may grant the proposed
6 modification.
7 (c) The coalition may not implement its plan until it
8 submits the plan to and receives approval from the governing
9 board. Once the plan has been approved, the plan and the
10 services provided under the plan shall be controlled by the
11 coalition rather than by the state agencies or departments.
12 The plan shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but not
13 less than every 3 years.
14 (d) Upon approval by the governing board of a
15 coalition's plan that adequately addresses the substance of
16 the following itemized statutes, the provisions of this
17 section shall supersede and prevail over ss. 228.061(1) and
18 (2), 230.2303, 230.2305, 230.2306, 230.23166, 232.01(1)(a)3.
19 and (e), 402.3015, 411.204, 411.221, 411.222, 411.223, and
20 411.232.
21 (e) The plan shall then be utilized to develop and
22 issue a request for proposals for:
23 1. Systems support services, including a central
24 agency, child care resource and referral, eligibility
25 determinations, training of providers, and parent support and
26 involvement.
27 2. Direct enhancement services to families and
28 children.
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1 System support and direct enhancement services shall be in
2 addition to payments for the placement of children in school
3 readiness programs.
4 (f) Two or more counties may join for the purpose of
5 planning and implementing a school readiness program.
6 (8) COALITION INITIATION GRANTS; INCENTIVE BONUSES.--
7 (a)1. Coalitions that are approved by the governing
8 board by December 1, 1999, shall be eligible for a $50,000
9 initiation grant to support the coalition in developing its
10 plan.
11 2. Coalitions that are approved by the governing board
12 by March 1, 2000, shall be eligible for a $25,000 initiation
13 grant to support the coalition in developing its plan.
14 (b) Coalitions that have their plans approved by March
15 1, 2000, shall receive funding from the governing board in
16 fiscal year 2000-2001, and each year thereafter.
17 (c) Upon the governing board's approval of any
18 coalition's plan that clearly shows enhancement in the quality
19 and standards of the school readiness program without
20 diminishing the number of children served in the program, the
21 governing board shall award the coalition an incentive bonus
22 on a per-child-served basis, subject to appropriation.
23 (d) In fiscal year 2000-2001, and each year
24 thereafter, any increases in funding for school readiness
25 programs shall be administered through the coalitions.
26 (e) In fiscal year 2001-2002, the governing board
27 shall request proposals from government agencies and nonprofit
28 corporations for the development and operation of a coalition
29 in each county that does not have an approved coalition by
30 March 1, 2001, unless the county has requested and been
31 granted a waiver by the governing board for good cause.
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1 (9) FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.--
2 (a) It is the intent of this section to establish an
3 integrated and quality seamless service delivery system for
4 all publicly funded early education and child care programs
5 operating in this state.
6 (b) All state funds budgeted for a county for the
7 programs specified in paragraph (1)(d), along with the pro
8 rata share of the state administrative costs of those
9 programs, all federal funds and required local matching funds
10 for a county for programs specified in paragraph (1)(d), and
11 any additional funds appropriated or obtained for purposes of
12 this section, shall be transferred for the benefit of the
13 coalition for implementation of its plan, including the hiring
14 of staff to effectively operate the coalition's school
15 readiness program.
16 (c) By February 15, 2000, the governing board shall
17 present to the Legislature recommendations for combining
18 funding streams for school readiness programs into a School
19 Readiness Trust Fund.
20 (d) The governing board shall annually distribute all
21 eligible funds as block grants to assist coalitions in
22 integrating services and funding to develop a quality service
23 delivery system. Subject to appropriation, the governing board
24 may also provide financial awards to coalitions demonstrating
25 success in merging and integrating funding streams to serve
26 children and school readiness programs.
27 (e) State funds appropriated for the school readiness
28 program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
29 or the purchase of buses. By February 15, 2000, the governing
30 board shall present to the Legislature recommendations for
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1 providing necessary transportation services for school
2 readiness programs.
3 (f) All cost savings and all revenues received through
4 a mandatory sliding fee scale shall be used to help fund the
5 local school readiness program.
6 (10) REIMBURSEMENT RATE.--Each coalition shall develop
7 a reimbursement rate schedule that encompasses all programs
8 funded by that coalition. The reimbursement rate schedule must
9 take into consideration the relevant market rate and must
10 include the projected number of children to be served and must
11 be submitted to the governing board for information.
12 (11) REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO SCHOOL READINESS
13 AGENTS.--If the coalition is not a legally established
14 corporate entity, the coalition must designate a school
15 readiness agent, which may be a public entity or a private
16 nonprofit organization. The school readiness agent shall be
17 required to provide financial and administrative services
18 pursuant to a contract with the coalition. The cost of the
19 financial and administrative services shall be negotiated
20 between the school readiness agent and the coalition. If the
21 school readiness agent is a provider of early education and
22 care programs, the contract must specify that the school
23 readiness agent will act on policy direction from the
24 coalition and will not receive policy direction from its own
25 corporate or governance board regarding disbursal of coalition
26 funds. The school readiness agent shall disburse funds in
27 accordance with the approved coalition school readiness plan
28 and based on billing and disbursement procedures approved by
29 the governing board. The school readiness agent must conform
30 to all data-reporting requirements established by the
31 governing board. A contract between a coalition and a school
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1 readiness agent must be presented to the governing board as
2 part of the coalition's plan approval process.
3 (12) PARENTAL CHOICE.--
4 (a) The school readiness program shall provide
5 parental choice pursuant to a purchase service order that
6 ensures, to the maximum extent possible, flexibility in school
7 readiness programs and payment arrangements. According to
8 federal regulations requiring parental choice, a parent may
9 choose an informal child-care arrangement.
10 (b) If it is determined that a provider has provided
11 any cash or other unlawful renumeration to the beneficiary in
12 return for receiving the purchase order, the school readiness
13 agent shall refer the matter to the Division of Public
14 Assistance Fraud for investigation.
15 (c) The governing board shall adopt an electronic
16 transfer system for the dissemination of funds in accordance
17 with this subsection, which shall be fully implemented within
18 3 years after plan approval unless a waiver is obtained from
19 the governing board.
20 (d) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
21 Government Accountability shall assess the implementation,
22 efficiency, and outcomes of the revised school readiness
23 program and report findings to the President of the Senate and
24 the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1,
25 2002. Subsequent reviews shall be conducted at the direction
26 of the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.
27 (13) EVALUATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.--Each coalition
28 shall conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of its school
29 readiness program including performance standards and outcome
30 measures, and shall provide an annual report to the governing
31 board.
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1 (14) CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.--In the event of a
2 conflict between the provisions of this section and federal
3 requirements, the federal requirements shall control.
4 Section 2. Section 229.567, Florida Statutes, is
5 created to read:
6 229.567 School readiness screening system.--The
7 Department of Education shall require that the school
8 readiness screening system adopted by the State School
9 Readiness Governing Board be utilized uniformly by all school
10 districts.
11 Section 3. Subsection (11) is added to section
12 216.136, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, to read:
13 216.136 Consensus estimating conferences; duties and
14 principals.--
15 (11) SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--
16 (a) Duties.--
17 1. The School Readiness Program Estimating Conference
18 shall develop official information relating to the state's
19 system of school readiness programs, including forecasts of
20 school readiness program needs, as the conference determines
21 is needed for the state planning and budgeting system. Such
22 official information must include, but need not be limited to,
23 program needs for subsidized child care, Head Start,
24 prekindergarten early intervention, prekindergarten
25 disabilities, Even-Start literacy, First Start, migrant
26 prekindergarten, and Title I prekindergarten.
27 2. In addition, the School Readiness Program
28 Estimating Conference shall estimate the unduplicated count of
29 children who are eligible for services under the school
30 readiness program.
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1 3. The School Readiness Governing Board shall provide
2 information on needs and waiting lists for school readiness
3 program services requested by the School Readiness Program
4 Estimating Conference or individual conference principals in a
5 timely manner.
6 (b) Principals.--The Executive Office of the Governor,
7 the Director of Economic and Demographic Research, and
8 professional staff who have forecasting expertise from the
9 School Readiness Governing Board, the Department of Children
10 and Family Services, the Department of Education, the Senate,
11 and the House of Representatives, or their designees, are the
12 principals of the School Readiness Program Estimating
13 Conference. The principal representing the Executive Office of
14 the Governor shall preside over sessions of the conference.
15 Section 4. Subsections (2) and (5) of section 236.013,
16 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17 236.013 Definitions.--Notwithstanding the provisions
18 of s. 228.041, the following terms are defined as follows for
19 the purposes of this act:
20 (2) A "full-time equivalent student" in each program
21 of the district is defined in terms of full-time students and
22 part-time students as follows:
23 (a) A "full-time student" is one student on the
24 membership roll of one school program or a combination of
25 school programs listed in s. 236.081(1)(c) for the school year
26 or the equivalent for:
27 1. Instruction in a standard school, comprising not
28 less than 900 net hours for a student in or at the grade level
29 of 4 through 12 and adult, or not less than 720 net hours for
30 a student in or at the grade level of kindergarten through
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1 grade 3 or in an authorized prekindergarten exceptional
2 program.
3 2. Instruction in a double-session school or a school
4 utilizing an experimental school calendar approved by the
5 Department of Education, comprising not less than the
6 equivalent of 810 net hours in grades 4 through 12 or not less
7 than 630 net hours in kindergarten through grade 3; or
8 3. Instruction comprising the appropriate number of
9 net hours set forth in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2. for
10 students who, within the past year, have moved with their
11 parents for the purpose of engaging in the farm labor or fish
12 industries, if a plan furnishing such an extended school day
13 or week, or a combination thereof, has been approved by the
14 commissioner. Such plan may be approved to accommodate the
15 needs of migrant students only or may serve all students in
16 schools having a high percentage of migrant students. The plan
17 described in this subparagraph is optional for any school
18 district and is not mandated by the state.
19 (b) A "part-time student" is a student on the active
20 membership roll of a school program or combination of school
21 programs listed in s. 236.081(1)(c) who is less than a
22 full-time student.
23 (c)1. A "full-time equivalent student" is:
24 a. A full-time student in any one of the programs
25 listed in s. 236.081(1)(c); or
26 b. A combination of full-time or part-time students in
27 any one of the programs listed in s. 236.081(1)(c) which is
28 the equivalent of one full-time student based on the following
29 calculations:
30 (I) A full-time student, except a postsecondary or
31 adult student or a senior high school student enrolled in
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1 adult education when such courses are required for high school
2 graduation, in a combination of programs listed in s.
3 236.081(1)(c) shall be a fraction of a full-time equivalent
4 membership in each special program equal to the number of net
5 hours per school year for which he or she is a member, divided
6 by the appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagraph
7 (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.; the difference between that
8 fraction or sum of fractions and the maximum value as set
9 forth in subsection (5) for each full-time student is presumed
10 to be the balance of the student's time not spent in such
11 special education programs and shall be recorded as time in
12 the appropriate basic program.
13 (II) A student in the basic half-day kindergarten
14 program of not less than 450 net hours shall earn one-half of
15 a full-time equivalent membership.
16 (III) A half-day kindergarten student in a combination
17 of programs listed in s. 236.081(1)(c) is a fraction of a
18 full-time equivalent membership in each special program equal
19 to the number of net hours or major portion thereof per school
20 year for which he or she is a member divided by the number of
21 hours set forth in sub-sub-subparagraph (II); the difference
22 between that fraction and the number of hours set forth in
23 sub-sub-subparagraph (II) for each full-time student in
24 membership in a half-day kindergarten program is presumed to
25 be the balance of the student's time not spent in such special
26 education programs and shall be recorded as time in the
27 appropriate basic program.
28 (II)(IV) A part-time student, except a postsecondary
29 or adult student, is a fraction of a full-time equivalent
30 membership in each basic and special program equal to the
31 number of net hours or major fraction thereof per school year
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1 for which he or she is a member, divided by the appropriate
2 number of hours set forth in subparagraph (a)1. or
3 subparagraph (a)2.
4 (III)(V) A postsecondary or adult student or a senior
5 high school student enrolled in adult education when such
6 courses are required for high school graduation is a portion
7 of a full-time equivalent membership in each special program
8 equal to the net hours or major fraction thereof per fiscal
9 year for which he or she is a member, divided by the
10 appropriate number of hours set forth in subparagraph (a)1. or
11 subparagraph (a)2.
12 (IV)(VI) A full-time student who is part of a program
13 authorized by subparagraph (a)3. in a combination of programs
14 listed in s. 236.081(1)(c) is a fraction of a full-time
15 equivalent membership in each regular or special program equal
16 to the number of net hours per school year for which he or she
17 is a member, divided by the appropriate number of hours set
18 forth in subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2.
19 (VII) A prekindergarten handicapped student shall meet
20 the requirements specified for kindergarten students.
21 2. A student in membership in a program scheduled for
22 more or less than 180 school days is a fraction of a full-time
23 equivalent membership equal to the number of instructional
24 hours in membership divided by the appropriate number of hours
25 set forth in subparagraph (a)1.; however, for the purposes of
26 this subparagraph, membership in programs scheduled for more
27 than 180 days is limited to:
28 a. Special programs for exceptional students;
29 b. Special vocational-technical programs;
30 c. Special adult general education programs;
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1 d. Dropout prevention programs as defined in s.
2 230.2316 for students in residential programs operated by the
3 Department of Children and Family Services; programs operated
4 by the Department of Juvenile Justice as defined in s.
5 230.23161 in which students receive educational services; or
6 teenage parent programs as defined in s. 230.23166 for
7 students who are in need of such additional instruction;
8 e. Dropout prevention programs as defined in s.
9 230.2316 in which students are placed for academic or
10 disciplinary purposes or programs in English for speakers of
11 other languages as defined in s. 233.058 for students who were
12 in membership for all of the last 15 days of the 180-day term
13 or a total of 30 days within the 180-day term and are in need
14 of such additional instruction;
15 f. Other basic programs offered for promotion or
16 credit instruction as defined by rules of the state board; and
17 g. Programs which modify the school year to
18 accommodate the needs of children who have moved with their
19 parents for the purpose of engaging in the farm labor or fish
20 industries, provided such programs are approved by the
21 commissioner.
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23 The department shall determine and implement an equitable
24 method of equivalent funding for experimental schools and for
25 schools operating under emergency conditions, which schools
26 have been approved by the department under the provisions of
27 s. 228.041(13) to operate for less than the minimum school
28 day.
29 (5) The maximum value for funding a student in
30 kindergarten through grade 12 or in a prekindergarten program
31 for exceptional children as provided in s. 232.01(1)(e),
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1 except for a student as set forth in sub-sub-subparagraph
2 (2)(c)1.b.(I), is one full-time equivalent student membership
3 for a school year or equivalent.
4 Section 5. Subsection (2) of section 414.026, Florida
5 Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:
6 414.026 WAGES Program State Board of Directors.--
7 (2)(a) The board of directors shall be composed of the
8 following members:
9 1. The Commissioner of Education, or the
10 commissioner's designee.
11 2. The Secretary of Children and Family Services.
12 3. The Secretary of Health.
13 4. The Secretary of Labor and Employment Security.
14 5. The Secretary of Community Affairs.
15 6. The Secretary of Transportation, or the secretary's
16 designee.
17 7. The director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and
18 Economic Development.
19 8. The chair of the State School Readiness Governing
20 Board.
21 9.8. The president of the Enterprise Florida workforce
22 development board, established under s. 288.9620.
23 10.9. The chief executive officer of the Florida
24 Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, established under s.
25 288.1226.
26 11.10. Nine members appointed by the Governor, as
27 follows:
28 a. Six members shall be appointed from a list of ten
29 nominees, of which five must be submitted by the President of
30 the Senate and five must be submitted by the Speaker of the
31 House of Representatives. The list of five nominees submitted
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1 by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
2 Representatives must each contain at least three individuals
3 employed in the private sector, two of whom must have
4 management experience. One of the five nominees submitted by
5 the President of the Senate and one of the five nominees
6 submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives must
7 be an elected local government official who shall serve as an
8 ex officio nonvoting member.
9 b. Three members shall be at-large members appointed
10 by the Governor.
11 c. Of the nine members appointed by the Governor, at
12 least six must be employed in the private sector and of these,
13 at least five must have management experience.
14
15 The members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to
16 4-year, staggered terms. Within 60 days after a vacancy occurs
17 on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy of a member
18 appointed from the nominees submitted by the President of the
19 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the
20 remainder of the unexpired term from one nominee submitted by
21 the President of the Senate and one nominee submitted by the
22 Speaker of the House of Representatives. Within 60 days after
23 a vacancy of a member appointed at-large by the Governor
24 occurs on the board, the Governor shall fill the vacancy for
25 the remainder of the unexpired term. The composition of the
26 board must generally reflect the racial, gender, and ethnic
27 diversity of the state as a whole.
28 (b) The board of directors shall annually elect a
29 chairperson from among the members appointed by the Governor.
30 The board of directors shall meet at least once each quarter.
31 A member appointed by the Governor may not authorize a
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1 designee to attend a meeting of the board in place of the
2 member. The Governor may remove an appointed member for cause,
3 and an absence from three consecutive meetings results in
4 automatic removal, unless the member is excused by the
5 chairperson.
6 (c) Members of the board shall serve without
7 compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem
8 and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
9 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
10 624.91, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:
11 624.91 The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Act.--
12 (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
13 (a) The Legislature finds that increased access to
14 health care services could improve children's health and
15 reduce the incidence and costs of childhood illness and
16 disabilities among children in this state. Many children do
17 not have comprehensive, affordable health care services
18 available. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
19 Florida Healthy Kids Corporation provide comprehensive health
20 insurance coverage to such children. The corporation is
21 encouraged to cooperate with any existing health service
22 programs funded by the public or the private sector and to
23 work cooperatively with the State School Readiness Governing
24 Board.
25 Section 7. The Governor is authorized to transfer
26 funds from the relevant state departments or agencies to the
27 State School Readiness Governing Board to fund local school
28 readiness coalitions during the phase-in period.
29 Section 8. The State School Readiness Governing Board
30 may recommend to the Legislature by February 15, 2000, that
31 the current appropriations and positions for Department of
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1 Children and Family Services contract managers be transferred
2 to the governing board to provide for school readiness program
3 staffing.
4 Section 9. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
5 law.
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