HOUSE AMENDMENT Bill No. CS/CS/SB 1334
1	CHAMBER ACTION
2	Senate House
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12	Representative Barreiro offered the following:
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14	Amendment (with title amendment)
15	Remove everything after the enacting clause, and insert:
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17	Section 1. Voluntary universal prekindergarten education
18	program.--
19	(1) The voluntary universal prekindergarten education
20	program shall provide a high-quality prekindergarten learning
21	opportunity in the form of early childhood development and
22	education which is voluntary and free for every child in this
23	state who is 4 years of age. The program must be organized,
24	designed, and delivered in accordance with s. 1(b) and (c), Art.
25	IX of the State Constitution. Except as otherwise expressly
26	provided by law, ss. 411.01-411.011, Florida Statutes, do not
27	apply to the voluntary universal prekindergarten education
28	program.
29	(2) The State Board of Education shall conduct a study on
30	the curriculum, design, and standards for the voluntary
31	universal prekindergarten education program. By October 1, 2003,
32	the State Board of Education shall submit a report to the
33	Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
34	House of Representatives. The Agency for Workforce Innovation
35	and the Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall provide
36	any necessary information and coordinate with the state board.
37	The report must include the recommendations or options of the
38	state board on each of the following program elements:
39	(a) Curriculum and standards.--Developmentally appropriate
40	curriculum and standards that provide children a high-quality
41	prekindergarten learning opportunity. These curriculum and
42	standards must be designed to:
43	1. Address and enhance each child's ability to make age-
44	appropriate progress;
45	2. Provide early childhood development of language and
46	cognitive capabilities;
47	3. Provide education in basic skills and other appropriate
48	skills; and
49	4. Deliver early childhood development and education
50	according to professionally accepted standards.
51	(b) High-quality learning opportunity.--Quality standards
52	that provide children a high-quality prekindergarten learning
53	opportunity. These quality standards must include specific
54	recommendations or options for the expected outcomes of the
55	voluntary universal prekindergarten education program.
56	(c) Quantity of instruction.--Standards for the quantity
57	of instruction to be provided as voluntary and free for every
58	child in the state who is 4 years of age. These standards must
59	include specific recommendations or options for each of the
60	following elements:
61	1. Hours per day; and
62	2. Days per year.
63	(d) Delivery system.--Standards for providers in order to
64	deliver children a high-quality prekindergarten learning
65	opportunity. These standards must include specific
66	recommendations or options for each of the following elements:
67	1. Appropriate range of settings, including both public
68	and private providers, with consideration of the capacity in
69	each available setting;
70	2. Licensing or regulatory requirements for providers;
71	3. Health and safety requirements for providers; and
72	4. Parental choice.
73	(e) Assessment and evaluation.--Methods for measuring the
74	performance of the voluntary universal prekindergarten education
75	program. These methods must include specific recommendations or
76	options for each of the following elements:
77	1. Assessment of age-appropriate progress for each child;
78	2. Evaluation of outcome measures for each provider in
79	each setting; and
80	3. Evaluation of school readiness coalitions.
81	(f) Funding.--Estimated cost per full-time-equivalent
82	child of the recommended curriculum, design, and standards. This
83	cost estimate must consider funding for each of the state
84	board's recommendations or options for each of the program
85	elements described in this subsection.
86	(3) The report must also include the state board's
87	recommendations or options for best practices to improve the
88	outcomes of school readiness coalitions and providers.
89	Section 2. Audits.--
90	(1) Performance Audit.--The Office of Program Policy
91	Analysis and Government Accountability shall conduct a
92	performance audit of the school readiness programs administered
93	by the Florida Partnership for School Readiness, the Agency for
94	Workforce Innovation, and the school readiness coalitions for
95	fiscal years 2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003. The audit
96	shall reassess the implementation, efficiency, and outcomes of
97	the school readiness programs and shall examine the progress
98	achieved by the Florida Partnership for School Readiness and the
99	school readiness coalitions in response to the office's findings
100	and recommendations reported under s. 411.01(11), Florida
101	Statutes. The office shall also:
102	(a) Monitor the study conducted by the State Board of
103	Education on the voluntary universal prekindergarten education
104	program;
105	(b) Evaluate the ability of the school readiness system to
106	effectively implement the voluntary universal prekindergarten
107	education program based upon the state board's recommendations
108	or options for curriculum, design, and standards for the
109	program; and
110	(c) Identify modifications or options for the school
111	readiness system necessary to effectively implement the
112	voluntary universal prekindergarten education program.
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114	A report of the audit's findings and recommendations or options
115	shall be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
116	and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 15,
117	2004.
118	(2) Financial and Operational Audit.--The Auditor General
119	shall conduct a financial and operational audit of the school
120	readiness programs administered by the Florida Partnership for
121	School Readiness, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the
122	school readiness coalitions for fiscal years 2000-2001, 2001-
123	2002, and 2002-2003. The Auditor General shall also examine
124	compliance with state and federal law and with rules adopted by
125	the Florida Partnership for School Readiness and shall review
126	implementation of the school readiness plans for compliance with
127	the approved plans. A report of the audit's findings and
128	recommendations or options shall be submitted to the Governor,
129	the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
130	Representatives by January 15, 2004.
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132	While the audits are being conducted pursuant to this section,
133	local school readiness coalitions shall refrain from initiating
134	new long-term fiscal commitments.
135	Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
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139	================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T =================
140	Remove the entire title, and insert:
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143	A bill to be entitled
144	An act relating to school readiness programs; implementing
145	s. 1(b) and (c), Art. IX of the State Constitution;
146	creating the voluntary universal prekindergarten education
147	program; limiting the application of provisions relating
148	to school readiness programs; requiring the State Board of
149	Education to submit a report with recommendations or
150	options for the curriculum, design, and standards of the
151	voluntary universal prekindergarten education program;
152	directing the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
153	Government Accountability and the Auditor General to
154	conduct audits and submit reports to the Governor and
155	Legislature; providing an effective date.