HB 0821

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to early childhood education; creating
3	part V of ch. 1002, F.S.; creating the Voluntary
4	Prekindergarten Education Program; implementing s. 1(b)
5	and (c), Art. IX of the State Constitution; providing
6	definitions for purposes of the program; providing
7	eligibility and enrollment requirements; authorizing
8	parents to enroll their children in a program delivered by
9	a child development provider, a summer program delivered
10	by a public school, or a school-year program delivered by
11	a public school; requiring school districts to admit all
12	eligible children in the summer program; prohibiting
13	specified acts of discrimination and certain limits on
14	enrollment; specifying eligibility requirements for child
15	development providers and public schools that deliver the
16	program; providing for the adoption of rules; requiring
17	the Department of Education establish a credential for
18	prekindergarten directors and an emergent literacy
19	training course for teachers and child care personnel of
20	the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; requiring
21	the credential and course to provide training and
22	resources containing strategies that maximize the
23	program's benefits for students with disabilities and
24	other special needs; providing that the credential and
25	course satisfy certain credentialing and training
26	requirements; specifying eligibility requirements for
27	school districts that deliver the school-year
28	prekindergarten program; creating a demonstration program
29	in specified school districts; directing the Office of
30	Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to
31	evaluate the demonstration program; requiring the
32	demonstration districts to submit data; providing for the
33	future expiration of the demonstration program;
34	authorizing providers and schools to select or design
35	curricula used for the program under specified conditions;
36	directing the Department of Education to adopt performance
37	standards and approve curricula; requiring providers and
38	schools to be placed on probation and use the approved
39	curricula under certain circumstances; requiring
40	improvement plans and corrective actions from providers
41	and schools under certain circumstances; requiring
42	regional child development boards and school districts to
43	verify the compliance of child development providers and
44	public schools; authorizing the removal of providers and
45	schools from eligibility to deliver the program for
46	noncompliance; requiring the Department of Education to
47	adopt a statewide kindergarten screening; requiring
48	certain students to take the statewide screening;
49	specifying requirements for screening instruments and
50	kindergarten readiness rates; providing funding and
51	reporting requirements; specifying the calculation of per-
52	student allocations; providing for advance payments to
53	child development providers and public schools based upon
54	student enrollment; providing for the documentation and
55	certification of student attendance; requiring parents to
56	verify student attendance and certify the choice of
57	provider or school; providing for the reconciliation of
58	advance payments based upon certified student attendance;
59	requiring students to comply with attendance policies and
60	authorizing the dismissal of students for noncompliance;
61	prohibiting regional child development boards from
62	withholding funds for administrative costs; providing for
63	the allocation of administrative funds among regional
64	child development boards; prohibiting certain fees or
65	charges; limiting the use of state funds; providing powers
66	and duties of the Department of Education; requiring the
67	department to adopt procedures for the Voluntary
68	Prekindergarten Education Program; authorizing interagency
69	agreements for the integration of, and requiring
70	interagency access to, certain databases; limiting the
71	department's authority; creating the Florida Child
72	Development Advisory Council; providing for the
73	appointment and membership of the advisory council;
74	providing membership and meeting requirements; authorizing
75	council members to receive per diem and travel expenses;
76	requiring the Department of Education to provide staff for
77	the advisory council; providing for the adoption of rules;
78	amending s. 411.01, F.S.; conforming provisions to the
79	transfer of the Florida Partnership for School Readiness
80	to the Agency for Workforce Innovation; deleting
81	provisions for the appointment and membership of the
82	partnership; redesignating school readiness coalitions as
83	regional child development boards; deleting obsolete
84	references to repealed programs; deleting obsolete
85	provisions governing the phase in of school readiness
86	programs; deleting provisions governing the measurement of
87	school readiness, the school readiness uniform screening,
88	and performance-based budgeting in school readiness
89	programs; specifying requirements for school readiness
90	performance standards; clarifying rulemaking requirements;
91	limiting the Agency for Workforce Innovation's authority;
92	revising requirements for school readiness programs;
93	specifying that school readiness programs must enhance the
94	progress of children in certain skills; requiring regional
95	child development boards to obtain certain health
96	information before enrolling a child in the school
97	readiness program; requiring the Agency for Workforce
98	Innovation to administer a quality-assurance system and
99	identify best practices for regional child development
100	boards; requiring a reduction in the number of boards in
101	accordance with specified standards; directing the Agency
102	for Workforce Innovation to adopt procedures for the
103	merger of boards; revising appointment and membership
104	requirements for the boards; directing the Agency for
105	Workforce Innovation to adopt criteria for the appointment
106	of certain members; requiring each board to specify terms
107	of board members; prohibiting board members from voting
108	under certain circumstances; providing a definition for
109	purposes of the single point of entry; requiring regional
110	child development boards to use a statewide information
111	system; requiring the Agency for Workforce Innovation to
112	approve payment rates and consider the access of eligible
113	children before approving proposals to increase rates;
114	deleting requirements for the minimum number of children
115	served; providing requirements for developmentally
116	appropriate curriculum used for school readiness programs;
117	authorizing contracts for the continuation of school
118	readiness services under certain circumstances; requiring
119	the Agency for Workforce Innovation to adopt criteria for
120	the approval of school readiness plans; revising
121	requirements for school readiness plans; providing
122	requirements for the approval and implementation of plan
123	revisions; revising competitive procurement requirements
124	for regional child development boards; authorizing the
125	boards to designate certified public accountants as fiscal
126	agents; clarifying age and income eligibility requirements
127	for school readiness programs; revising eligibility
128	requirements for certain at-risk children; revising
129	funding requirements; revising requirements for the
130	adoption of a formula for the allocation of certain funds
131	among the regional child development boards; specifying
132	allocations for fiscal year 2004-2005; prohibiting certain
133	transfers without specific legislative authority; deleting
134	an obsolete provision requiring a report; deleting the
135	expiration of eligibility requirements for certain
136	children from families receiving temporary cash
137	assistance; amending s. 11.45, F.S.; authorizing the
138	Auditor General to conduct audits of the school readiness
139	system; conforming provisions; amending s. 20.15, F.S.;
140	specifying that the Commissioner of Education does not
141	appoint members of the Florida Child Development Advisory
142	Council; amending s. 20.50, F.S.; creating the Office of
143	Child Development within the Agency for Workforce
144	Innovation; providing that the office administers the
145	school readiness system; amending s. 125.901, F.S.;
146	conforming provisions; amending ss. 216.133 and 216.136,
147	F.S.; redesignating the School Readiness Program
148	Estimating Conference as the Child Development Programs
149	Estimating Conference; requiring the estimating conference
150	to develop certain estimates and forecasts for the
151	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; directing the
152	Department of Education to provide certain information to
153	the estimating conference; conforming provisions; creating
154	s. 402.265, F.S.; prohibiting certain transfers without
155	specific legislative authority; amending ss. 402.3016,
156	411.011, 411.226, 411.227, 624.91, 1001.23, 1002.22, and
157	1003.54, F.S.; conforming provisions to the transfer of
158	the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to the Agency
159	for Workforce Innovation and to the redesignation of the
160	school readiness coalitions as regional child development
161	boards; requiring the Department of Education to submit a
162	report; requiring the Governor to submit certain
163	recommendations as part of the Governor's recommended
164	budget; abolishing the Florida Partnership for School
165	Readiness and providing for the transfer of the
166	partnership to the Agency for Workforce Innovation;
167	repealing ss. 411.012 and 1008.21, F.S., relating to the
168	voluntary universal prekindergarten education program and
169	the school readiness uniform screening; providing
170	appropriations; providing for the allocation of
171	appropriations among certain school districts; requiring
172	the Legislative Budget Commission to approve the
173	allocation of certain appropriations; providing effective
174	dates.
175
176	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
177
178	Section 1.  Part V of chapter 1002, Florida Statutes,
179	consisting of sections 1002.51, 1002.53, 1002.55, 1002.57,
180	1002.59, 1002.61, 1002.63, 1002.65, 1002.67, 1002.69, 1002.71,
181	1002.73, and 1002.75, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
182	PART V
183	VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION PROGRAM
184	1002.51  Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
185	(1)  "Advisory council" means the Florida Child Development
186	Advisory Council created under s. 1002.73.
187	(2)  "Child development provider" means a provider eligible
188	to deliver the prekindergarten program under s. 1002.55.
189	(3)  "Department" means the Department of Education.
190	(4)  "Kindergarten eligibility" means the eligibility of a
191	child for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s.
192	1003.21(1)(a)2.
193	(5)  "Prekindergarten director" means an onsite person
194	ultimately responsible for the overall operation of a child
195	development provider or, alternatively, of the provider's
196	prekindergarten program, regardless of whether the person is the
197	owner of the provider.
198	(6)  "Regional child development board" or "board" means a
199	regional child development board created under s. 411.01.
200	1002.53  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
201	eligibility and enrollment.--
202	(1)  There is created the Voluntary Prekindergarten
203	Education Program within the Department of Education. The
204	program shall take effect in each county at the beginning of the
205	2005-2006 school year and shall be organized, designed, and
206	delivered in accordance with s. 1(b) and (c), Art. IX of the
207	State Constitution.
208	(2)  Each child who is a resident of the state who will
209	have attained the age of 4 years on or before September 1 of the
210	school year is eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
211	Education Program during that school year. The child remains
212	eligible until the child attains kindergarten eligibility or is
213	admitted to kindergarten, whichever occurs first.
214	(3)  The parent of each child eligible under subsection (2)
215	may enroll the child in one of the following programs:
216	(a)  A prekindergarten program delivered by a child
217	development provider under s. 1002.55;
218	(b)  A summer prekindergarten program delivered by a public
219	school under s. 1002.61; or
220	(c)  A school-year prekindergarten program delivered by a
221	public school under s. 1002.63.
222
223	However, a child may not be enrolled in more than one of these
224	programs.
225	(4)(a)  Each parent enrolling a child in the Voluntary
226	Prekindergarten Education Program must complete and submit an
227	application to the regional child development board through the
228	single point of entry established under s. 411.01.
229	(b)  The application must be submitted on forms prescribed
230	by the department and must be accompanied by a certified copy of
231	the child's birth certificate. The forms must include a
232	certification, in substantially the form provided in s.
233	1002.69(5)(b)2., that the parent chooses the child development
234	provider or public school in accordance with this section and
235	directs that payments for the program be made to the provider or
236	school. The department may authorize alternative methods for
237	submitting proof of the child's age in lieu of a certified copy
238	of the child's birth certificate.
239	(c)  Each regional child development board shall coordinate
240	with each of the school districts within the board's county or
241	multicounty region in the development of procedures for the
242	enrollment of children in prekindergarten programs delivered by
243	public schools.
244	(5)  The regional child development board shall provide
245	each parent enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
246	Education Program with a profile of every child development
247	provider and public school delivering the program within the
248	board's county or multicounty region. The profiles shall be
249	provided to parents in a format prescribed by the department.
250	The profiles must include, at a minimum, the following
251	information about each provider and school:
252	(a)  The provider's or school's services, curriculum,
253	teacher credentials, and teacher-to-student ratio; and
254	(b)  The provider's or school's kindergarten readiness rate
255	calculated in accordance with s. 1002.65(3)(c) and s. 1002.67,
256	based upon the most recent available results of the statewide
257	kindergarten screening.
258	(6)(a)  A parent may enroll his or her child with any child
259	development provider that is eligible to deliver the Voluntary
260	Prekindergarten Education Program under this part; however, the
261	child development provider may determine whether to admit any
262	child. A regional child development board or the department may
263	not limit the number of students admitted by any child
264	development provider for enrollment in the program; however, a
265	child development provider may not exceed its licensed capacity
266	in accordance with ss. 402.301-402.319 as a result of admissions
267	in the prekindergarten program.
268	(b)  A parent may enroll his or her child with any public
269	school within the school district which is eligible to deliver
270	the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under this part,
271	subject to available space. Each school district may limit the
272	number of students admitted by any public school for enrollment
273	in the program; however, the school district must provide for
274	the admission of every eligible child within the district whose
275	parent enrolls the child in the summer prekindergarten program
276	under s. 1002.61.
277	(c)  A child development provider or public school may not
278	discriminate against a parent or child, including the refusal to
279	admit a child for enrollment in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
280	Education Program, because of the parent's or child's race,
281	color, or national origin.
282	1002.55  Prekindergarten program delivered by child
283	development providers.--
284	(1)  Each regional child development board shall administer
285	the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the county or
286	regional level for students enrolled under s. 1002.53(3)(a) in a
287	prekindergarten program delivered by a child development
288	provider.
289	(2)  To be eligible to deliver the prekindergarten program,
290	a child development provider must meet each of the following
291	requirements:
292	(a)  The child development provider must be one of the
293	following types of providers:
294	1.  A nonpublic school exempt from licensure under s.
295	402.3025(2) which is accredited by an accrediting association in
296	the National Council for Private School Accreditation, the
297	Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation, or
298	the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools or which
299	holds a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation under s.
300	402.281;
301	2.  A child care facility licensed under s. 402.305, family
302	day care home licensed under s. 402.313, or large family child
303	care home licensed under s. 402.3131, which facility or home
304	holds a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation under s.
305	402.281 or meets or exceeds the Gold Seal Quality Care program
306	standards, as verified by the regional child development board,
307	but does not hold the designation; or
308	3.  A faith-based child care provider exempt from licensure
309	under s. 402.316 which is accredited by an accrediting
310	association in the National Council for Private School
311	Accreditation, the Commission on International and Trans-
312	Regional Accreditation, or the Florida Association of Academic
313	Nonpublic Schools or which holds a current Gold Seal Quality
314	Care designation under s. 402.281.
315	(b)  The child development provider must have, for each
316	prekindergarten class, at least one teacher or child care
317	personnel who meets each of the following requirements:
318	1.  The teacher or child care personnel must hold, at a
319	minimum, one of the following credentials:
320	a.  A Child Development Associate credential issued by the
321	National Credentialing Program of the Council for Professional
322	Regulation; or
323	b.  A credential approved by the Department of Children and
324	Family Services as being equivalent to or greater than the
325	credential described in sub-subparagraph a.
326
327	The Department of Children and Family Services may adopt rules
328	under s. 120.536(1) and s. 120.54 which provide criteria and
329	procedures for the approval of equivalent credentials under sub-
330	subparagraph b.
331	2.  The teacher or child care personnel must successfully
332	complete an emergent literacy training course approved by the
333	department as meeting or exceeding the minimum standards adopted
334	under s. 1002.59. This subparagraph does not apply to a teacher
335	or child care personnel who successfully completes approved
336	training in early literacy and language development under s.
337	402.305(2)(d)4., s. 402.313(6), or s. 402.3131(5) before the
338	establishment of the emergent literacy training course under s.
339	1002.59 or January 1, 2005, whichever occurs later.
340	(c)  The child development provider must have a
341	prekindergarten director who has a prekindergarten director
342	credential that is approved by the department as meeting or
343	exceeding the minimum standards adopted under s. 1002.57.
344	Successful completion of a child care facility director
345	credential under s. 402.305(2)(f) before the establishment of
346	the prekindergarten director credential under s. 1002.57 or July
347	1, 2005, whichever occurs later, satisfies the requirement for a
348	prekindergarten director credential under this paragraph.
349	(d)  The child development provider must register with the
350	regional child development board on forms prescribed by the
351	department.
352	(e)  The child development provider must deliver the
353	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program in accordance with
354	this part.
355	(3)  A teacher or child care personnel, in lieu of the
356	minimum credentials and courses required under paragraph (2)(b),
357	may hold one of the following educational credentials:
358	(a)  A bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood
359	education, prekindergarten or primary education, preschool
360	education, or family and consumer science;
361	(b)  A bachelor's or higher degree in elementary education,
362	if the teacher or child care personnel has been certified to
363	teach children any age from birth through 6th grade, regardless
364	of whether the teaching certificate is current;
365	(c)  An associate's or higher degree in child development;
366	(d)  An associate's or higher degree in an unrelated field,
367	at least 6 credit hours in early childhood education or child
368	development, and at least 480 hours experience in teaching or
369	providing child care services for children any age from birth
370	through 8 years of age; or
371	(e)  An educational credential approved by the department
372	as being equivalent to or greater than an educational credential
373	described in this subsection. The department may adopt criteria
374	and procedures for the approval of equivalent educational
375	credentials under this paragraph.
376	1002.57  Prekindergarten director credential.--
377	(1)  By July 1, 2005, the department, with the advice of
378	the advisory council, shall adopt minimum standards for a
379	credential for prekindergarten directors of child development
380	providers delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
381	Program. The credential must encompass requirements for
382	education and onsite experience.
383	(2)  The educational requirements must include training in
384	the following:
385	(a)  Professionally accepted standards for prekindergarten
386	programs, child development, and strategies and techniques to
387	address the age-appropriate progress of prekindergarten students
388	in attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
389	under s. 1002.65;
390	(b)  Strategies that allow students with disabilities and
391	other special needs to derive maximum benefit from the Voluntary
392	Prekindergarten Education Program; and
393	(c)  Program administration and operations, including
394	management, organizational leadership, and financial and legal
395	issues.
396	(3)  The prekindergarten director credential must meet or
397	exceed the requirements of the Department of Children and Family
398	Services for the child care facility director credential under
399	s. 402.305(2)(f), and successful completion of the
400	prekindergarten director credential satisfies these requirements
401	for the child care facility director credential.
402	(4)  The department shall, to the maximum extent
403	practicable, award credit to a person who successfully completes
404	the child care facility director credential under s.
405	402.305(2)(f) for those requirements of the prekindergarten
406	director credential which are duplicative of requirements for
407	the child care facility director credential.
408	1002.59  Emergent literacy training course.--By January 1,
409	2005, the department, with the advice of the advisory council,
410	shall adopt minimum standards for a training course in emergent
411	literacy for teachers and child care personnel of the Voluntary
412	Prekindergarten Education Program. The course shall comprise 5
413	clock hours and shall provide instruction in strategies and
414	techniques to address the age-appropriate progress of
415	prekindergarten students in the development of emergent literacy
416	skills, including oral communication, knowledge of print and
417	letters, phonemic and phonological awareness, and vocabulary and
418	comprehension development. The course shall also provide
419	resources containing strategies that allow students with
420	disabilities and other special needs to derive maximum benefit
421	from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. The course
422	must meet or exceed the requirements of the Department of
423	Children and Family Services for approved training in early
424	literacy and language development under ss. 402.305(2)(d)4.,
425	402.313(6), and 402.3131(5), and successful completion of the
426	training course satisfies these requirements for approved
427	training.
428	1002.61  Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public
429	schools; demonstration program.--
430	(1)  Each school district shall administer the Voluntary
431	Prekindergarten Education Program at the district level for
432	students enrolled under s. 1002.53(3)(b) in a summer
433	prekindergarten program delivered by a public school.
434	(2)  Each district school board shall determine which
435	public schools in the school district are eligible to deliver
436	the summer prekindergarten program. The school district shall
437	use educational facilities available in the public schools
438	during the summer term for the summer prekindergarten program.
439	(3)  Each public school delivering the summer
440	prekindergarten program must have at least one certified teacher
441	for every 10 students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
442	Program. As used in this subsection, the term "certified
443	teacher" means a teacher holding a valid Florida teaching
444	certificate under s. 1012.56 who has the qualifications required
445	by the district school board to instruct students in the summer
446	prekindergarten program. In selecting instructional staff for
447	the summer prekindergarten program, each school district shall
448	give priority to teachers who have experience or coursework in
449	early childhood education.
450	(4)  Each public school delivering the summer
451	prekindergarten program must also:
452	(a)  Register with the regional child development board on
453	forms prescribed by the department; and
454	(b)  Deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
455	Program in accordance with this part.
456	(5)(a)  There is created a summer prekindergarten
457	demonstration program that shall be implemented during summer
458	2004 in the Baker, Duval, Hillsborough, Martin, Miami-Dade,
459	Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Santa Rosa, and Wakulla school
460	districts. The demonstration program shall implement the summer
461	prekindergarten program delivered by public schools within the
462	demonstration districts.
463	(b)  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
464	Accountability shall develop a research design for the
465	demonstration program which ensures that students in the
466	demonstration program are demographically representative of
467	students statewide and that the sample size is sufficient to
468	generate statistically valid conclusions. The sample must be
469	selected to ensure that the results obtained from the
470	demonstration program are applicable statewide with statistical
471	confidence.
472	(c)  Each demonstration district and demonstration school
473	shall implement the demonstration program in accordance with the
474	research design developed under paragraph (b) and, to the
475	maximum extent practicable, in accordance with this part.
476	(d)  Each demonstration district shall submit to the Office
477	of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability the
478	results of the statewide kindergarten screening administered
479	under s. 1002.67 for students who completed the summer
480	prekindergarten demonstration program.
481	(e)  By January 15, 2005, the Office of Program Policy
482	Analysis and Government Accountability shall conduct an
483	evaluation of the demonstration program in consultation with the
484	Legislature. Each demonstration district shall submit data about
485	the demonstration program as requested by the Office of Program
486	Policy Analysis and Government Accountability for purposes of
487	the evaluation.
488	(f)  This subsection expires July 1, 2005.
489	1002.63  School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
490	public schools.--
491	(1)  Each school district eligible under subsection (3) may
492	administer the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at
493	the district level for students enrolled under s. 1002.53(3)(c)
494	in a school-year prekindergarten program delivered by a public
495	school.
496	(2)  The district school board of each school district
497	eligible under subsection (3) shall determine which public
498	schools in the district are eligible to deliver the
499	prekindergarten program during the school year.
500	(3)  To be eligible to deliver the prekindergarten program
501	during the school year, each school district must meet both of
502	the following requirements:
503	(a)  The district school board must certify to the State
504	Board of Education:
505	1.  That the school district has reduced the average class
506	size in each classroom in accordance with s. 1003.03 and the
507	schedule in s. 1(a), Art. IX of the State Constitution; and
508	2.  That the school district has sufficient satisfactory
509	educational facilities and capital outlay funds to continue
510	reducing the average class size in each classroom in an
511	elementary school for each year in accordance with the class-
512	size reduction schedule and to achieve full compliance with the
513	maximum class sizes in s. 1(a), Art. IX of the State
514	Constitution by the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.
515	(b)  The Commissioner of Education must certify to the
516	State Board of Education that the department has reviewed the
517	school district's educational facilities, capital outlay funds,
518	and projected student enrollment and concurs with the district
519	school board's certification under paragraph (a).
520	(4)  Each public school delivering the school-year
521	prekindergarten program must:
522	(a)  Register with the regional child development board on
523	forms prescribed by the department; and
524	(b)  Deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
525	Program in accordance with this part.
526	1002.65  Performance standards; curriculum and
527	accountability.--
528	(1)  By January 1, 2005, the department, with the advice of
529	the advisory council, shall develop and adopt performance
530	standards for students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
531	Education Program. The performance standards must address the
532	age-appropriate progress of students in the development of:
533	(a)  The capabilities, capacities, and skills required
534	under s. 1(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution; and
535	(b)  Emergent literacy skills, including oral
536	communication, knowledge of print and letters, phonemic and
537	phonological awareness, and vocabulary and comprehension
538	development.
539	(2)(a)  Each child development provider and public school
540	may select or design the curriculum that the provider or school
541	uses to implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
542	Program, except as otherwise required for a provider or school
543	that is placed on probation under paragraph (3)(c).
544	(b)  Each child development provider's and public school's
545	curriculum must be developmentally appropriate and must:
546	1.  Be based upon reading research;
547	2.  Enhance the age-appropriate progress of students in
548	attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
549	under subsection (1); and
550	3.  Prepare students to be assessed as ready for
551	kindergarten based upon the statewide kindergarten screening
552	administered under s. 1002.67.
553	(c)  The department shall review and approve curricula for
554	use by child development providers and public schools that are
555	placed on probation under paragraph (3)(c). The department shall
556	maintain a list of the curricula approved under this paragraph.
557	Each approved curriculum must meet the requirements of paragraph
558	(b).
559	(3)(a)  Each regional child development board and school
560	district shall verify compliance with this part of the child
561	development providers or public schools, as applicable,
562	delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
563	within the district.
564	(b)  A regional child development board or the department
565	may remove a child development provider, and a school district
566	or the department may remove a public school, from eligibility
567	to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and
568	receive state funds for the program, if the provider or school
569	fails or refuses to comply with this part.
570	(c)  Beginning with the kindergarten readiness rates for
571	students completing the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
572	Program during the 2005-2006 school year who are administered
573	the statewide kindergarten screening during the 2006-2007 school
574	year:
575	1.  Of the students who are administered the statewide
576	kindergarten screening under s. 1002.67, if less than 85 percent
577	of the students from a child development provider's or public
578	school's prekindergarten program are assessed as ready for
579	kindergarten based upon the results of the statewide
580	kindergarten screening, the regional child development board or
581	school district, as applicable, shall require the provider or
582	school to submit an improvement plan for approval by the
583	regional child development board or school district, as
584	applicable, and to implement the plan.
585	2.  If a child development provider or public school fails
586	to meet the 85-percent kindergarten readiness rate for 2
587	consecutive years, the regional child development board or
588	school district, as applicable, shall place the provider or
589	school on probation and must require the provider or school to
590	take certain corrective actions, including the use of a
591	curriculum approved by the department under paragraph (2)(c).
592	3.  A child development provider or public school that is
593	placed on probation must continue the corrective actions
594	required under subparagraph 2., including the use of a
595	curriculum approved by the department, until the provider or
596	school meets the 85-percent kindergarten readiness rate, based
597	upon the results of the statewide kindergarten screening.
598	1002.67  Statewide kindergarten screening.--
599	(1)  The department, with the advice of the advisory
600	council, shall adopt a statewide kindergarten screening that
601	assesses the readiness of each student for kindergarten based
602	upon the performance standards adopted by the department under
603	s. 1002.65(1) for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
604	Program. The department shall require that each school district
605	administer the statewide kindergarten screening to every
606	kindergarten student in the school district within 30 school
607	days after the student's entry into kindergarten.
608	(2)  The statewide kindergarten screening shall provide
609	objective data on each student's progress in attaining the
610	performance standards adopted by the department under s.
611	1002.65(1).
612	(3)  The statewide kindergarten screening shall incorporate
613	mechanisms for recognizing potential variations in kindergarten
614	readiness rates for students with disabilities.
615	(4)  Each parent who enrolls his or her child in the
616	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must submit the
617	child for the statewide kindergarten screening, regardless of
618	whether the child is admitted to kindergarten in a public school
619	or nonpublic school. Each school district shall designate public
620	schools to administer the statewide kindergarten screening for
621	children admitted to kindergarten in a nonpublic school.
622	(5)  The department shall adopt procedures for the
623	calculation of each child development provider's and public
624	school's kindergarten readiness rate. The kindergarten readiness
625	rates must be based exclusively upon the results of the
626	statewide kindergarten screening and must not consider students
627	who are not administered the statewide kindergarten screening.
628	(6)(a)  During the 2004-2005 through 2006-2007 school
629	years, the department shall continue the statewide
630	administration of the Early Screening Inventory-Kindergarten
631	developmental screening instrument as the statewide kindergarten
632	screening. The department may administer additional instruments
633	but only if the instruments are administered statewide. For
634	purposes of s. 1002.65(3)(c), the Early Screening Inventory-
635	Kindergarten developmental screening instrument shall be used to
636	calculate kindergarten readiness rates.
637	(b)  By January 15, 2006, the department, with the advice
638	of the advisory council, shall recommend to the Legislature
639	valid and reliable screening instruments for the statewide
640	kindergarten screening. The Legislature shall review the
641	recommendations of the department at the 2006 Regular Session
642	and shall adopt screening instruments for the statewide
643	kindergarten screening.
644	(c)  Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, the
645	department shall administer the screening instruments adopted by
646	the Legislature under paragraph (b). During the 2006-2007 school
647	year, the department shall continue administration of the Early
648	Screening Inventory-Kindergarten developmental screening
649	instrument for purposes of obtaining baseline data that compares
650	the kindergarten readiness rates of the instruments.
651	(d)  The Legislature shall review, at the 2007 Regular
652	Session, the baseline data obtained under paragraph (c) and the
653	85-percent kindergarten readiness rate in s. 1002.65(3)(c). The
654	screening instruments adopted by the Legislature under paragraph
655	(b) shall be used to calculate the kindergarten readiness rates
656	for students completing the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
657	Program during the 2006-2007 school year who are administered
658	the statewide kindergarten screening during the 2007-2008 school
659	year and for subsequent school years.
660	1002.69  Funding; financial and attendance reporting.--
661	(1)  There is created a categorical fund for the Voluntary
662	Prekindergarten Education Program. Categorical funds
663	appropriated for the program shall be in addition to funds
664	appropriated based upon full-time equivalent student membership
665	in the Florida Education Finance Program.
666	(2)  A full-time equivalent student in the Voluntary
667	Prekindergarten Education Program shall be calculated as
668	follows:
669	(a)  For a student in a prekindergarten program delivered
670	by a child development provider: 540 hours.
671	(b)  For a student in a summer prekindergarten program
672	delivered by a public school: 300 hours.
673	(c)  For a student in a school-year prekindergarten program
674	delivered by a public school: 540 hours.
675
676	A student may not be reported for funding purposes as more than
677	one full-time equivalent student.
678	(3)(a)  The base student allocation per full-time
679	equivalent student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
680	Program shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act and
681	shall be equal, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in
682	a prekindergarten program delivered by a child development
683	provider, a summer prekindergarten program delivered by a public
684	school, or a school-year prekindergarten program delivered by a
685	public school.
686	(b)  Each county's allocation per full-time equivalent
687	student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program shall
688	be calculated annually by multiplying the base student
689	allocation provided in the General Appropriations Act by the
690	county's district cost differential provided in s. 1011.62(2).
691	Each child development provider and public school shall be paid
692	in accordance with the county's allocation per full-time
693	equivalent student.
694	(4)(a)  Each regional child development board shall
695	maintain through the single point of entry established under s.
696	411.01 a current database of the students enrolled in the
697	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program for each county
698	within the board's region.
699	(b)  The department shall adopt procedures for the payment
700	of child development providers and public schools delivering the
701	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. The procedures
702	shall provide for the advance payment of providers and schools
703	based upon student enrollment in the program, the certification
704	of student attendance, and the reconciliation of advance
705	payments based upon the certified student attendance. The
706	procedures shall provide for the monthly distribution of funds
707	by the department to the regional child development boards for
708	payment by the boards to child development providers and public
709	schools.
710	(5)(a)  Each parent enrolling his or her child in the
711	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must agree to comply
712	with the attendance policy of the child development provider or
713	district school board, as applicable. Upon enrollment of the
714	child, the child development provider or public school, as
715	applicable, must provide the child's parent with a copy of the
716	provider's or school district's attendance policy, as
717	applicable.
718	(b)1.  Each child development provider's and district
719	school board's attendance policy must require the parent of each
720	student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
721	verify, each month, the student's attendance on the prior
722	month's certified student attendance.
723	2.  The parent must submit the verification of the
724	student's attendance to the child development provider or public
725	school on forms prescribed by the department. The forms must
726	include, in addition to the verification of the student's
727	attendance, a certification, in substantially the following
728	form, that the parent continues to choose the child development
729	provider or public school in accordance with s. 1002.53 and
730	directs that payments for the program be made to the provider or
731	school:
732	VERIFICATION OF STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE
733	AND CERTIFICATION OF PARENTAL CHOICE
734
735	I,  . . . (Name of Parent) . . . , swear (or affirm) that my
736	child,  . . . (Name of Student) . . . , attended the Voluntary
737	Prekindergarten Education Program on the days listed above and
738	certify that I continue to choose  . . . (Name of Provider or
739	School) . . .  to deliver the program for my child and direct
740	that program funds be paid to the provider or school for my
741	child.
742
743	. . . (Signature of Parent) . . .
744	. . . (Date) . . .
745
746	3.  The child development provider or public school must
747	submit each original signed form to the regional child
748	development board. The regional child development board shall
749	keep the original signed forms or reproductions of the forms,
750	such as digital images or microfilm, in accordance with chapter
751	119. The department shall adopt procedures for the review of the
752	original signed forms against the certified student attendance.
753	The review procedures shall provide for the use of selective
754	inspection techniques, including, but not limited to, random
755	sampling. Each regional child development board must comply with
756	the review procedures.
757	(c)  A child development provider or school district, as
758	applicable, may dismiss a student who does not comply with the
759	provider's or district's attendance policy. A student dismissed
760	under this paragraph is not removed from the Voluntary
761	Prekindergarten Education Program and may continue in the
762	program through reenrollment with another child development
763	provider or public school. Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(6)(b), a
764	school district is not required to provide for the admission of
765	a student dismissed under this paragraph.
766	(6)  A regional child development board may not withhold
767	for administrative costs any portion of the funds distributed to
768	the board for payment to child development providers and public
769	schools. The department shall annually allocate administrative
770	funds to each regional child development board from funds
771	provided in the General Appropriations Act for that purpose. The
772	administrative funds must only be used for administration of the
773	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. The department
774	shall allocate the administrative funds based upon each regional
775	child development board's student enrollment in the program. The
776	amount of each regional child development board's administrative
777	funds may not exceed 3 percent of the funds paid by the board to
778	child development providers and public schools.
779	(7)  Except as otherwise expressly authorized by law, a
780	child development provider or public school may not:
781	(a)  Impose or collect a fee or charge for services
782	provided for a child enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
783	Education Program during a period reported for funding purposes;
784	or
785	(b)  Require a child to enroll for, or require the payment
786	of any fee or charge for, supplemental services as a condition
787	of admitting a child for enrollment in the Voluntary
788	Prekindergarten Education Program.
789	(8)  State funds provided for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
790	Education Program may not be used for the transportation of
791	students to and from the program. A parent is responsible for
792	the transportation of his or her child to and from the Voluntary
793	Prekindergarten Education Program, regardless of whether the
794	program is delivered by a child development provider or a public
795	school.
796	1002.71  Department of Education; powers and duties.--
797	(1)  The Department of Education, with the advice of the
798	advisory council, shall administer the Voluntary Prekindergarten
799	Education Program at the statewide level.
800	(2)  The department shall adopt procedures for:
801	(a)  Enrolling children in and determining the eligibility
802	of children for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
803	under s. 1002.53.
804	(b)  Providing parents with profiles of child development
805	providers and public schools under s. 1002.53.
806	(c)  Registering and determining the eligibility of child
807	development providers to deliver the program under s. 1002.55.
808	(d)  Verifying Gold Seal Quality Care program standards
809	under s. 1002.55.
810	(e)  Approving prekindergarten director credentials under
811	s. 1002.55 and s. 1002.57.
812	(f)  Approving emergent literacy training courses under s.
813	1002.55 and s. 1002.59.
814	(g)  Certifying the eligibility of school districts to
815	deliver the school-year prekindergarten program under s.
816	1002.63.
817	(h)  Verifying the compliance of child development
818	providers and public schools, and removing providers or schools
819	from eligibility to deliver the program for noncompliance, under
820	s. 1002.65.
821	(i)  Approving improvement plans of child development
822	providers and public schools under s. 1002.65.
823	(j)  Placing child development providers and public schools
824	on probation and requiring corrective actions under s. 1002.65.
825	(k)  Administering the statewide kindergarten screening and
826	calculating kindergarten readiness rates under s. 1002.67.
827	(l)  Distributing funds to regional child development
828	boards under s. 1002.69.
829	(m)  Paying child development providers and public schools
830	under s. 1002.69.
831	(n)  Documenting and certifying student enrollment and
832	student attendance under s. 1002.69.
833	(o)  Reconciling advance payments in accordance under s.
834	1002.69.
835	(p)  Reenrolling students dismissed by a child development
836	provider or public school for noncompliance with the provider's
837	or school district's attendance policy under s. 1002.69.
838	(q)  Allocating administrative funds among regional child
839	development boards under s. 1002.69.
840	(3)  Notwithstanding s. 402.265 and s. 411.01(10), the
841	Department of Education, the Agency for Workforce Innovation,
842	the Department of Children and Family Services, and the regional
843	child development boards may enter into interagency agreements
844	that provide for the integration of, and shall provide
845	interagency access among these agencies to, databases containing
846	records, data, or other information relating to the following:
847	(a)  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
848	(b)  School readiness programs; or
849	(c)  Licensure or registration, inspection, and
850	disciplinary actions of child care facilities, family day care
851	homes, and large family child care homes.
852
853	These databases may comprise individual records of students,
854	child development providers, and public schools in the Voluntary
855	Prekindergarten Education Program and individual records of
856	students and providers in school readiness programs. The
857	agencies must protect the confidentiality of school readiness
858	records in accordance with s. 411.011. These databases may also
859	include the statewide child care resource and referral network
860	established under s. 402.27 and each regional child development
861	board's single point of entry established under s. 411.01.
862	(4)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the department
863	does not have authority to:
864	(a)  Impose requirements on a child development provider
865	that does not deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
866	Program or receive state funds under this part.
867	(b)  Impose requirements on a regional child development
868	board which are not necessary for the administration of the
869	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under this part.
870	(c)  Administer powers and duties assigned to the Agency
871	for Workforce Innovation or a regional child development board
872	under s. 411.01.
873	1002.73  Florida Child Development Advisory Council.--
874	(1)  There is created the Florida Child Development
875	Advisory Council within the Department of Education. The purpose
876	of the advisory council is to advise the Department of Education
877	and the Agency for Workforce Innovation on the child development
878	policy of this state, including advice relating to
879	administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
880	Program under this part and the school readiness programs under
881	s. 411.01.
882	(2)  The advisory council shall be composed of the
883	following members:
884	(a)  Eleven members appointed by the Governor, as follows:
885	1.  The chair of the advisory council and one other member,
886	who must both meet the same qualifications as private-sector
887	business members appointed to a regional child development board
888	under s. 411.01(5)(a)6.
889	2.  A representative of nonpublic schools accredited by
890	accrediting associations in either the National Council for
891	Private School Accreditation or the Commission on International
892	and Trans-Regional Accreditation.
893	3.  A representative of nonpublic schools accredited by
894	accrediting associations in the Florida Association of Academic
895	Nonpublic Schools.
896	4.  A representative of licensed child care facilities.
897	5.  A representative of licensed or registered family day
898	care homes.
899	6.  A representative of licensed large family child care
900	homes.
901	7.  A representative of faith-based child care providers.
902	8.  A representative of programs for prekindergarten
903	children with disabilities under the federal Individuals with
904	Disabilities Education Act.
905	9.  A public school classroom teacher.
906	10.  A district superintendent of schools.
907
908	The members appointed under this paragraph must be
909	geographically and demographically representative of the state.
910	The members shall be appointed to terms of 3 years each, except
911	that, to establish staggered terms, one-half of the members
912	shall be appointed to initial terms of 2 years each. Appointed
913	members may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
914	(b)  The director of the Florida Head Start-State
915	Collaboration Office.
916	(c)  A chair of a regional child development board who
917	shall be selected by the chairs of the regional child
918	development boards.
919	(d)  An executive director of a regional child development
920	board who shall be selected by the executive directors of the
921	regional child development boards.
922	(e)  The chair of the Child Care Executive Partnership.
923	(f)  The chair or executive director of Workforce Florida,
924	Inc., or his or her designee.
925	(g)  The director of the Division of Community Colleges of
926	the Department of Education.
927	(h)  The Secretary of Health or his or her designee.
928	(i)  The director of the Child Care Services Program Office
929	of the Department of Children and Family Services.
930	(j)  The Deputy Director for Child Development of the
931	Agency for Workforce Innovation.
932	(k)  The Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
933	(l)  Two members appointed by and who serve at the pleasure
934	of the President of the Senate and two members appointed by and
935	who serve at the pleasure of the Speaker of the House of
936	Representatives, who must each meet the same qualifications as
937	private-sector business members appointed to a regional child
938	development board under s. 411.01(5)(a)6.
939	(3)  The advisory council shall meet at least quarterly but
940	may meet as often as necessary to carry out its duties and
941	responsibilities.
942	(4)(a)  Each member of the advisory council shall serve
943	without compensation but is entitled to per diem and travel
944	expenses for attendance of council meetings as provided in s.
945	112.061.
946	(b)  Each member of the advisory council is subject to the
947	ethics provisions in part III of chapter 112.
948	(c)  For purposes of tort liability, each member of the
949	advisory council shall be governed by s. 768.28.
950	(5)  The department shall provide staff and administrative
951	support for the advisory council.
952	1002.75  Rulemaking authority.--The State Board of
953	Education shall adopt rules under s. 120.536(1) and s. 120.54 to
954	administer the provisions of this part conferring duties upon
955	the department. The state board shall adopt initial rules for
956	the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program by January 1,
957	2005.
958	Section 2.  Effective July 1, 2004, section 411.01, Florida
959	Statutes, is amended to read:
960	411.01  Florida Partnership for School readiness programs;
961	regional child development boards school readiness coalitions.--
962	(1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the "School
963	Readiness Act."
964	(2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
965	(a)  The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
966	programs increase children's chances of achieving future
967	educational success and becoming productive members of society.
968	It is the intent of the Legislature that the such programs be
969	developmentally appropriate, research-based, involve parents as
970	their child's first teacher, serve as preventive measures for
971	children at risk of future school failure, enhance the
972	educational readiness of eligible children, and support family
973	education. Each school readiness program shall provide the
974	elements necessary to prepare at-risk children for school,
975	including health screening and referral and an appropriate
976	educational program.
977	(b)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school
978	readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis
979	to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and
980	become financially self-sufficient.
981	(c)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school
982	readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
983	upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
984	programs for young children, and that school readiness programs
985	be coordinated and funding integrated to achieve full
986	effectiveness.
987	(d)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
988	administrative staff at the state level for school readiness
989	programs be kept to the minimum necessary to administer carry
990	out the duties of the Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
991	Partnership for School Readiness, as the school readiness
992	programs are to be regionally locally designed, operated, and
993	managed, with the Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
994	Partnership for School Readiness adopting a system for measuring
995	school readiness; developing school readiness program
996	performance standards and, outcome measures measurements, and
997	data design and review; and approving and reviewing regional
998	child development boards and local school readiness coalitions
999	and plans.
1000	(e)  It is the intent of the Legislature that
1001	appropriations for combined school readiness programs shall not
1002	be less than the programs would receive in any fiscal year on an
1003	uncombined basis.
1004	(f)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the school
1005	readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction with the
1006	district school systems. However, it is also the intent of the
1007	Legislature that the school readiness program not be construed
1008	as part of the system of free public schools but rather as a
1009	separate program for children under the age of kindergarten
1010	eligibility, funded separately from the system of free public
1011	schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale, and providing
1012	an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services
1013	for the state's birth-to-kindergarten population.
1014	(g)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the federal
1015	child care income tax credit be preserved for school readiness
1016	programs.
1017	(h)  It is the intent of the Legislature that school
1018	readiness services shall be an integrated and seamless system of
1019	services with a developmentally appropriate education component
1020	for the state's eligible birth-to-kindergarten population
1021	described in subsection (6) and shall not be construed as part
1022	of the seamless K-20 education system except for the
1023	administration of the uniform screening system upon entry into
1024	kindergarten.
1025	(3)  PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS
1026	PROGRAM.--
1027	(a)  The school readiness program shall be phased in on a
1028	coalition-by-coalition basis. Each coalition's school readiness
1029	program shall have available to it funding from all the
1030	coalition's early education and child care programs that are
1031	funded with state, federal, lottery, or local funds, including
1032	but not limited to Florida First Start programs, Even-Start
1033	literacy programs, prekindergarten early intervention programs,
1034	Head Start programs, programs offered by public and private
1035	providers of child care, migrant prekindergarten programs, Title
1036	I programs, subsidized child care programs, and teen parent
1037	programs, together with any additional funds appropriated or
1038	obtained for purposes of this section.  These programs and their
1039	funding streams shall be components of the coalition's
1040	integrated school readiness program, with the goal of preparing
1041	children for success in school.
1042	(b)  Nothing contained in This section does not act is
1043	intended to:
1044	(a)1.  Relieve parents and guardians of their own
1045	obligations to prepare ready their children for school; or
1046	(b)2.  Create any obligation to provide publicly funded
1047	school readiness programs or services beyond those authorized by
1048	the Legislature.
1049	(4)  AGENCY FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION FLORIDA PARTNERSHIP
1050	FOR SCHOOL READINESS.--
1051	(a)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall Florida
1052	Partnership for School Readiness was created to fulfill three
1053	major purposes: to administer school readiness programs at the
1054	statewide level and shall program services that help parents
1055	prepare eligible children for school; to coordinate the regional
1056	child development boards in providing provision of school
1057	readiness services on a full-day, full-year, full-choice basis
1058	to the extent possible in order to enable parents to work and be
1059	financially self-sufficient; and to establish a uniform
1060	screening instrument to be implemented by the Department of
1061	Education and administered by the school districts upon entry
1062	into kindergarten to assess the readiness for school of all
1063	children. Readiness for kindergarten is the outcome measure of
1064	the success of each school readiness program that receives state
1065	or federal funds. The partnership is assigned to the Agency for
1066	Workforce Innovation for administrative purposes.
1067	(b)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
1068	Partnership for School Readiness shall:
1069	1.  Coordinate the birth-to-kindergarten services for
1070	children who are eligible under pursuant to subsection (6) and
1071	the programmatic, administrative, and fiscal standards under
1072	pursuant to this section for all public providers of school
1073	readiness programs.
1074	2.  Continue to provide unified leadership for school
1075	readiness through regional child development boards local school
1076	readiness coalitions.
1077	3.  Focus on improving the educational quality of all
1078	publicly funded school readiness programs.
1079	(c)1.  The Florida Partnership for School Readiness shall
1080	include the Lieutenant Governor, the Commissioner of Education,
1081	the Secretary of Children and Family Services, and the Secretary
1082	of Health, or their designees, and the chair of the Child Care
1083	Executive Partnership Board, and the chairperson of the Board of
1084	Directors of Workforce Florida, Inc. When the Lieutenant
1085	Governor or an agency head appoints a designee, the designee
1086	must be an individual who attends consistently, and, in the
1087	event that the Lieutenant Governor or agency head and his or her
1088	designee both attend a meeting, only one of them may vote.
1089	2.  The partnership shall also include 14 members of the
1090	public who shall be business, community, and civic leaders in
1091	the state who are not elected to public office. These members
1092	and their families must not have a direct contract with any
1093	local coalition to provide school readiness services. The
1094	members must be geographically and demographically
1095	representative of the state. Each member shall be appointed by
1096	the Governor from a list of nominees submitted by the President
1097	of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
1098	By July 1, 2001, four members shall be appointed as follows: two
1099	members shall be from the child care industry, one representing
1100	the private for-profit sector appointed by the Governor from a
1101	list of two nominees submitted by the President of the Senate
1102	and one representing faith-based providers appointed by the
1103	Governor from a list of two nominees submitted by the Speaker of
1104	the House of Representatives; and two members shall be from the
1105	business community, one appointed by the Governor from a list of
1106	two nominees submitted by the President of the Senate and one
1107	appointed by the Governor from a list of two nominees submitted
1108	by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Members shall be
1109	appointed to 4-year terms of office. The members of the
1110	partnership shall elect a chairperson annually from the
1111	nongovernmental members of the partnership. Any vacancy on the
1112	partnership shall be filled in the same manner as the original
1113	appointment.
1114	(d)  The partnership shall meet at least quarterly but may
1115	meet as often as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and
1116	responsibilities. Members of the partnership shall participate
1117	without proxy at the quarterly meetings. The partnership may
1118	take official action by a majority vote of the members present
1119	at any meeting at which a quorum is present.
1120	(e)  Members of the partnership are subject to the ethics
1121	provisions in part III of chapter 112, and no member may derive
1122	any financial benefit from the funds administered by the Florida
1123	Partnership for School Readiness.
1124	(f)  Members of the partnership shall serve without
1125	compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and
1126	travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as
1127	provided in s. 112.061, and reimbursement for other reasonable,
1128	necessary, and actual expenses.
1129	(g)  For the purposes of tort liability, the members of the
1130	partnership and its employees shall be governed by s. 768.28.
1131	(h)  The partnership shall appoint an executive director
1132	who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The executive
1133	director shall perform the duties assigned to him or her by the
1134	partnership. The executive director shall be responsible for
1135	hiring, subject to the approval of the partnership, all
1136	employees and staff members, who shall serve under his or her
1137	direction and control.
1138	(c)(i)  For purposes of administration of the federal Child
1139	Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99, the Agency
1140	for Workforce Innovation partnership may be designated by the
1141	Governor as the lead agency, and if so designated shall comply
1142	with the lead agency responsibilities under pursuant to federal
1143	law.
1144	(d)(j)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
1145	Partnership for School Readiness is the principal organization
1146	responsible for the enhancement of school readiness for the
1147	state's children, and shall:
1148	1.  Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
1149	private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
1150	requirements.
1151	2.  Provide final approval and periodic review of regional
1152	child development boards coalitions and school readiness plans.
1153	3.  Provide leadership for the enhancement of school
1154	readiness in this state by aggressively establishing a unified
1155	approach to the state's efforts toward enhancement of school
1156	readiness. In support of this effort, the Agency for Workforce
1157	Innovation partnership may develop and implement specific
1158	strategies that address the state's school readiness programs.
1159	4.  Safeguard the effective use of federal, state, local,
1160	and private resources to achieve the highest possible level of
1161	school readiness for the state's children in this state.
1162	5.  Provide technical assistance to regional child
1163	development boards coalitions.
1164	6.  Assess gaps in service.
1165	7.  Provide technical assistance to counties that form a
1166	regional child development board serving a multicounty region
1167	coalition.
1168	8.a.  Adopt a system for measuring school readiness that
1169	provides objective data regarding the expectations for school
1170	readiness, and establish a method for collecting the data and
1171	guidelines for using the data. The measurement, the data
1172	collection, and the use of the data must serve the statewide
1173	school readiness goal. The criteria for determining which data
1174	to collect should be the usefulness of the data to state
1175	policymakers and local program administrators in administering
1176	programs and allocating state funds, and must include the
1177	tracking of school readiness system information back to
1178	individual school readiness programs to assist in determining
1179	program effectiveness.
1180	b.  Adopt a system for evaluating the performance of
1181	students through the third grade to compare the performance of
1182	those who participated in school readiness programs with the
1183	performance of students who did not participate in school
1184	readiness programs in order to identify strategies for continued
1185	successful student performance.
1186	8.9.  Develop and adopt, with the advice of the Florida
1187	Child Development Advisory Council created under s. 1002.73 and
1188	the Department of Education, performance standards and outcome
1189	measures for school readiness programs. The performance
1190	standards must address the age-appropriate progress of children
1191	in the development of the school readiness skills required under
1192	paragraph (j). The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall
1193	integrate the performance standards for school readiness
1194	programs into the performance standards adopted by the
1195	Department of Education for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
1196	Education Program under s. 1002.65.
1197	(e)(k)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership may
1198	adopt rules under s. 120.536(1) and s. 120.54 necessary to
1199	administer the provisions of law conferring duties upon the
1200	agency, including, but not limited this section which relate to,
1201	rules governing the preparation preparing and implementation of
1202	implementing the system for school readiness system, the
1203	collection of collecting data, the approval of regional child
1204	development boards and approving local school readiness
1205	coalitions and plans, the provision of providing a method
1206	whereby a regional child development board may coalition can
1207	serve two or more counties, the award of awarding incentives to
1208	regional child development boards coalitions, and the issuance
1209	of issuing waivers.
1210	(f)(l)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
1211	Partnership for School Readiness shall have all powers necessary
1212	to administer carry out the purposes of this section, including,
1213	but not limited to, the power to receive and accept grants,
1214	loans, or advances of funds from any public or private agency
1215	and to receive and accept from any source contributions of
1216	money, property, labor, or any other thing of value, to be held,
1217	used, and applied for the purposes of this section.
1218	(g)  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Agency for
1219	Workforce Innovation does not have authority:
1220	1.  To impose requirements on a child care or early
1221	childhood education provider that does not deliver services
1222	under a school readiness program or receive state or federal
1223	funds under this section.
1224	2.  To administer powers and duties assigned to the
1225	Department of Education or a regional child development board
1226	under part V of chapter 1002.
1227	(h)(m)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
1228	Partnership for School Readiness shall have a budget for the
1229	school readiness system, which and shall be financed through an
1230	annual appropriation made for purposes of this section purpose
1231	in the General Appropriations Act.
1232	(i)(n)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, with the
1233	advice of the Florida Child Development Advisory Council,
1234	partnership shall coordinate the efforts toward school readiness
1235	in this state and provide independent policy analyses and
1236	recommendations to the Governor, the State Board of Education,
1237	and the Legislature.
1238	(j)(o)  Each regional child development board's The
1239	partnership shall prepare and submit to the State Board of
1240	Education a system for measuring school readiness program. The
1241	system must, at a minimum, enhance the age-appropriate progress
1242	of each child in the development of include a uniform screening,
1243	which shall provide objective data regarding the following
1244	expectations for school readiness skills which shall include, at
1245	a minimum:
1246	1.  The child's immunizations and other health requirements
1247	as necessary, including appropriate vision and hearing screening
1248	and examinations.
1249	2.  The child's physical development.
1250	1.3.  The child's Compliance with rules, limitations, and
1251	routines.
1252	2.4.  The child's Ability to perform tasks.
1253	3.5.  The child's Interactions with adults.
1254	4.6.  The child's Interactions with peers.
1255	5.7.  The child's Ability to cope with challenges.
1256	6.8.  The child's Self-help skills.
1257	7.9.  The child's Ability to express the child's his or her
1258	needs.
1259	8.10.  The child's Verbal communication skills.
1260	9.11.  The child's Problem-solving skills.
1261	10.12.  The child's Following of verbal directions.
1262	11.13.  The child's Demonstration of curiosity,
1263	persistence, and exploratory behavior.
1264	12.14.  The child's Interest in books and other printed
1265	materials.
1266	13.15.  The child's Paying attention to stories.
1267	14.16.  The child's Participation in art and music
1268	activities.
1269	15.17.  The child's Ability to identify colors, geometric
1270	shapes, letters of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and
1271	temporal relationships.
1272
1273	Each regional child development board shall also require that,
1274	before a child is enrolled in the board's school readiness
1275	program, information must first be obtained regarding the
1276	child's immunizations, physical development, and other health
1277	requirements as necessary, including appropriate vision and
1278	hearing screening and examinations.
1279	(p)  The partnership shall prepare a plan for implementing
1280	the system for measuring school readiness in such a way that all
1281	children in this state will undergo the uniform screening
1282	established by the partnership when they enter kindergarten.
1283	Children who enter public school for the first time in first
1284	grade must undergo a uniform screening approved by the
1285	partnership for use in first grade. Because children with
1286	disabilities may not be able to meet all of the identified
1287	expectations for school readiness, the plan for measuring school
1288	readiness shall incorporate mechanisms for recognizing the
1289	potential variations in expectations for school readiness when
1290	serving children with disabilities and shall provide for
1291	communities to serve children with disabilities.
1292	(k)(q)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership
1293	shall conduct studies and planning activities related to the
1294	overall improvement and effectiveness of the outcome school
1295	readiness measures adopted by the agency for school readiness
1296	programs.
1297	(l)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, with the advice
1298	of the Florida Child Development Advisory Council, shall adopt
1299	and administer a quality-assurance system. The Agency for
1300	Workforce Innovation shall use the quality-assurance system to
1301	monitor and evaluate the performance of each regional child
1302	development board in administering the school readiness program
1303	and implementing the board's school readiness plan. The quality-
1304	assurance system must include, at a minimum, onsite monitoring
1305	of each board's finances, management, operations, and programs.
1306	(m)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, with the advice
1307	of the Florida Child Development Advisory Council, shall
1308	identify best practices of regional child development boards in
1309	order to improve the outcomes of school readiness programs.
1310	(r)  The partnership shall establish procedures for
1311	performance-based budgeting in school readiness programs.
1312	(n)(s)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership
1313	shall submit an annual report of its activities conducted under
1314	this section to the Governor, the executive director of the
1315	Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, the President of the Senate,
1316	the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the minority
1317	leaders of both houses of the Legislature. In addition, the
1318	Agency for Workforce Innovation's partnership's reports and
1319	recommendations shall be made available to the State Board of
1320	Education, the Florida Child Development Advisory Council, other
1321	appropriate state agencies and entities, district school boards,
1322	central agencies for child care, and county health departments.
1323	The annual report must provide an analysis of school readiness
1324	activities across the state, including the number of children
1325	who were served in the programs and the number of children who
1326	were ready for school.
1327	(o)(t)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership
1328	shall work with regional child development boards school
1329	readiness coalitions to increase parents' training for and
1330	involvement in their children's preschool education and to
1331	provide family literacy activities and programs.
1332
1333	To ensure that the system for measuring school readiness is
1334	comprehensive and appropriate statewide, as the system is
1335	developed and implemented, the partnership must consult with
1336	representatives of district school systems, providers of public
1337	and private child care, health care providers, large and small
1338	employers, experts in education for children with disabilities,
1339	and experts in child development.
1340	(5)  CREATION OF REGIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT BOARDS SCHOOL
1341	READINESS COALITIONS.--
1342	(a)  Regional child development boards School readiness
1343	coalitions.--
1344	1.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, with the advice of
1345	the Florida Child Development Advisory Council created under s.
1346	1002.73, shall establish the minimum number of children to be
1347	served by each regional child development board through the
1348	board's school readiness program. The Agency for Workforce
1349	Innovation may only approve school readiness plans in accordance
1350	with this minimum number. The minimum number must be uniform for
1351	every regional child development board and must:
1352	a.  Permit 30 or fewer boards to be established; and
1353	b.  Require each board to serve at least 2,000 children
1354	based upon the average number of all children served per month
1355	through the board's school readiness program during the previous
1356	12 months.
1357
1358	The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt procedures for
1359	the merger of regional child development boards, including
1360	procedures for the consolidation of merging boards and for the
1361	early termination of the terms of board members, which are
1362	necessary to accomplish the mergers. Each regional child
1363	development board must comply with the merger procedures and
1364	shall be organized in accordance with this subparagraph by
1365	January 1, 2005. By June 30, 2005, each board must complete the
1366	transfer of powers, duties, functions, rules, records,
1367	personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations,
1368	allocations, and other funds to the successor board, if
1369	applicable.
1370	2.1.  If a regional child development board coalition's
1371	plan would serve fewer less than 400 birth-to-kindergarten age
1372	children than the minimum number established under subparagraph
1373	1., the board coalition must either join with another county to
1374	form a multicounty board coalition, enter an agreement with a
1375	fiscal agent to serve more than one coalition, or demonstrate to
1376	the partnership its ability to effectively and efficiently
1377	implement its plan as a single-county coalition and meet all
1378	required performance standards and outcome measures.
1379	3.  Each regional child development board shall be composed
1380	of at least 18 members but not more than 35 members. The Agency
1381	for Workforce Innovation, with the advice of the Florida Child
1382	Development Advisory Council, shall adopt standards establishing
1383	within this range the minimum and maximum number of members that
1384	may be appointed to a regional child development board. These
1385	standards shall include variations for a board serving a
1386	multicounty region. Each regional child development board must
1387	comply with these standards.
1388	4.  The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
1389	members of each regional child development board, who must each
1390	meet the same qualifications as private-sector business members
1391	appointed by the board under subparagraph 6.
1392	5.2.  Each regional child development board coalition shall
1393	have at least 18 but not more than 25 members and such members
1394	must include the following members:
1395	a.  A Department of Children and Family Services district
1396	administrator or his or her designee who is authorized to make
1397	decisions on behalf of the department.
1398	b.  A district superintendent of schools or his or her
1399	designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the
1400	district.
1401	c.  A regional workforce development board executive chair
1402	or director or his or her designee, where applicable.
1403	d.  A county health department director or his or her
1404	designee.
1405	e.  A children's services council or juvenile welfare board
1406	chair or executive director, if applicable.
1407	f.  An agency head of a local child care licensing agency
1408	as defined in s. 402.302, where applicable head.
1409	g.  A president of a community college or his or her
1410	designee.
1411	g.  One member appointed by a Department of Children and
1412	Family Services district administrator.
1413	h.  One member appointed by a board of county
1414	commissioners.
1415	i.  One member appointed by a district school board.
1416	i.j.  A central child care agency administrator, where
1417	applicable.
1418	j.k.  A Head Start director.
1419	k.l.  A representative of private child care providers,
1420	including family day care homes.
1421	l.m.  A representative of faith-based child care providers.
1422	m.  A representative of programs for children with
1423	disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
1424	Education Act.
1425	6.  Including the members appointed by the Governor under
1426	subparagraph 4., more than one-third of the coalition members of
1427	each regional child development board must be private-sector
1428	business members who do not have, and none of whose relatives as
1429	defined in s. 112.3143 has, a substantial financial interest in
1430	the design or delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
1431	Education Program created under part V of chapter 1002 or the
1432	board's school readiness program from the private sector, and
1433	neither they nor their families may earn an income from the
1434	early education and child care industry. To meet this
1435	requirement a regional child development board coalition must
1436	appoint additional members from a list of nominees submitted
1437	presented to the board coalition by a chamber of commerce or
1438	economic development council within the geographic region served
1439	by area of the board coalition. The Agency for Workforce
1440	Innovation shall adopt criteria for the appointment of private-
1441	sector business members. These criteria must include standards
1442	for determining whether a member or relative has a substantial
1443	financial interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
1444	Prekindergarten Education Program or the board's school
1445	readiness program.
1446	7.3.  A No member of a regional child development board
1447	coalition may not appoint a designee to act in his or her place.
1448	A member may send a representative to board coalition meetings,
1449	but that representative does not will have no voting privileges.
1450	When a district superintendent of schools or a district
1451	administrator for the Department of Children and Family Services
1452	appoints a designee to a regional child development board school
1453	readiness coalition, the designee is will be the voting member
1454	of the board coalition, and any individual attending in the
1455	designee's his or her place, including the district
1456	administrator or superintendent, does not will have no voting
1457	privileges.
1458	8.4.  Each member Members of a regional child development
1459	board is the coalition are subject to s. 112.313, s. 112.3135,
1460	and s. 112.3143 the ethics provisions in part III of chapter
1461	112. For purposes of s. 112.3143(3)(a), each member is a local
1462	public officer who must abstain from voting when a voting
1463	conflict exists.
1464	9.5.  For the purposes of tort liability, each member or
1465	employee of a regional child development board the members of
1466	the school readiness coalition and its employees shall be
1467	governed by s. 768.28.
1468	10.6.  A regional child development board serving a
1469	multicounty region coalitions shall include representation from
1470	each county.
1471	11.7.  Each regional child development board shall
1472	establish The terms for of all appointed members of the board.
1473	The terms coalition must be staggered and must be a uniform
1474	length that does not exceed 4 years per term. Appointed members
1475	may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. When a vacancy
1476	occurs in an appointed position, the board coalition must
1477	advertise the vacancy.
1478	(b)  Program participation.--The school readiness program
1479	shall be established for children younger than from birth to 5
1480	years of age or until the child enters kindergarten eligibility
1481	as defined in s. 1002.51. The program shall be administered by
1482	the regional child development board school readiness coalition.
1483	Within funding limitations, the regional child development board
1484	school readiness coalition, along with all providers, shall make
1485	reasonable efforts to accommodate the needs of children for
1486	extended-day and extended-year services without compromising the
1487	quality of the program.
1488	(c)  Program expectations.--
1489	1.  The school readiness program must meet the following
1490	expectations:
1491	a.  The program must, at a minimum, enhance the age-
1492	appropriate progress of each child in the development of the
1493	school readiness skills required under paragraph (4)(j) prepare
1494	preschool children to enter kindergarten ready to learn, as
1495	measured by the performance standards and outcome measures
1496	adopted criteria established by the Agency for Workforce
1497	Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness.
1498	b.  The program must provide extended-day and extended-year
1499	services to the maximum extent possible to meet the needs of
1500	parents who work.
1501	c.  There must be coordinated staff development and
1502	teaching opportunities.
1503	d.  There must be expanded access to community services and
1504	resources for families to help achieve economic self-
1505	sufficiency.
1506	e.  There must be a single point of entry and unified
1507	waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term "single
1508	point of entry" means an integrated information system that
1509	allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school
1510	readiness program at various locations throughout the county or
1511	multicounty region served by a regional child development board,
1512	that may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone
1513	or through an Internet website, and that uses a unified waiting
1514	list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the
1515	school readiness program. The Agency for Workforce Innovation
1516	shall establish a single statewide information system that
1517	integrates each regional child development board's single point
1518	of entry, and each board must use the statewide system.
1519	f.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation must consider the
1520	access of eligible children to the school readiness program, as
1521	demonstrated in part by waiting lists, before approving a
1522	proposed increase in payment rates submitted by a regional child
1523	development board.
1524	f.  As long as funding or eligible populations do not
1525	decrease, the program must serve at least as many children as
1526	were served prior to implementation of the program.
1527	g.  There must be a community plan to address the needs of
1528	all eligible children.
1529	h.  The program must meet all state licensing guidelines,
1530	where applicable.
1531	2.  The regional child development board school  readiness
1532	coalition must implement a comprehensive program of school
1533	readiness services that enhance the cognitive, social, and
1534	physical development of children to achieve the performance
1535	standards and outcome measures adopted specified by the Agency
1536	for Workforce Innovation partnership.  At a minimum, these
1537	programs must contain the following elements:
1538	a.  Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to
1539	enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining
1540	the performance standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce
1541	Innovation under subparagraph (4)(d)8.
1542	b.  A character development program to develop basic
1543	values.
1544	c.  An age-appropriate assessment of each child's
1545	development.
1546	d.  A pretest administered to children when they enter a
1547	program and a posttest administered to children when they leave
1548	the program.
1549	e.  An appropriate staff-to-children staff-to-child ratio.
1550	f.  A healthy healthful and safe environment.
1551	g.  A resource and referral network to assist parents in
1552	making an informed choice.
1553	(d)  Implementation.--
1554	1.  A regional child development board may not implement
1555	the school readiness program is to be phased in. until the board
1556	is authorized coalition implements its plan, the county shall
1557	continue to receive the services identified in subsection (3)
1558	through the various agencies that would be responsible for
1559	delivering those services under current law.  Plan
1560	implementation is subject to approval of the board's school
1561	readiness coalition and the plan by the Agency for Workforce
1562	Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness.
1563	2.  Each regional child development board school readiness
1564	coalition shall develop a plan for implementing the school
1565	readiness program to meet the requirements of this section and
1566	the performance standards and outcome measures adopted
1567	established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership.
1568	The plan must include a written description of the role of the
1569	program in the coalition's effort to meet the first state
1570	education goal, readiness to start school, including a
1571	description of the plan to involve the prekindergarten early
1572	intervention programs, Head Start Programs, programs offered by
1573	public or private providers of child care, preschool programs
1574	for children with disabilities, programs for migrant children,
1575	Title I programs, subsidized child care programs, and teen
1576	parent programs. The plan must also demonstrate how the program
1577	will ensure that each 3-year-old and 4-year-old child in a
1578	publicly funded school readiness program receives scheduled
1579	activities and instruction designed to enhance the age-
1580	appropriate progress of the prepare children in attaining the
1581	performance standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce
1582	Innovation under subparagraph (4)(d)8 to enter kindergarten
1583	ready to learn. Before Prior to implementation of the school
1584	readiness program, the regional child development board school
1585	readiness coalition must submit the plan to the Agency for
1586	Workforce Innovation partnership for approval. The Agency for
1587	Workforce Innovation partnership may approve the plan, reject
1588	the plan, or approve the plan with conditions.  The Agency for
1589	Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness
1590	shall review school readiness coalition plans at least annually.
1591	3.  If the Agency for Workforce Innovation determines
1592	during the annual review of school readiness plans, or through
1593	monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under the
1594	quality-assurance system, that a regional child development
1595	board has not substantially implemented its plan or has not
1596	substantially met the performance standards and outcome measures
1597	adopted by the agency, the Agency for Workforce Innovation may
1598	reject the board's plan and contract with a qualified entity to
1599	continue school readiness services in the board's county or
1600	multicounty region until the board is reestablished through
1601	resubmission of a school readiness plan and approval by the
1602	agency.
1603	4.3.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation, with the advice
1604	of the Florida Child Development Advisory Council, shall adopt
1605	criteria for the approval of school readiness plans. The
1606	criteria must be consistent with the performance standards and
1607	outcome measures adopted by the agency and must require each
1608	approved plan to for the school readiness program must include
1609	the following minimum standards and provisions:
1610	a.  A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for
1611	parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for
1612	all program providers, to be implemented and reflected in each
1613	program's budget.
1614	b.  A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
1615	registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be
1616	provided to parents.
1617	c.  Instructional staff who have completed the training
1618	course as required in s. 402.305(2)(d)1., as well as staff who
1619	have additional training or credentials as required by the
1620	Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership. The plan must
1621	provide a method for assuring the qualifications of all
1622	personnel in all program settings.
1623	d.  Specific eligibility priorities for children within the
1624	regional child development board's coalition's county or
1625	multicounty region in accordance with pursuant to subsection
1626	(6).
1627	e.  Performance standards and outcome measures adopted
1628	established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership
1629	or alternatively, standards and outcome measures to be used
1630	until such time as the partnership adopts such standards and
1631	outcome measures.
1632	f.  Payment Reimbursement rates adopted that have been
1633	developed by the regional child development board and approved
1634	by the Agency for Workforce Innovation coalition. Payment
1635	Reimbursement rates shall not have the effect of limiting
1636	parental choice or creating standards or levels of services that
1637	have not been authorized by the Legislature.
1638	g.  Systems support services, including a central agency,
1639	child care resource and referral, eligibility determinations,
1640	training of providers, and parent support and involvement.
1641	h.  Direct enhancement services to families and children.
1642	System support and direct enhancement services shall be in
1643	addition to payments for the placement of children in school
1644	readiness programs.
1645	i.  The A business organization of the regional child
1646	development board plan, which must include the board's articles
1647	of incorporation and bylaws if the board is organized as a
1648	corporation. If the board is not organized as a corporation or
1649	other business entity, the plan must include the contract with a
1650	fiscal school readiness agent if the coalition is not a legally
1651	established corporate entity. A regional child development board
1652	Coalitions may contract with other regional child development
1653	boards coalitions to achieve efficiency in multicounty multiple-
1654	county services, and these such contracts may be part of the
1655	board's school readiness coalition's business plan.
1656	j.  Strategies to meet the needs of unique populations,
1657	such as migrant workers.
1658
1659	As part of the school readiness plan, the regional child
1660	development board coalition may request the Governor to apply
1661	for a waiver to allow the board coalition to administer the Head
1662	Start Program to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness
1663	program.  If a any school readiness plan demonstrates can
1664	demonstrate that specific statutory goals may can be achieved
1665	more effectively by using procedures that require modification
1666	of existing rules, policies, or procedures, a request for a
1667	waiver to the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership may be
1668	submitted made as part of the plan. Upon review, the Agency for
1669	Workforce Innovation partnership may grant the proposed
1670	modification.
1671	5.4.  Persons with an early childhood teaching certificate
1672	may provide support and supervision to other staff in the school
1673	readiness program.
1674	6.5.  A regional child development board The coalition may
1675	not implement its school readiness plan until the board it
1676	submits the plan to and receives approval from the Agency for
1677	Workforce Innovation partnership. Once the plan is has been
1678	approved, the plan and the services provided under the plan
1679	shall be controlled by the regional child development board
1680	coalition rather than by the state agencies or departments. The
1681	plan shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least
1682	biennially. A regional child development board may not implement
1683	the revisions until the board submits the revised plan to and
1684	receives approval from the Agency for Workforce Innovation. If
1685	the Agency for Workforce Innovation rejects a revised plan, the
1686	board must continue to operate under its prior approved plan.
1687	7.6.  Sections The following statutes will not apply to
1688	local coalitions with approved plans: ss. 125.901(2)(a)3.,
1689	411.221, and 411.232 do not apply to a regional child
1690	development board with an approved school readiness plan. To
1691	facilitate innovative practices and to allow the regional local
1692	establishment of school readiness programs, a regional child
1693	development board school readiness coalition may apply to the
1694	Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and
1695	Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of ss. 411.223,
1696	411.232, and 1003.54, if the waiver is necessary for
1697	implementation of the board's coalition's school readiness plan.
1698	8.7.  Two or more counties may join for purposes the
1699	purpose of planning and implementing a school readiness program.
1700	9.8.  A regional child development board coalition may,
1701	subject to approval by of the Agency for Workforce Innovation
1702	partnership as part of the board's school readiness coalition's
1703	plan, receive subsidized child care funds for all children
1704	eligible for any federal subsidized child care program and be
1705	the provider of the program services.
1706	10.9.  A regional child development board may Coalitions
1707	are authorized to enter into multiparty contracts with
1708	multicounty service providers in order to meet the needs of
1709	unique populations such as migrant workers.
1710	(e)  Requests for proposals; payment schedule.--
1711	1.  At least once every 3 years, beginning July 1, 2001,
1712	Each regional child development board coalition must comply with
1713	follow the competitive procurement requirements of s. 287.057
1714	for the procurement of commodities or contractual services from
1715	the funds described in paragraph (9)(d) school readiness
1716	programs. The period of a contract for purchase of these
1717	commodities or contractual services, together with any renewal
1718	of the original contract, may not exceed 3 years.
1719	2.  Each regional child development board coalition shall
1720	adopt develop a payment schedule that encompasses all programs
1721	funded by the board under this section that coalition. The
1722	payment schedule must take into consideration the relevant
1723	market rate, must include the projected number of children to be
1724	served, and must be submitted for approval by to the Agency for
1725	Workforce Innovation partnership for information. Informal child
1726	care arrangements shall be reimbursed at not more than 50
1727	percent of the rate developed for a family day care home
1728	childcare.
1729	(f)  Requirements relating to fiscal agents.--If a regional
1730	child development board the local coalition is not a legally
1731	organized as a corporation or other business established
1732	corporate entity, the board coalition must designate a fiscal
1733	agent, which may be a public entity, or a private nonprofit
1734	organization, or a certified public accountant who holds a
1735	license under chapter 473. The fiscal agent must shall be
1736	required to provide financial and administrative services under
1737	pursuant to a contract or agreement with the regional child
1738	development board school readiness coalition. The fiscal agent
1739	may not provide direct early childhood education or child care
1740	services; however, a fiscal agent may provide those such
1741	services upon written request of the regional child development
1742	board coalition to the Agency for Workforce Innovation
1743	partnership and upon the approval of the such request by the
1744	agency partnership. The cost of the financial and administrative
1745	services shall be negotiated between the fiscal agent and the
1746	regional child development board school readiness coalition. If
1747	the fiscal agent is a provider of early childhood education and
1748	child care programs, the contract must specify that the fiscal
1749	agent shall will act on policy direction from the regional child
1750	development board coalition and must will not receive policy
1751	direction from its own corporate board regarding disbursal of
1752	the regional child development board's coalition funds. The
1753	fiscal agent shall disburse funds in accordance with the
1754	regional child development board's approved coalition school
1755	readiness plan and based on billing and disbursement procedures
1756	approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership. The
1757	fiscal agent must conform to all data-reporting requirements
1758	established by the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership.
1759	(g)  Evaluation and annual report.--Each regional child
1760	development board school readiness coalition shall conduct an
1761	evaluation of the effectiveness of the school readiness program,
1762	including performance standards and outcome measures, and shall
1763	provide an annual report and fiscal statement to the Agency for
1764	Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness.
1765	This report must conform to the content and format
1766	specifications set by the Agency for Workforce Innovation
1767	Florida Partnership for School Readiness. The Agency for
1768	Workforce Innovation partnership must include an analysis of the
1769	regional child development board's coalition reports in the
1770	agency's its annual report.
1771	(6)  PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.--Each regional child development
1772	board's The school readiness program shall be established for
1773	children younger than under the age of kindergarten eligibility
1774	as defined in s. 1002.51. Priority for participation in the
1775	school readiness program shall be given to children age 3 years
1776	to school entry who are served by the Family Safety Program
1777	Office of the Department of Children and Family Services or a
1778	community-based lead agency under pursuant to chapter 39 and for
1779	whom child care is needed to minimize risk of further abuse,
1780	neglect, or abandonment. Other eligible populations include
1781	children who meet one or more of the following criteria:
1782	(a)  Children under the age of kindergarten eligibility who
1783	are:
1784	1.  Children determined to be at risk of abuse, neglect, or
1785	exploitation who are currently clients of the Family Safety
1786	Program Office of the Department of Children and Family
1787	Services, but who are not otherwise given priority under this
1788	subsection.
1789	2.1.  Children at risk of welfare dependency, including
1790	economically disadvantaged children, children of participants in
1791	the welfare transition program, children of migrant farmworkers,
1792	and children of teen parents.
1793	3.2.  Children of working families whose family income does
1794	not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
1795	4.3.  Children for whom the state is paying a relative
1796	caregiver payment under s. 39.5085.
1797	(b)  Three-year-old children and 4-year-old children who
1798	may not be economically disadvantaged but who have disabilities,
1799	have been served in a specific part-time or combination of part-
1800	time exceptional education programs with required special
1801	services, aids, or equipment, and were previously reported for
1802	funding part time with the Florida Education Finance Program as
1803	exceptional students.
1804	(c)  Economically disadvantaged children, children with
1805	disabilities, and children at risk of future school failure,
1806	from birth to 4 years of age, who are served at home through
1807	home visitor programs and intensive parent education programs
1808	such as the Florida First Start Program.
1809	(d)  Children who meet federal and state eligibility
1810	requirements for eligibility for the migrant preschool program
1811	but who do not meet the criteria of economically disadvantaged.
1812
1813	As used in this subsection, the term An "economically
1814	disadvantaged" child means a child whose family income does not
1815	exceed is below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
1816	Notwithstanding any change in a family's economic status, but
1817	subject to additional family contributions in accordance with
1818	the sliding fee scale, a child who meets the eligibility
1819	requirements upon initial registration for the program remains
1820	shall be considered eligible until the child reaches
1821	kindergarten eligibility as defined in s. 1002.51 age.
1822	(7)  PARENTAL CHOICE.--
1823	(a)  The school readiness program shall provide parental
1824	choice through pursuant to a purchase service order that
1825	ensures, to the maximum extent possible, flexibility in school
1826	readiness programs and payment arrangements. According to
1827	federal regulations requiring parental choice, a parent may
1828	choose an informal child care arrangement. The purchase order
1829	must bear the name of the beneficiary and the program provider
1830	and, when redeemed, must bear the signature of both the
1831	beneficiary and an authorized representative of the provider.
1832	(b)  If it is determined that a provider has provided any
1833	cash to the beneficiary in return for receiving the purchase
1834	order, the regional child development board coalition or its
1835	fiscal agent shall refer the matter to the Division of Public
1836	Assistance Fraud for investigation.
1837	(c)  The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall
1838	establish an electronic transfer system for the disbursement of
1839	funds in accordance with this subsection. Each regional child
1840	development board School readiness coalitions shall fully
1841	implement the electronic funds transfer system within 2 years
1842	after plan approval of the board's school readiness plan, unless
1843	a waiver is obtained from the Agency for Workforce Innovation
1844	partnership.
1845	(8)  STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.--All publicly funded
1846	school readiness programs must shall be required to meet the
1847	performance standards and outcome measures adopted developed and
1848	approved by the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership. The
1849	Agency for Workforce Innovation shall consult with the Office of
1850	Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall
1851	provide consultation to the partnership in the development of
1852	the measures and standards. These performance standards and
1853	outcome measures shall apply be applicable on a statewide basis.
1854	(9)  FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.--
1855	(a)  It is the intent of this section to establish an
1856	integrated and quality seamless service delivery system for all
1857	publicly funded early childhood education and child care
1858	programs operating in this state.
1859	(b)  Notwithstanding s. 20.50:
1860	1.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall administer
1861	school readiness funds, plans, and policies pursuant to the
1862	contract with the Florida Partnership for School Readiness and
1863	shall prepare and submit a unified budget request for the school
1864	readiness system program in accordance with chapter 216.
1865	2.  All instructions to regional child development boards
1866	for the administration of this section local school readiness
1867	coalitions shall emanate from the Agency for Workforce
1868	Innovation in accordance with the pursuant to policies of the
1869	Legislature, plans of the Florida Partnership for School
1870	Readiness, and the contract between the Florida Partnership for
1871	School Readiness and the agency.
1872	(c)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall adopt
1873	prepare a formula plan that provides for the allocation among
1874	the regional child development boards distribution and
1875	expenditure of all state and federal school readiness funds for
1876	children participating in public or private school readiness
1877	programs based upon an equity and performance funding formula.
1878	The allocation formula must plan shall be submitted to the
1879	Governor and the Legislative Budget Commission. Upon approval,
1880	the Legislative Budget Commission shall authorize the transfer
1881	of funds to the Agency for Workforce Innovation to distribute
1882	funds for distribution in accordance with the allocation
1883	provisions of the formula. For fiscal year 2004-2005, the Agency
1884	for Workforce Innovation shall allocate funds to the regional
1885	child development boards consistent with the fiscal year 2003-
1886	2004 funding allocations to the local school readiness
1887	coalitions.
1888	(d)  All state funds budgeted for a county for the programs
1889	specified in subsection (3), along with the pro rata share of
1890	the state administrative costs of those programs in the amount
1891	as determined by the partnership, all federal, funds and
1892	required local maintenance-of-effort or matching funds provided
1893	to a regional child development board for a county for programs
1894	specified in subsection (3), and any additional funds
1895	appropriated or obtained for purposes of this section, shall be
1896	used by transferred for the benefit of the board coalition for
1897	implementation of its school readiness plan, including the
1898	hiring of staff to effectively operate the board's coalition's
1899	school readiness program.  As part of plan approval and periodic
1900	plan review, the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership
1901	shall require that administrative costs be kept to the minimum
1902	necessary for efficient and effective administration of the
1903	school readiness plan, but total administrative expenditures
1904	must shall not exceed 5 percent unless specifically waived by
1905	the Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership.  The Agency for
1906	Workforce Innovation partnership shall annually report to the
1907	Legislature any problems relating to administrative costs.
1908	(e)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership shall
1909	annually distribute, to a maximum extent practicable, all
1910	eligible funds provided under this section as block grants to
1911	the regional child development boards. assist coalitions in
1912	integrating services and funding to develop a quality service
1913	delivery system. Subject to appropriation, the partnership may
1914	also provide financial awards to coalitions demonstrating
1915	success in merging and integrating funding streams to serve
1916	children and school readiness programs.
1917	(f)  State funds appropriated for the school readiness
1918	program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
1919	or the purchase of buses. The Agency for Workforce Innovation
1920	partnership shall present to the Legislature recommendations for
1921	providing necessary transportation services for school readiness
1922	programs.
1923	(g)  All cost savings and all revenues received through a
1924	mandatory sliding fee scale shall be used to help fund each
1925	regional child development board's the local school readiness
1926	program.
1927	(10)  UNAUTHORIZED TRANSFERS.--Notwithstanding any other
1928	law to the contrary, the Agency for Workforce Innovation may not
1929	transfer to the Department of Education, through an interagency
1930	agreement or through any other means, any of the agency's
1931	powers, duties, functions, rules, records, personnel, property,
1932	or unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other
1933	funds, any of which have been or which may be authorized for
1934	administration of s. 402.25, s. 402.27, s. 402.3016, s.
1935	402.3017, s. 402.3018, s. 402.3051, s. 409.178, or this section,
1936	without specific legislative authority by express reference to
1937	this subsection.
1938	(10)  SCHOOL READINESS UNIFORM SCREENING.--The Department
1939	of Education shall implement a school readiness uniform
1940	screening, including a pilot program during the 2001-2002 school
1941	year, to validate the system recommended by the Florida
1942	Partnership for School Readiness as part of a comprehensive
1943	evaluation design. Beginning with the 2002-2003 school year, the
1944	department shall require that all school districts administer
1945	the school readiness uniform screening to each kindergarten
1946	student in the district school system upon the student's entry
1947	into kindergarten. Children who enter public school for the
1948	first time in first grade must undergo a uniform screening
1949	adopted for use in first grade. The department shall incorporate
1950	school readiness data into the K-20 data warehouse for
1951	longitudinal tracking. Notwithstanding s. 1002.22, the
1952	department shall provide the partnership and the Agency for
1953	Workforce Innovation with complete and full access to
1954	kindergarten uniform screening data at the student, school,
1955	district, and state levels in a format that will enable the
1956	partnership and the agency to prepare reports needed by state
1957	policymakers and local school readiness coalitions to access
1958	progress toward school readiness goals and provide input for
1959	continuous improvement of local school readiness services and
1960	programs.
1961	(11)  REPORTS.--The Office of Program Policy Analysis and
1962	Government Accountability shall assess the implementation,
1963	efficiency, and outcomes of the school readiness program and
1964	report its findings to the President of the Senate and the
1965	Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2002.
1966	Subsequent reviews shall be conducted at the direction of the
1967	Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.
1968	(11)(12)  CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.--In the event of a
1969	conflict between the provisions of this section and federal
1970	requirements, the federal requirements shall control.
1971	(12)(13)  PLACEMENTS.--Notwithstanding any other provision
1972	of this section to the contrary, and for fiscal year 2003-2004
1973	only, the first children to be placed in the school readiness
1974	program shall be those from families receiving temporary cash
1975	assistance and subject to federal work requirements. Subsequent
1976	placements shall be made in accordance with subsection (6)
1977	pursuant to the provisions of this section. This subsection
1978	expires July 1, 2004.
1979	Section 3.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (a) of
1980	subsection (3) of section 11.45, Florida Statutes, is amended to
1981	read:
1982	11.45  Definitions; duties; authorities; reports; rules.--
1983	(3)  AUTHORITY FOR AUDITS AND OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.--
1984	(a)  The Auditor General may, by pursuant to his or her own
1985	authority, or at the direction of the Legislative Auditing
1986	Committee, conduct audits or other engagements as determined
1987	appropriate by the Auditor General of:
1988	1.  The accounts and records of any governmental entity
1989	created or established by law.
1990	2.  The information technology programs, activities,
1991	functions, or systems of any governmental entity created or
1992	established by law.
1993	3.  The accounts and records of any charter school created
1994	or established by law.
1995	4.  The accounts and records of any direct-support
1996	organization or citizen support organization created or
1997	established by law. The Auditor General may is authorized to
1998	require and receive any records from the direct-support
1999	organization or citizen support organization, or from its
2000	independent auditor.
2001	5.  The public records associated with any appropriation
2002	made by the General Appropriations Act to a nongovernmental
2003	agency, corporation, or person. All records of a nongovernmental
2004	agency, corporation, or person for with respect to the receipt
2005	and expenditure of the such an appropriation are shall be public
2006	records and shall be treated in the same manner as other public
2007	records are under general law.
2008	6.  State financial assistance provided to any nonstate
2009	entity.
2010	7.  The Tobacco Settlement Financing Corporation created
2011	under pursuant to s. 215.56005.
2012	8.  The Florida Virtual School created under pursuant to s.
2013	1002.37.
2014	9.  Any purchases of federal surplus lands for use as sites
2015	for correctional facilities as described in s. 253.037.
2016	10.  Enterprise Florida, Inc., including any of its boards,
2017	advisory committees, or similar groups created by Enterprise
2018	Florida, Inc., and programs. The audit report may not reveal the
2019	identity of any person who has anonymously made a donation to
2020	Enterprise Florida, Inc., under pursuant to this subparagraph.
2021	The identity of a donor or prospective donor to Enterprise
2022	Florida, Inc., who desires to remain anonymous and all
2023	information identifying the such donor or prospective donor are
2024	confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and
2025	s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. The Such anonymity
2026	shall be maintained in the auditor's report.
2027	11.  The Florida Development Finance Corporation or the
2028	capital development board or the programs or entities created by
2029	the board. The audit or report may not reveal the identity of
2030	any person who has anonymously made a donation to the board
2031	under pursuant to this subparagraph. The identity of a donor or
2032	prospective donor to the board who desires to remain anonymous
2033	and all information identifying the such donor or prospective
2034	donor are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s.
2035	119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. The
2036	Such anonymity shall be maintained in the auditor's report.
2037	12.  The records pertaining to the use of funds from
2038	voluntary contributions on a motor vehicle registration
2039	application or on a driver's license application authorized
2040	under pursuant to ss. 320.023 and 322.081.
2041	13.  The records pertaining to the use of funds from the
2042	sale of specialty license plates described in chapter 320.
2043	14.  The transportation corporations under contract with
2044	the Department of Transportation that are acting on behalf of
2045	the state to secure and obtain rights-of-way for urgently needed
2046	transportation systems and to assist in the planning and design
2047	of the such systems under pursuant to ss. 339.401-339.421.
2048	15.  The acquisitions and divestitures related to the
2049	Florida Communities Trust Program created under pursuant to
2050	chapter 380.
2051	16.  The Florida Water Pollution Control Financing
2052	Corporation created under pursuant to s. 403.1837.
2053	17.  The school readiness system, including the regional
2054	child development boards, Florida Partnership for School
2055	Readiness created under pursuant to s. 411.01.
2056	18.  The Florida Special Disability Trust Fund Financing
2057	Corporation created under pursuant to s. 440.49.
2058	19.  Workforce Florida, Inc., or the programs or entities
2059	created by Workforce Florida, Inc., created under pursuant to s.
2060	445.004.
2061	20.  The corporation defined in s. 455.32 which that is
2062	under contract with the Department of Business and Professional
2063	Regulation to provide administrative, investigative,
2064	examination, licensing, and prosecutorial support services in
2065	accordance with the provisions of s. 455.32 and the practice act
2066	of the relevant profession.
2067	21.  The Florida Engineers Management Corporation created
2068	under pursuant to chapter 471.
2069	22.  The Investment Fraud Restoration Financing Corporation
2070	created under pursuant to chapter 517.
2071	23.  The books and records of any permitholder that
2072	conducts race meetings or jai alai exhibitions under chapter
2073	550.
2074	24.  The corporation defined in part II of chapter 946,
2075	cited known as the Prison Rehabilitative Industries and
2076	Diversified Enterprises, Inc., or PRIDE Enterprises.
2077	Section 4.  Subsection (6) of section 20.15, Florida
2078	Statutes, is amended to read:
2079	20.15  Department of Education.--There is created a
2080	Department of Education.
2081	(6)  COUNCILS AND COMMITTEES.--Notwithstanding any anything
2082	contained in law to the contrary, the commissioner shall appoint
2083	all members of all councils and committees of the Department of
2084	Education, except for the Commission for Independent Education,
2085	and the Education Practices Commission, and the Florida Child
2086	Development Advisory Council.
2087	Section 5.  Effective July 1, 2004, subsection (2) of
2088	section 20.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2089	20.50  Agency for Workforce Innovation.--There is created
2090	the Agency for Workforce Innovation within the Department of
2091	Management Services. The agency shall be a separate budget
2092	entity, and the director of the agency shall be the agency head
2093	for all purposes. The agency shall not be subject to control,
2094	supervision, or direction by the Department of Management
2095	Services in any manner, including, but not limited to,
2096	personnel, purchasing, transactions involving real or personal
2097	property, and budgetary matters.
2098	(2)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation is shall be the
2099	designated administrative agency designated for receipt of
2100	federal workforce development grants and other federal funds.
2101	The agency, and shall administer carry out the duties and
2102	responsibilities assigned by the Governor under each federal
2103	grant assigned to the agency. The agency shall be a separate
2104	budget entity and shall expend each revenue source as provided
2105	by federal and state law and as provided in plans developed by
2106	and agreements with Workforce Florida, Inc. The agency shall
2107	prepare and submit as a separate budget entity a unified budget
2108	request for workforce development, in accordance with chapter
2109	216 for, and in conjunction with, Workforce Florida, Inc., and
2110	its board. The head of the agency is the director of Workforce
2111	Innovation, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The
2112	accountability and reporting functions of the agency shall be
2113	administered by the director or his or her designee. Included in
2114	These functions shall include are budget management, financial
2115	management, audit, performance management standards and
2116	controls, assessing outcomes of service delivery, and financial
2117	administration of workforce programs under pursuant to s.
2118	445.004(5) and (9). Within the agency's overall organizational
2119	structure, The agency shall include the following offices within
2120	its organizational structure, which shall have the specified
2121	responsibilities:
2122	(a)  The Office of Workforce Services shall administer the
2123	unemployment compensation program, the Rapid Response program,
2124	the Work Opportunity Tax Credit program, the Alien Labor
2125	Certification program, and any other programs that are delivered
2126	directly by agency staff rather than through the one-stop
2127	delivery system. The office shall be directed by the Deputy
2128	Director for Workforce Services, who shall be appointed by and
2129	serve at the pleasure of the director.
2130	(b)  The Office of Program Support and Accountability shall
2131	administer state merit system program staff within the workforce
2132	service delivery system, under the pursuant to policies of
2133	Workforce Florida, Inc. The office is shall be responsible for
2134	delivering services through the one-stop delivery system and for
2135	ensuring that participants in welfare transition programs
2136	receive case management services, diversion assistance, support
2137	services, including subsidized child care and transportation
2138	services, Medicaid services, and transition assistance to enable
2139	them to succeed in the workforce. The office is shall also be
2140	responsible for program quality assurance, grants and contract
2141	management, contracting, financial management, and reporting.
2142	The office shall be directed by the Deputy Director for Program
2143	Support and Accountability, who shall be appointed by and serve
2144	at the pleasure of the director. The office is shall be
2145	responsible for:
2146	1.  Establishing monitoring, quality assurance, and quality
2147	improvement systems that routinely assess the quality and
2148	effectiveness of contracted programs and services.
2149	2.  Annual review of each regional workforce board and
2150	administrative entity to ensure that adequate systems of
2151	reporting and control are in place; that, and monitoring,
2152	quality assurance, and quality improvement activities are
2153	conducted routinely;, and that corrective action is taken to
2154	eliminate deficiencies.
2155	(c)  The Office of Child Development shall administer the
2156	school readiness system in accordance with s. 411.01. The office
2157	shall be directed by the Deputy Director for Child Development,
2158	who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the
2159	director.
2160	(d)(c)  The Office of Agency Support Services is shall be
2161	responsible for procurement, human resource services, and
2162	information services including delivering information on labor
2163	markets, employment, occupations, and performance, and shall
2164	implement and maintain information systems that are required for
2165	the effective operation of the one-stop delivery system and the
2166	school readiness services system, including, but not limited to,
2167	those systems described in s. 445.009. The office shall will be
2168	directed by under the direction of the Deputy Director for
2169	Agency Support Services, who shall be appointed by and serve at
2170	the pleasure of the director. The office is shall be responsible
2171	for establishing:
2172	1.  Information systems and controls that report reliable,
2173	timely and accurate fiscal and performance data for assessing
2174	outcomes, service delivery, and financial administration of
2175	workforce programs under pursuant to s. 445.004(5) and (9).
2176	2.  Information systems that support service integration
2177	and case management by providing for case tracking for
2178	participants in welfare transition programs.
2179	3.  Information systems that support the school readiness
2180	system services.
2181	(e)(d)  The Unemployment Appeals Commission, authorized by
2182	s. 443.012, is shall not be subject to the control, supervision,
2183	or direction by the Agency for Workforce Innovation in the
2184	performance of its powers and duties but shall receive any and
2185	all support and assistance from the agency that is may be
2186	required for the performance of its duties.
2187	Section 6.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (b) of
2188	subsection (1) of section 125.901, Florida Statutes, is amended
2189	to read:
2190	125.901  Children's services; independent special district;
2191	council; powers, duties, and functions.--
2192	(1)  Each county may by ordinance create an independent
2193	special district, as defined in ss. 189.403(3) and
2194	200.001(8)(e), to provide funding for children's services
2195	throughout the county in accordance with this section. The
2196	boundaries of such district shall be coterminous with the
2197	boundaries of the county. The county governing body shall obtain
2198	approval, by a majority vote of those electors voting on the
2199	question, to annually levy ad valorem taxes which shall not
2200	exceed the maximum millage rate authorized by this section. Any
2201	district created pursuant to the provisions of this subsection
2202	shall be required to levy and fix millage subject to the
2203	provisions of s. 200.065. Once such millage is approved by the
2204	electorate, the district shall not be required to seek approval
2205	of the electorate in future years to levy the previously
2206	approved millage.
2207	(b)  However, any county as defined in s. 125.011(1) may
2208	instead have a governing board consisting of 33 members,
2209	including: the superintendent of schools; two representatives of
2210	public postsecondary education institutions located in the
2211	county; the county manager or the equivalent county officer; the
2212	district administrator from the appropriate district of the
2213	Department of Children and Family Services, or the
2214	administrator's designee who is a member of the Senior
2215	Management Service or the Selected Exempt Service; the director
2216	of the county health department or the director's designee; the
2217	state attorney for the county or the state attorney's designee;
2218	the chief judge assigned to juvenile cases, or another juvenile
2219	judge who is the chief judge's designee and who shall sit as a
2220	voting member of the board, except that the judge may not vote
2221	or participate in setting ad valorem taxes under this section;
2222	an individual who is selected by the board of the local United
2223	Way or its equivalent; a member of a locally recognized faith-
2224	based coalition, selected by that coalition; a member of the
2225	local chamber of commerce, selected by that chamber or, if more
2226	than one chamber exists within the county, a person selected by
2227	a coalition of the local chambers; a member of the regional
2228	child development board local school readiness coalition,
2229	selected by that board coalition; a representative of a labor
2230	organization or union active in the county; a member of a local
2231	alliance or coalition engaged in cross-system planning for
2232	health and social service delivery in the county, selected by
2233	that alliance or coalition; a member of the local Parent-
2234	Teachers Association/Parent-Teacher-Student Association,
2235	selected by that association; a youth representative selected by
2236	the local school system's student government; a local school
2237	board member appointed by the chair of the school board; the
2238	mayor of the county or the mayor's designee; one member of the
2239	county governing body, appointed by the chair of that body; a
2240	member of the state Legislature who represents residents of the
2241	county, selected by the chair of the local legislative
2242	delegation; an elected official representing the residents of a
2243	municipality in the county, selected by the county municipal
2244	league; and 4 members-at-large, appointed to the council by the
2245	majority of sitting council members. The remaining 7 members
2246	shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with procedures
2247	set forth in paragraph (a), except that the Governor may remove
2248	a member for cause or upon the written petition of the council.
2249	Appointments by the Governor must, to the extent reasonably
2250	possible, represent the geographic and demographic diversity of
2251	the population of the county. Members who are appointed to the
2252	council by reason of their position are not subject to the
2253	length of terms and limits on consecutive terms as provided in
2254	this section. The remaining appointed members of the governing
2255	board shall be appointed to serve 2-year terms, except that
2256	those members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed to
2257	serve 4-year terms, and the youth representative and the
2258	legislative delegate shall be appointed to serve 1-year terms. A
2259	member may be reappointed; however, a member may not serve for
2260	more than three consecutive terms. A member is eligible to be
2261	appointed again after a 2-year hiatus from the council.
2262	Section 7.  Effective July 1, 2004, subsection (1) of
2263	section 216.133, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2264	216.133  Definitions; ss. 216.133-216.137.--As used in ss.
2265	216.133-216.137:
2266	(1)  "Consensus estimating conference" includes the
2267	Economic Estimating Conference, the Demographic Estimating
2268	Conference, the Revenue Estimating Conference, the Education
2269	Estimating Conference, the Criminal Justice Estimating
2270	Conference, the Juvenile Justice Estimating Conference, the
2271	Child Welfare System Estimating Conference, the Occupational
2272	Forecasting Conference, the Child Development Programs School
2273	Readiness Program Estimating Conference, the Self-Insurance
2274	Estimating Conference, the Florida Retirement System Actuarial
2275	Assumption Conference, and the Social Services Estimating
2276	Conference.
2277	Section 8.  Effective July 1, 2004, subsection (10) of
2278	section 216.136, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2279	216.136  Consensus estimating conferences; duties and
2280	principals.--
2281	(10)  CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM
2282	ESTIMATING CONFERENCE.--
2283	(a)  Duties.--
2284	1.  The Child Development Programs School Readiness Program
2285	Estimating Conference shall develop estimates and forecasts of
2286	the unduplicated count of children eligible for school readiness
2287	programs in accordance with the standards of eligibility
2288	established in s. 411.01(6), and of children eligible for the
2289	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program in accordance with
2290	s. 1002.53(2), as the conference determines are needed to
2291	support the state planning, budgeting, and appropriations
2292	processes.
2293	2.  The Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership
2294	for School Readiness shall provide information on needs and
2295	waiting lists for school readiness programs as program services
2296	requested by the Child Development Programs School Readiness
2297	Program Estimating Conference or individual conference
2298	principals in a timely manner.
2299	3.  The Department of Education shall provide information
2300	on needs for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program as
2301	requested by the Child Development Programs Estimating
2302	Conference or individual conference principals in a timely
2303	manner.
2304	(b)  Principals.--The Executive Office of the Governor, the
2305	Director of Economic and Demographic Research, and professional
2306	staff who have forecasting expertise from the Florida
2307	Partnership for School Readiness, the Agency for Workforce
2308	Innovation, the Department of Children and Family Services, the
2309	Department of Education, the Senate, and the House of
2310	Representatives, or their designees, are the principals of the
2311	Child Development Programs School Readiness Program Estimating
2312	Conference. The principal representing the Executive Office of
2313	the Governor shall preside over sessions of the conference.
2314	Section 9.  Section 402.265, Florida Statutes, is created
2315	to read:
2316	402.265  Unauthorized transfers.--Notwithstanding any other
2317	law to the contrary, the Department of Children and Family
2318	Services may not transfer to the Department of Education,
2319	through an interagency agreement or through any other means, any
2320	of the department's powers, duties, functions, rules, records,
2321	personnel, property, or unexpended balances of appropriations,
2322	allocations, or other funds, any of which have been or which may
2323	be authorized for the Child Care Services Program Office or for
2324	administration of ss. 402.25-402.319, without specific
2325	legislative authority by express reference to this section.
2326	Section 10.  Effective July 1, 2004, section 402.3016,
2327	Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2328	402.3016  Early Head Start collaboration grants.--
2329	(1)  Contingent upon specific appropriations, the Agency
2330	for Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School
2331	Readiness shall establish a program to award collaboration
2332	grants to assist local agencies in securing Early Head Start
2333	programs through Early Head Start program federal grants. The
2334	collaboration grants shall provide the required matching funds
2335	for public and private nonprofit agencies that have been
2336	approved for Early Head Start program federal grants.
2337	(2)  Public and private nonprofit agencies providing Early
2338	Head Start programs applying for collaborative grants must:
2339	(a)  Ensure quality performance by meeting the requirements
2340	in the Head Start program performance standards and other
2341	applicable rules and regulations;
2342	(b)  Ensure collaboration with other service providers at
2343	the local level; and
2344	(c)  Ensure that a comprehensive array of health,
2345	nutritional, and other services are provided to the program's
2346	pregnant women and very young children, and their families.
2347	(3)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership shall
2348	report to the Legislature on an annual basis the number of
2349	agencies receiving Early Head Start collaboration grants and the
2350	number of children served.
2351	(4)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation partnership may
2352	adopt rules under s. 120.536(1) and s. 120.54 as necessary for
2353	the award of collaboration grants to competing agencies and the
2354	administration of the collaboration grants program under this
2355	section.
2356	Section 11.  Effective, July 1, 2004, section 411.011,
2357	Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2358	411.011  Records of children in school readiness programs.-
2359	-The individual records of children enrolled in school readiness
2360	programs provided under s. 411.01, when held in the possession
2361	of the regional child development board school readiness
2362	coalition or the Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
2363	Partnership for School Readiness, are confidential and exempt
2364	from the provisions of s. 119.07 and s. 24(a), Art. I of the
2365	State Constitution. For the purposes of this section, records
2366	include assessment data, health data, records of teacher
2367	observations, and identifying data, including the child's social
2368	security number. A parent, guardian, or individual acting as a
2369	parent in the absence of a parent or guardian has the right to
2370	inspect and review the individual school readiness program
2371	record of his or her child and to obtain a copy of the record.
2372	School readiness records may be released to the United States
2373	Secretary of Education, the United States Secretary of Health
2374	and Human Services, and the Comptroller General of the United
2375	States for the purpose of federal audits; to individuals or
2376	organizations conducting studies for institutions to develop,
2377	validate, or administer assessments or improve instruction; to
2378	accrediting organizations in order to carry out their
2379	accrediting functions; to appropriate parties in connection with
2380	an emergency if the information is necessary to protect the
2381	health or safety of the student or other individuals; to the
2382	Auditor General in connection with his or her official
2383	functions; to a court of competent jurisdiction in compliance
2384	with an order of that court in accordance with pursuant to a
2385	lawfully issued subpoena; and to parties to an interagency
2386	agreement among regional child development boards school
2387	readiness coalitions, local governmental agencies, providers of
2388	school readiness programs, state agencies, and the Agency for
2389	Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness
2390	for the purpose of implementing the school readiness program.
2391	Agencies, organizations, or individuals that receive school
2392	readiness records in order to carry out their official functions
2393	must protect the data in a manner that does will not permit the
2394	personal identification of students and their parents by persons
2395	other than those authorized to receive the records. This section
2396	is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act of 1995 in
2397	accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2,
2398	2005, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment
2399	by the Legislature.
2400	Section 12.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (e) of
2401	subsection (2) of section 411.226, Florida Statutes, is amended
2402	to read:
2403	411.226  Learning Gateway.--
2404	(2)  LEARNING GATEWAY STEERING COMMITTEE.--
2405	(e)  To support and facilitate system improvements, the
2406	steering committee must consult with representatives from the
2407	Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Agency
2408	for Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School
2409	Readiness, the Department of Children and Family Services, the
2410	Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of
2411	Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Corrections and with the
2412	director of the Learning Development and Evaluation Center of
2413	Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
2414	Section 13.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (d) of
2415	subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2), and paragraph
2416	(c) of subsection (3) of section 411.227, Florida Statutes, are
2417	amended to read:
2418	411.227  Components of the Learning Gateway.--The Learning
2419	Gateway system consists of the following components:
2420	(1)  COMMUNITY EDUCATION STRATEGIES AND FAMILY-ORIENTED
2421	ACCESS.--
2422	(d)  In collaboration with other local resources, the
2423	demonstration projects shall develop public awareness strategies
2424	to disseminate information about developmental milestones,
2425	precursors of learning problems and other developmental delays,
2426	and the service system that is available. The information should
2427	target parents of children from birth through age 9 and should
2428	be distributed to parents, health care providers, and caregivers
2429	of children from birth through age 9. A variety of media should
2430	be used as appropriate, such as print, television, radio, and a
2431	community-based Internet website, as well as opportunities such
2432	as those presented by parent visits to physicians for well-child
2433	checkups. The Learning Gateway Steering Committee shall provide
2434	technical assistance to the local demonstration projects in
2435	developing and distributing educational materials and
2436	information.
2437	1.  Public awareness strategies targeting parents of
2438	children from birth through age 5 shall be designed to provide
2439	information to public and private preschool programs, child care
2440	childcare providers, pediatricians, parents, and local
2441	businesses and organizations. These strategies should include
2442	information on the school readiness performance standards for
2443	kindergarten adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation
2444	School Readiness Partnership Board.
2445	2.  Public awareness strategies targeting parents of
2446	children from ages 6 through 9 must be designed to disseminate
2447	training materials and brochures to parents and public and
2448	private school personnel, and must be coordinated with the local
2449	school board and the appropriate school advisory committees in
2450	the demonstration projects. The materials should contain
2451	information on state and district proficiency levels for grades
2452	K-3.
2453	(2)  SCREENING AND DEVELOPMENTAL MONITORING.--
2454	(a)  In coordination with the Agency for Workforce
2455	Innovation Partnership for School Readiness, the Department of
2456	Education, and the Florida Pediatric Society, and using
2457	information learned from the local demonstration projects, the
2458	Learning Gateway Steering Committee shall establish guidelines
2459	for screening children from birth through age 9. The guidelines
2460	should incorporate recent research on the indicators most likely
2461	to predict early learning problems, mild developmental delays,
2462	child-specific precursors of school failure, and other related
2463	developmental indicators in the domains of cognition;
2464	communication; attention; perception; behavior; and social,
2465	emotional, sensory, and motor functioning.
2466	(3)  EARLY EDUCATION, SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.--
2467	(c)  The steering committee, in cooperation with the
2468	Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of
2469	Education, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
2470	Partnership for School Readiness, shall identify the elements of
2471	an effective research-based curriculum for early care and
2472	education programs.
2473	Section 14.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (a) of
2474	subsection (2) of section 624.91, Florida Statutes, is amended
2475	to read:
2476	624.91  The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation Act.--
2477	(2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
2478	(a)  The Legislature finds that increased access to health
2479	care services could improve children's health and reduce the
2480	incidence and costs of childhood illness and disabilities among
2481	children in this state. Many children do not have comprehensive,
2482	affordable health care services available.  It is the intent of
2483	the Legislature that the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation
2484	provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to these such
2485	children. The corporation is encouraged to cooperate with any
2486	existing health service programs funded by the public or the
2487	private sector and to work cooperatively with the Agency for
2488	Workforce Innovation Florida Partnership for School Readiness.
2489	Section 15.  Subsection (1) of section 1001.23, Florida
2490	Statutes, is amended to read:
2491	1001.23  Specific powers and duties of the Department of
2492	Education.--In addition to all other duties assigned to it by
2493	law or by rule of the State Board of Education, the department
2494	shall:
2495	(1)  Adopt the statewide kindergarten school readiness
2496	uniform screening developed by the Florida Partnership for
2497	School Readiness, in accordance with s. 1002.67 the criteria
2498	itemized in chapter 1008.
2499	Section 16.  Effective July 1, 2004, paragraph (d) of
2500	subsection (3) of section 1002.22, Florida Statutes, is amended
2501	to read:
2502	1002.22  Student records and reports; rights of parents and
2503	students; notification; penalty.--
2504	(3)  RIGHTS OF PARENT OR STUDENT.--The parent of any
2505	student who attends or has attended any public school, area
2506	technical center, or public postsecondary educational
2507	institution shall have the following rights with respect to any
2508	records or reports created, maintained, and used by any public
2509	educational institution in the state.  However, whenever a
2510	student has attained 18 years of age, or is attending a
2511	postsecondary educational institution, the permission or consent
2512	required of, and the rights accorded to, the parents of the
2513	student shall thereafter be required of and accorded to the
2514	student only, unless the student is a dependent student of such
2515	parents as defined in 26 U.S.C. s. 152 (s. 152 of the Internal
2516	Revenue Code of 1954). The State Board of Education shall adopt
2517	rules whereby parents or students may exercise these rights:
2518	(d)  Right of privacy.--Every student has shall have a
2519	right of privacy with respect to the educational records kept on
2520	him or her. Personally identifiable records or reports of a
2521	student, and any personal information contained therein, are
2522	confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). No
2523	state or local educational agency, board, public school,
2524	technical center, or public postsecondary educational
2525	institution shall permit the release of the such records,
2526	reports, or information without the written consent of the
2527	student's parent, or of the student himself or herself if he or
2528	she is qualified as provided in this subsection, to any
2529	individual, agency, or organization. However, personally
2530	identifiable records or reports of a student may be released to
2531	the following persons or organizations without the consent of
2532	the student or the student's parent:
2533	1.  Officials of schools, school systems, technical
2534	centers, or public postsecondary educational institutions in
2535	which the student seeks or intends to enroll; and a copy of the
2536	such records or reports shall be furnished to the parent or
2537	student upon request.
2538	2.  Other school officials, including teachers within the
2539	educational institution or agency, who have legitimate
2540	educational interests in the information contained in the
2541	records.
2542	3.  The United States Secretary of Education, the Director
2543	of the National Institute of Education, the Assistant Secretary
2544	for Education, the Comptroller General of the United States, or
2545	state or local educational authorities who are authorized to
2546	receive such information subject to the conditions set forth in
2547	applicable federal statutes and regulations of the United States
2548	Department of Education, or in applicable state statutes and
2549	rules of the State Board of Education.
2550	4.  Other school officials, in connection with a student's
2551	application for or receipt of financial aid.
2552	5.  Individuals or organizations conducting studies for or
2553	on behalf of an institution or a board of education for the
2554	purpose of developing, validating, or administering predictive
2555	tests, administering student aid programs, or improving
2556	instruction, if the such studies are conducted in such a manner
2557	that does as will not permit the personal identification of
2558	students and their parents by persons other than representatives
2559	of the such organizations and if the such information will be
2560	destroyed when no longer needed for the purpose of conducting
2561	the such studies.
2562	6.  Accrediting organizations, in order to carry out their
2563	accrediting functions.
2564	7.  Regional child development boards School readiness
2565	coalitions and the Agency for Workforce Innovation Florida
2566	Partnership for School Readiness in order to carry out their
2567	assigned duties.
2568	8.  For use as evidence in student expulsion hearings
2569	conducted by a district school board under pursuant to the
2570	provisions of chapter 120.
2571	9.  Appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if
2572	knowledge of the information in the student's educational
2573	records is necessary to protect the health or safety of the
2574	student or other individuals.
2575	10.  The Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy
2576	Analysis and Government Accountability in connection with their
2577	official functions; however, except when the collection of
2578	personally identifiable information is specifically authorized
2579	by law, any data collected by the Auditor General and the Office
2580	of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is
2581	confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and
2582	shall be protected in such a way that does as will not permit
2583	the personal identification of students and their parents by
2584	other than the Auditor General, the Office of Program Policy
2585	Analysis and Government Accountability, and their staff, and the
2586	such personally identifiable data shall be destroyed when no
2587	longer needed for the Auditor General's and the Office of
2588	Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability's official
2589	use.
2590	11.a.  A court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with
2591	an order of that court or the attorney of record in accordance
2592	with pursuant to a lawfully issued subpoena, upon the condition
2593	that the student and the student's parent are notified of the
2594	order or subpoena in advance of compliance therewith by the
2595	educational institution or agency.
2596	b.  A person or entity pursuant to a court of competent
2597	jurisdiction in compliance with an order of that court or the
2598	attorney of record in accordance with pursuant to a lawfully
2599	issued subpoena, upon the condition that the student, or his or
2600	her parent if the student is either a minor and not attending a
2601	postsecondary educational institution or a dependent of such
2602	parent as defined in 26 U.S.C. s. 152 (s. 152 of the Internal
2603	Revenue Code of 1954), is notified of the order or subpoena in
2604	advance of compliance therewith by the educational institution
2605	or agency.
2606	12.  Credit bureaus, in connection with an agreement for
2607	financial aid that the student has executed, if the provided
2608	that such information is may be disclosed only to the extent
2609	necessary to enforce the terms or conditions of the financial
2610	aid agreement. Credit bureaus shall not release any information
2611	obtained under pursuant to this paragraph to any person.
2612	13.  Parties to an interagency agreement among the
2613	Department of Juvenile Justice, school and law enforcement
2614	authorities, and other signatory agencies for the purpose of
2615	reducing juvenile crime and especially motor vehicle theft by
2616	promoting cooperation and collaboration, and the sharing of
2617	appropriate information in a joint effort to improve school
2618	safety, to reduce truancy and in-school and out-of-school
2619	suspensions, and to support alternatives to in-school and out-
2620	of-school suspensions and expulsions that provide structured and
2621	well-supervised educational programs supplemented by a
2622	coordinated overlay of other appropriate services designed to
2623	correct behaviors that lead to truancy, suspensions, and
2624	expulsions, and that support students in successfully completing
2625	their education.  Information provided in furtherance of the
2626	such interagency agreements is intended solely for use in
2627	determining the appropriate programs and services for each
2628	juvenile or the juvenile's family, or for coordinating the
2629	delivery of the such programs and services, and as such is
2630	inadmissible in any court proceedings before prior to a
2631	dispositional hearing unless written consent is provided by a
2632	parent or other responsible adult on behalf of the juvenile.
2633
2634	This paragraph does not prohibit any educational institution
2635	from publishing and releasing to the general public directory
2636	information relating to a student if the institution elects to
2637	do so.  However, no educational institution shall release, to
2638	any individual, agency, or organization that is not listed in
2639	subparagraphs 1.-13., directory information relating to the
2640	student body in general or a portion thereof unless it is
2641	normally published for the purpose of release to the public in
2642	general.  Any educational institution making directory
2643	information public shall give public notice of the categories of
2644	information that it has designated as directory information for
2645	with respect to all students attending the institution and shall
2646	allow a reasonable period of time after the such notice has been
2647	given for a parent or student to inform the institution in
2648	writing that any or all of the information designated should not
2649	be released.
2650	Section 17.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
2651	1003.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2652	1003.54  Teenage parent programs.--
2653	(3)
2654	(c)  Provision for necessary child care, health care,
2655	social services, parent education, and transportation shall be
2656	ancillary service components of teenage parent programs.
2657	Ancillary services may be provided through the coordination of
2658	existing programs and services and through joint agreements
2659	between district school boards and regional child development
2660	boards local school readiness coalitions or other appropriate
2661	public and private providers.
2662	Section 18.  By January 15, 2005, the Department of
2663	Education, with the advice of the Florida Child Development
2664	Advisory Council created under section 1002.73, Florida
2665	Statutes, shall submit recommendations to the Legislature on
2666	professional development programs for the Voluntary
2667	Prekindergarten Education Program. The recommendations must
2668	comprise options for the professional development of
2669	prekindergarten directors, teachers, and child care personnel.
2670	The recommendations shall address curricula and appropriate
2671	delivery systems for the programs and shall consider the use of
2672	Internet-based applications for instruction or assessment. The
2673	recommendations must also include the estimated costs of the
2674	professional development programs, including nonrecurring
2675	startup costs and recurring operational costs.
2676	Section 19.  Notwithstanding sections 216.162-216.168,
2677	Florida Statutes, and under section 216.351, Florida Statutes,
2678	the Governor shall submit to the Legislature, as part of the
2679	Governor's recommended budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the
2680	Governor's annual cost projections for the Voluntary
2681	Prekindergarten Education Program for the 5-year period ending
2682	with the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The cost projections must be
2683	based upon the Governor's estimate of the number of children to
2684	be served annually in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
2685	Program, including annual estimates for the potential shift of
2686	children to the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program from
2687	school readiness programs provided under section 411.01, Florida
2688	Statutes.
2689	Section 20.  (1)  Effective July 1, 2004, the Florida
2690	Partnership for School Readiness is abolished. All powers,
2691	duties, functions, rules, records, personnel, property, and
2692	unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other
2693	funds of the Florida Partnership for School Readiness are
2694	transferred, effective July 1, 2004, by a type two transfer, as
2695	defined in section 20.06(2), Florida Statutes, to the Agency for
2696	Workforce Innovation.
2697	(2)  This act does not abolish the school readiness
2698	coalitions but, effective July 1, 2004, redesignates the
2699	coalitions as regional child development boards and, effective
2700	January 1, 2005, requires a reduction in the number of boards.
2701	All powers, duties, functions, rules, records, personnel,
2702	property, and unexpended balances of appropriations,
2703	allocations, and other funds of each school readiness coalition
2704	are not transferred but shall be retained by the coalition upon
2705	its redesignation as a regional child development board.
2706	Section 21.  Sections 411.012 and 1008.21, Florida
2707	Statutes, are repealed.
2708	Section 22.  (1)  The sum of $7 million in nonrecurring
2709	funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the
2710	Department of Education for implementation of the summer
2711	prekindergarten demonstration program under section 1002.61(5),
2712	Florida Statutes, during the 2003-2004 fiscal year, and for
2713	nonrecurring startup costs for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
2714	Education Program during fiscal year 2004-2005. The Department
2715	of Education may use any funds remaining after implementation of
2716	the summer prekindergarten demonstration program in accordance
2717	with the research design developed under section 1002.61(5)(b),
2718	Florida Statutes, for nonrecurring startup costs for the
2719	Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, subject to approval
2720	by the Legislative Budget Commission of the allocation among
2721	specific appropriation categories of funds for these
2722	nonrecurring startup costs.
2723	(2)  Notwithstanding section 1002.69, Florida Statutes,
2724	each demonstration district's allocation of funds appropriated
2725	under subsection (1) shall be based upon the district's student
2726	enrollment in the demonstration program. Each demonstration
2727	district's student enrollment in the demonstration program, and
2728	the demographic composition of the student enrollment, must be
2729	consistent with the research design developed under section
2730	1002.61(5)(b), Florida Statutes. A full-time equivalent student
2731	in the summer prekindergarten demonstration program shall be 300
2732	hours, and the base student allocation for the demonstration
2733	program shall be $2,500 per full-time equivalent student. Each
2734	district's allocation per full-time equivalent student shall be
2735	calculated by multiplying the base student allocation by the
2736	district cost differential provided in section 1011.62(2),
2737	Florida Statutes.
2738	(3)  Each demonstration school must have at least one
2739	certified teacher for every 10 students in the demonstration
2740	program. As used in this subsection, the term "certified
2741	teacher" has the same meaning ascribed in section 1002.61(3),
2742	Florida Statutes.
2743	(4)  Each demonstration district must submit all
2744	information requested by the Department of Education for
2745	reporting and funding purposes.
2746	(5)  Any unexpended balance at the end of the 2003-2004
2747	fiscal year from the funds appropriated under subsection (1)
2748	shall be certified forward to the 2004-2005 fiscal year and
2749	shall be used to continue implementation of the demonstration
2750	program during summer 2004.
2751	Section 23.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
2752	act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.