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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the prekindergarten education pilot

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program; establishing the pilot program to enhance the

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quality of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education

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Program; specifying counties and providing requirements

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for individual participants; providing for voluntary

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participation by prekindergarten providers; providing

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duties of the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend

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Region and community colleges; authorizing the coalition

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to apply for and secure grants and funding before

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implementing the pilot program; providing an effective

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date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. Pilot program to enhance the quality of the

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Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.--

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     (1) There is established a 3-year coordinated pilot program

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in Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, Wakulla, Taylor, Madison, and

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Jefferson Counties. The purpose of the pilot program is to

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enhance the quality of Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten

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Education Program by providing individuals who hold a

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baccalaureate or higher degree with the opportunity to teach in

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the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.

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     (2)(a) An individual participating in the pilot program

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must complete a curriculum that is developed by the Early

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Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region in consultation with a

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community college in the pilot program region. The curriculum

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shall provide each participant with early education training that

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is designed to enhance the quality of the prekindergarten

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education program and with necessary health and safety training.

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     (b) Participation in the pilot program by prekindergarten

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education providers is voluntary.

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     (3) The pilot program shall be administered by the Early

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Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region. The coalition shall

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recruit participants, determine required training, and provide

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placement assistance for individual and prekindergarten provider

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participants.

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     (4) The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region is

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authorized to apply for appropriate grants and funding to

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implement the pilot program. Implementation of the pilot program

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is not required until such funding has been secured.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.