Florida Senate - 2012 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for HB 5103
Barcode 742786
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/R/2R .
03/09/2012 09:40 PM .
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Senator Simmons moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
6 read:
7 411.01 School readiness programs; early learning
8 coalitions.—
9 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “School
10 Readiness Act.”
11 (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—
12 (a) The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
13 programs increase children’s chances of achieving future
14 educational success and becoming productive members of society.
15 It is the intent of the Legislature that the programs be
16 developmentally appropriate, research-based, involve the parent
17 as a child’s first teacher, serve as preventive measures for
18 children at risk of future school failure, enhance the
19 educational readiness of eligible children, and support family
20 education. Each school readiness program shall provide the
21 elements necessary to prepare at-risk children for school,
22 including health screening and referral and an appropriate
23 educational program.
24 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
25 readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis
26 to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and
27 become financially self-sufficient.
28 (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
29 readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
30 upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
31 programs for young children, and that school readiness programs
32 be coordinated to achieve full effectiveness.
33 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
34 administrative staff for school readiness programs be kept to
35 the minimum necessary to administer the duties of the Office of
36 Early Learning and early learning coalitions. The Office of
37 Early Learning shall adopt system support services at the state
38 level to build a comprehensive early learning system. Each early
39 learning coalition shall implement and maintain direct
40 enhancement services at the local level, as approved in its
41 school readiness plan by the Office of Early Learning, and
42 ensure access to such services in all 67 counties.
43 (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the school
44 readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction with the
45 district school systems. However, it is also the intent of the
46 Legislature that the school readiness program not be construed
47 as part of the system of free public schools but rather as a
48 separate program for children under the age of kindergarten
49 eligibility, funded separately from the system of free public
50 schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale, and providing
51 an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services
52 for the state’s birth-to-kindergarten population.
53 (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
54 readiness services be an integrated and seamless program of
55 services with a developmentally appropriate education component
56 for the state’s eligible birth-to-kindergarten population
57 described in subsection (6) and not be construed as part of the
58 seamless K-20 education system.
59 (3) PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS.
60 This section does not:
61 (a) Relieve parents and guardians of their own obligations
62 to prepare their children for school; or
63 (b) Create any obligation to provide publicly funded school
64 readiness programs or services beyond those authorized by the
65 Legislature.
66 (4) OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
67 EDUCATION.—
68 (a) The Office of Early Learning shall administer school
69 readiness programs at the state level and shall coordinate with
70 the early learning coalitions in providing school readiness
71 services on a full-day, full-year, full-choice basis to the
72 extent possible in order to enable parents to work and be
73 financially self-sufficient.
74 (b) The Office of Early Learning shall:
75 1. Prioritize services to eligible children from birth to
76 kindergarten.
77 2.1. Coordinate the birth-to-kindergarten services for
78 children who are eligible under subsection (6) and the
79 programmatic, administrative, and fiscal standards under this
80 section for all public providers of school readiness programs.
81 3.2. Focus on improving the educational quality of all
82 program providers participating in publicly funded school
83 readiness programs.
84 4.3. Provide comprehensive services to the state’s birth
85 to-5 population, which shall ensure the preservation of parental
86 choice by permitting parents to choose from a variety of child
87 care categories, including: center-based child care; group home
88 child care; family child care; and in-home child care. Care and
89 curriculum by a sectarian provider may not be limited or
90 excluded in any of these categories.
91 (c) The Governor shall designate the Office of Early
92 Learning as the lead agency for administration of the federal
93 Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99, and
94 the office shall comply with the lead agency responsibilities
95 under federal law.
96 (d) The Office of Early Learning shall:
97 1. Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
98 private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
99 requirements.
100 2. Adopt a uniform chart of accounts for budgeting and
101 financial reporting which provides standard definitions for
102 expenditures and reports for each of the following categories:
103 a. Direct expenditures for services to children;
104 b. Administrative costs;
105 c. Nondirect expenditures; and
106 d. Quality.
107 3.2. Provide final approval and every 2 years review early
108 learning coalitions and school readiness plans.
109 4.3. Establish a unified approach to the state’s efforts
110 toward enhancement of school readiness. In support of this
111 effort, the Office of Early Learning shall adopt specific system
112 support services that address the state’s school readiness
113 programs. An early learning coalition shall amend its school
114 readiness plan to conform to the specific system support
115 services adopted by the Office of Early Learning. System support
116 services shall include, but are not limited to:
117 a. Child care resource and referral services;
118 b. Warm-Line services;
119 c. Eligibility determinations;
120 d. Child performance standards;
121 e. Child screening and assessment;
122 f. Developmentally appropriate curricula;
123 g. Health and safety requirements;
124 h. Statewide data system requirements; and
125 i. Rating and improvement systems.
126 5.4. Safeguard the effective use of and prioritize federal
127 and, state funds for direct services, local, and private
128 resources to achieve the highest possible level of school
129 readiness for the children in this state.
130 6.5. Adopt a rule establishing criteria for the expenditure
131 of funds designated for the purpose of funding activities to
132 improve the quality of child care within the state in accordance
133 with s. 658G of the federal Child Care and Development Block
134 Grant Act.
135 7.6. Provide technical assistance to early learning
136 coalitions in a manner determined by the Office of Early
137 Learning based upon information obtained by the office from
138 various sources, including, but not limited to, public input,
139 government reports, private interest group reports, office
140 monitoring visits, and coalition requests for service.
141 8.7. In cooperation with the early learning coalitions,
142 coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
143 Department of Children and Family Services to minimize
144 duplicating interagency activities, health and safety
145 monitoring, and acquiring and composing data pertaining to child
146 care training and credentialing.
147 9.8. Develop and adopt performance standards and outcome
148 measures for school readiness programs. The performance
149 standards must address the age-appropriate progress of children
150 in the development of school readiness skills. The performance
151 standards for children from birth to 5 years of age in school
152 readiness programs must be integrated with the performance
153 standards adopted by the Department of Education for children in
154 the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under s.
155 1002.67.
156 10. By July 1, 2013, identify a preassessment and
157 postassessment aligned with the performance standards adopted
158 under subparagraph 9. The preassessments and postassessments
159 shall begin immediately after adoption and shall be used by
160 school readiness program providers. The office shall collect the
161 results of the preassessments and postassessments statewide to
162 evaluate the effectiveness of the school readiness program. At a
163 minimum, a preassessment shall be administered to each child who
164 participates in a school readiness program within the first 45
165 days after enrollment. By May 30 of each year, a postassessment
166 shall be administered to each child who participates in a
167 provider’s program for at least the previous 6 months.
168 11.9. Adopt a statewide, standardized standard contract
169 that must be used by the coalitions when contracting with school
170 readiness providers. The office shall prohibit the coalitions
171 from adopting addenda to the contract.
172 12. Adopt a statewide, standardized contract monitoring
173 tool that must be used by each early learning coalition when
174 monitoring the compliance of school readiness providers under
175 the statewide, standardized contract adopted under subparagraph
176 11.
177 (e) The Office of Early Learning may adopt rules under ss.
178 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer the provisions of law
179 conferring duties upon the office, including, but not limited
180 to, rules governing the administration of system support
181 services of school readiness programs, the adoption of a uniform
182 chart of accounts, the adoption of a statewide, standardized
183 contract and standardized contract monitoring tool, the
184 collection of data, the approval of early learning coalitions
185 and school readiness plans, the provision of a method whereby an
186 early learning coalition may serve two or more counties, the
187 award of incentives to early learning coalitions, child
188 performance standards, child outcome measures, the issuance of
189 waivers, and the implementation of the state’s Child Care and
190 Development Fund Plan as approved by the federal Administration
191 for Children and Families.
192 (f) The Office of Early Learning shall have all powers
193 necessary to administer this section, including, but not limited
194 to, the power to receive and accept grants, loans, or advances
195 of funds from any public or private agency and to receive and
196 accept from any source contributions of money, property, labor,
197 or any other thing of value, to be held, used, and applied for
198 purposes of this section.
199 (g) Except as provided by law, the Office of Early Learning
200 may not impose requirements on a child care or early childhood
201 education provider that does not deliver services under the
202 school readiness programs or receive state or federal funds
203 under this section.
204 (h) The Office of Early Learning shall have a budget for
205 school readiness programs, which shall be financed through an
206 annual appropriation made for purposes of this section in the
207 General Appropriations Act.
208 (i) The Office of Early Learning shall coordinate with
209 other state agencies to perform data matches on families
210 participating in the school readiness program in order to ensure
211 proper eligibility for the school readiness program.
212 (j)(i) The Office of Early Learning shall coordinate the
213 efforts toward school readiness in this state and provide
214 independent policy analyses, data analyses, and recommendations
215 to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the
216 Legislature.
217 (k)(j) The Office of Early Learning shall require that
218 school readiness programs, at a minimum, enhance the age
219 appropriate progress of each child in attaining the performance
220 standards adopted under subparagraph (d)9. (d)8. and in the
221 development of the following school readiness skills:
222 1. Compliance with rules, limitations, and routines.
223 2. Ability to perform tasks.
224 3. Interactions with adults.
225 4. Interactions with peers.
226 5. Ability to cope with challenges.
227 6. Self-help skills.
228 7. Ability to express the child’s needs.
229 8. Verbal communication skills.
230 9. Problem-solving skills.
231 10. Following of verbal directions.
232 11. Demonstration of curiosity, persistence, and
233 exploratory behavior.
234 12. Interest in books and other printed materials.
235 13. Paying attention to stories.
236 14. Participation in art and music activities.
237 15. Ability to identify colors, geometric shapes, letters
238 of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and temporal
239 relationships.
240
241 Within 30 days after enrollment in the school readiness program,
242 the early learning coalition must ensure that the program
243 provider obtains information regarding the child’s
244 immunizations, physical development, and other health
245 requirements as necessary, including appropriate vision and
246 hearing screening and examinations. For a program provider
247 licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services, the
248 provider’s compliance with s. 402.305(9), as verified pursuant
249 to s. 402.311, shall satisfy this requirement.
250 (l)(k) The Office of Early Learning shall conduct studies
251 and planning activities related to the overall improvement and
252 effectiveness of the outcome measures adopted by the office for
253 school readiness programs and the specific system support
254 services to address the state’s school readiness programs
255 adopted by the Office of Early Learning in accordance with
256 subparagraph (d)4. (d)3.
257 (m)(l) The Office of Early Learning shall monitor and
258 evaluate the performance of each early learning coalition in
259 administering the school readiness program, implementing the
260 coalition’s school readiness plan, and administering the
261 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. These monitoring
262 and performance evaluations must include, at a minimum, onsite
263 monitoring of each coalition’s finances, management, operations,
264 and programs.
265 (n)(m) The Office of Early Learning shall submit an annual
266 report of its activities conducted under this section to the
267 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
268 of Representatives, and the minority leaders of both houses of
269 the Legislature. In addition, the Office of Early Learning’s
270 reports and recommendations shall be made available to the
271 Florida Early Learning Advisory Council and other appropriate
272 state agencies and entities. The annual report must provide an
273 analysis of school readiness activities across the state,
274 including the number of children who were served in the
275 programs.
276 (o)(n) The Office of Early Learning shall work with the
277 early learning coalitions to ensure availability of training and
278 support for parental involvement in children’s early education
279 and to provide family literacy activities and services.
280 (5) CREATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS.—
281 (a) Early learning coalitions.—
282 1. Each early learning coalition shall maintain direct
283 enhancement services at the local level and ensure access to
284 such services in all 67 counties.
285 2. The Office of Early Learning shall establish the minimum
286 number of children to be served by each early learning coalition
287 through the coalition’s school readiness program. The Office of
288 Early Learning may only approve school readiness plans in
289 accordance with this minimum number. The minimum number must be
290 uniform for every early learning coalition and must:
291 a. Permit 31 or fewer coalitions to be established; and
292 b. Require each coalition to serve at least 1,700 2,000
293 children based upon the average number of all children served
294 per month through the coalition’s school readiness program
295 during the previous 12 months.
296 3. If an early learning coalition would serve fewer
297 children than the minimum number established under subparagraph
298 2., the coalition must merge with another county to form a
299 multicounty coalition. The Office of Early Learning shall adopt
300 procedures for merging early learning coalitions, including
301 procedures for the consolidation of merging coalitions, and for
302 the early termination of the terms of coalition members which
303 are necessary to accomplish the mergers. However, the Office of
304 Early Learning shall grant a waiver to an early learning
305 coalition to serve fewer children than the minimum number
306 established under subparagraph 2., if:
307 a. The Office of Early Learning has determined during the
308 most recent review of the coalition’s school readiness plan, or
309 through monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under
310 paragraph (4)(l), that the coalition has substantially
311 implemented its plan;
312 b. The coalition demonstrates to the Office of Early
313 Learning the coalition’s ability to effectively and efficiently
314 implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; and
315 c. The coalition demonstrates to the Office of Early
316 Learning that the coalition can perform its duties in accordance
317 with law.
318
319 If an early learning coalition fails or refuses to merge as
320 required by this subparagraph, the Office of Early Learning may
321 dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified
322 entity to continue school readiness and prekindergarten services
323 in the coalition’s county or multicounty region until the office
324 reestablishes the coalition and a new school readiness plan is
325 approved by the office.
326 4. Each early learning coalition shall be composed of at
327 least 15 members but not more than 30 members. The Office of
328 Early Learning shall adopt standards establishing within this
329 range the minimum and maximum number of members that may be
330 appointed to an early learning coalition and procedures for
331 identifying which members have voting privileges under
332 subparagraph 6. These standards must include variations for a
333 coalition serving a multicounty region. Each early learning
334 coalition must comply with these standards.
335 5. The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
336 members of each early learning coalition, who must each meet the
337 same qualifications as private sector business members appointed
338 by the coalition under subparagraph 7.
339 6. Each early learning coalition must include the following
340 member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition, each ex
341 officio member position may be filled by multiple nonvoting
342 members but no more than one voting member shall be seated per
343 member position. If an early learning coalition has more than
344 one member representing the same entity, only one of such
345 members may serve as a voting member:
346 a. A Department of Children and Family Services circuit
347 administrator or his or her designee who is authorized to make
348 decisions on behalf of the department.
349 b. A district superintendent of schools or his or her
350 designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the
351 district.
352 c. A regional workforce board executive director or his or
353 her designee.
354 d. A county health department director or his or her
355 designee.
356 e. A children’s services council or juvenile welfare board
357 chair or executive director, if applicable.
358 f. An agency head of a local licensing agency as defined in
359 s. 402.302, where applicable.
360 g. A president of a community college or his or her
361 designee.
362 h. One member appointed by a board of county commissioners
363 or the governing board of a municipality.
364 i. A central agency administrator, where applicable.
365 j. A Head Start director.
366 k. A representative of private for-profit child care
367 providers, including private for-profit family day care homes.
368 l. A representative of faith-based child care providers.
369 m. A representative of programs for children with
370 disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
371 Education Act.
372 7. Including the members appointed by the Governor under
373 subparagraph 5., more than one-third of the members of each
374 early learning coalition must be private sector business members
375 who do not have, and none of whose relatives as defined in s.
376 112.3143 has, a substantial financial interest in the design or
377 delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
378 created under part V of chapter 1002 or the coalition’s school
379 readiness program. To meet this requirement an early learning
380 coalition must appoint additional members. The Office of Early
381 Learning shall establish criteria for appointing private sector
382 business members. These criteria must include standards for
383 determining whether a member or relative has a substantial
384 financial interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
385 Prekindergarten Education Program or the coalition’s school
386 readiness program.
387 8. A majority of the voting membership of an early learning
388 coalition constitutes a quorum required to conduct the business
389 of the coalition. An early learning coalition board may use any
390 method of telecommunications to conduct meetings, including
391 establishing a quorum through telecommunications, provided that
392 the public is given proper notice of a telecommunications
393 meeting and reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate,
394 participate.
395 9. A voting member of an early learning coalition may not
396 appoint a designee to act in his or her place, except as
397 otherwise provided in this paragraph. A voting member may send a
398 representative to coalition meetings, but that representative
399 does not have voting privileges. When a district administrator
400 for the Department of Children and Family Services appoints a
401 designee to an early learning coalition, the designee is the
402 voting member of the coalition, and any individual attending in
403 the designee’s place, including the district administrator, does
404 not have voting privileges.
405 10. Each member of an early learning coalition is subject
406 to ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. For purposes of s.
407 112.3143(3)(a), each voting member is a local public officer who
408 must abstain from voting when a voting conflict exists.
409 11. For purposes of tort liability, each member or employee
410 of an early learning coalition shall be governed by s. 768.28.
411 12. An early learning coalition serving a multicounty
412 region must include representation from each county.
413 13. Each early learning coalition shall establish terms for
414 all appointed members of the coalition. The terms must be
415 staggered and must be a uniform length that does not exceed 4
416 years per term. Coalition chairs shall be appointed for 4 years
417 in conjunction with their membership on the Early Learning
418 Advisory Council under s. 20.052. Appointed members may serve a
419 maximum of two consecutive terms. When a vacancy occurs in an
420 appointed position, the coalition must advertise the vacancy.
421 (b) Limitation.—Except as provided by law, the early
422 learning coalitions may not impose requirements on a child care
423 or early childhood education provider that does not deliver
424 services under the school readiness programs or receive state,
425 federal, required maintenance of effort, or matching funds under
426 this section.
427 (c) Program expectations.—
428 1. The school readiness program must meet the following
429 expectations:
430 a. The program must, at a minimum, enhance the age
431 appropriate progress of each child in attaining the performance
432 standards and outcome measures adopted by the Office of Early
433 Learning.
434 b. The program must provide extended-day and extended-year
435 services to the maximum extent possible without compromising the
436 quality of the program to meet the needs of parents who work.
437 c. The program must provide a coordinated professional
438 development system that supports the achievement and maintenance
439 of core competencies by school readiness instructors in helping
440 children attain the performance standards and outcome measures
441 adopted by the Office of Early Learning.
442 d. There must be expanded access to community services and
443 resources for families to help achieve economic self
444 sufficiency.
445 e. There must be a single point of entry and unified
446 waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term “single
447 point of entry” means an integrated information system that
448 allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school
449 readiness program at various locations throughout a county, that
450 may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone or
451 through an Internet website, and that uses a unified waiting
452 list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the
453 school readiness program. The Office of Early Learning shall
454 establish through technology a single statewide information
455 system that each coalition must use for the purposes of managing
456 the single point of entry, tracking children’s progress,
457 coordinating services among stakeholders, determining
458 eligibility, tracking child attendance, and streamlining
459 administrative processes for providers and early learning
460 coalitions.
461 f. The Office of Early Learning must consider the access of
462 eligible children to the school readiness program, as
463 demonstrated in part by waiting lists, before approving a
464 proposed increase in payment rates submitted by an early
465 learning coalition. In addition, early learning coalitions shall
466 use school readiness funds made available due to enrollment
467 shifts from school readiness programs to the Voluntary
468 Prekindergarten Education Program for increasing the number of
469 children served in school readiness programs before increasing
470 payment rates.
471 f.g. The program must meet all state licensing guidelines,
472 where applicable.
473 g.h. The program must ensure that minimum standards for
474 child discipline practices are age-appropriate. Such standards
475 must provide that children not be subjected to discipline that
476 is severe, humiliating, or frightening or discipline that is
477 associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other
478 form of physical punishment is prohibited.
479 2. Each early learning coalition must implement a
480 comprehensive program of school readiness services in accordance
481 with the rules adopted by the office which enhance the
482 cognitive, social, and physical development of children to
483 achieve the performance standards and outcome measures. At a
484 minimum, these programs must contain the following system
485 support service elements:
486 a. Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to
487 enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining
488 the performance standards adopted by the Office of Early
489 Learning under subparagraph (4)(d)9 (4)(d)8.
490 b. A character development program to develop basic values.
491 c. An age-appropriate screening of each child’s
492 development.
493 d. An age-appropriate preassessment and postassessment of
494 children as provided in subsection (4) assessment administered
495 to children when they enter a program and an age-appropriate
496 assessment administered to children when they leave the program.
497 e. An appropriate staff-to-children ratio, pursuant to s.
498 402.305(4) or s. 402.302(8) or (11), as applicable, and as
499 verified pursuant to s. 402.311.
500 f. A healthy and safe environment pursuant to s.
501 401.305(5), (6), and (7), as applicable, and as verified
502 pursuant to s. 402.311.
503 g. A resource and referral network established under s.
504 411.0101 to assist parents in making an informed choice and a
505 regional Warm-Line under s. 411.01015.
506
507 The Office of Early Learning and early learning coalitions shall
508 coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
509 Department of Children and Family Services to minimize
510 duplicating interagency activities pertaining to acquiring and
511 composing data for child care training and credentialing.
512 (d) Implementation.—
513 1. An early learning coalition may not implement the school
514 readiness program until the coalition’s school readiness plan is
515 approved by the Office of Early Learning.
516 2. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with one
517 another to implement a comprehensive program of school readiness
518 services which enhances the cognitive, social, physical, and
519 moral character of the children to achieve the performance
520 standards and outcome measures and which helps families achieve
521 economic self-sufficiency. Such program must contain, at a
522 minimum, the following elements:
523 a. Implement the school readiness program to meet the
524 requirements of this section and the system support services,
525 performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by the
526 Office of Early Learning.
527 b. Demonstrate how the program will ensure that each child
528 from birth through 5 years of age in a publicly funded school
529 readiness program receives scheduled activities and instruction
530 designed to enhance the age-appropriate progress of the children
531 in attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
532 under subparagraph (4)(d)9 (4)(d)8.
533 c. Ensure that the coalition has solicited and considered
534 comments regarding the proposed school readiness plan from the
535 local community.
536
537 Before implementing the school readiness program, the early
538 learning coalition must submit the plan to the office for
539 approval. The office may approve the plan, reject the plan, or
540 approve the plan with conditions. The office shall review school
541 readiness plans at least every 2 years.
542 3. If the Office of Early Learning determines during the
543 review of school readiness plans, or through monitoring and
544 performance evaluations conducted under paragraph (4)(m) (4)(l),
545 that an early learning coalition has not substantially
546 implemented its plan, has not substantially met the performance
547 standards and outcome measures adopted by the office, or has not
548 effectively administered the school readiness program or
549 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, the office may
550 dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified
551 entity to continue school readiness and prekindergarten services
552 in the coalition’s county or multicounty region until the office
553 reestablishes the coalition and a new school readiness plan is
554 approved in accordance with the rules adopted by the office.
555 4. The Office of Early Learning shall adopt rules
556 establishing criteria for the approval of school readiness
557 plans. The criteria must be consistent with the system support
558 services, performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by
559 the office and must require each approved plan to include the
560 following minimum standards for the school readiness program:
561 a. A community plan that addresses the needs of all
562 children and providers within the coalition’s county or
563 multicounty region.
564 b. Require a parent copayment of at least 10 percent of a
565 family’s income A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for
566 parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for
567 all program providers. An early learning coalition may grant a
568 waiver from the required parent copayment on a case-by-case
569 basis and in accordance with federal law.
570 c. A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
571 registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be
572 provided to parents.
573 d. Specific eligibility priorities for children in
574 accordance with subsection (6).
575 e. Performance standards and outcome measures adopted by
576 the office.
577 f. Payment rates adopted by the early learning coalitions
578 and approved by the office. Payment rates may not have the
579 effect of limiting parental choice or creating standards or
580 levels of services that have not been expressly established by
581 the Legislature, unless the creation of such standards or levels
582 of service, which must be uniform throughout the state, has been
583 approved by the Federal Government and result in the state being
584 eligible to receive additional federal funds available for early
585 learning on a statewide basis.
586 f.g. Direct enhancement services for families and children.
587 System support and direct enhancement services shall be in
588 addition to payments for the placement of children in school
589 readiness programs. Direct enhancement services for families may
590 include parent training and involvement activities and
591 strategies to meet the needs of unique populations and local
592 eligibility priorities. Enhancement services for children may
593 include provider supports and professional development approved
594 in the plan by the Office of Early Learning.
595 g.h. The business organization of the early learning
596 coalition, which must include the coalition’s articles of
597 incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a
598 corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a corporation
599 or other business entity, the plan must include the contract
600 with a fiscal agent. An early learning coalition may contract
601 with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multicounty
602 services, and these contracts may be part of the coalition’s
603 school readiness plan.
604 h.i. The implementation of locally developed quality
605 programs in accordance with the requirements adopted by the
606 office under subparagraph (4)(d)6 (4)(d)5.
607
608 The Office of Early Learning may request the Governor to apply
609 for a waiver to allow the coalition to administer the Head Start
610 Program to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness
611 program.
612 5. Persons with an early childhood teaching certificate may
613 provide support and supervision to other staff in the school
614 readiness program.
615 6. An early learning coalition may not implement its school
616 readiness plan until it submits the plan to and receives
617 approval from the Office of Early Learning. Once the plan is
618 approved, the plan and the services provided under the plan
619 shall be controlled by the early learning coalition. The plan
620 shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least
621 biennially. An early learning coalition may not implement the
622 revisions until the coalition submits the revised plan to and
623 receives approval from the office. If the office rejects a
624 revised plan, the coalition must continue to operate under its
625 prior approved plan.
626 7. Section 125.901(2)(a)3. does not apply to school
627 readiness programs. The Office of Early Learning may apply to
628 the Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and
629 Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of ss. 411.223 and
630 1003.54, if the waiver is necessary for implementation of school
631 readiness programs.
632 8. Two or more early learning coalitions may join for
633 purposes of planning and implementing a school readiness
634 program.
635 (e) Requests for proposals; payment schedule.—
636 1. Each early learning coalition must comply with the
637 procurement and expenditure procedures adopted by the Office of
638 Early Learning, including, but not limited to, applying the
639 procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law
640 for the expenditure of federal funds.
641 2. Each early learning coalition shall adopt a payment
642 schedule that encompasses all programs funded under this
643 section. The payment schedule must take into consideration the
644 prevailing market rate, must include the projected number of
645 children to be served, and must be submitted for approval by the
646 Office of Early Learning. Informal child care arrangements shall
647 be reimbursed at not more than 50 percent of the rate adopted
648 for a family day care home.
649 (f) Evaluation and annual report.—Each early learning
650 coalition shall conduct an evaluation of its implementation of
651 the school readiness program, including system support services,
652 performance standards, and outcome measures, and shall provide
653 an annual report and fiscal statement to the Office of Early
654 Learning. This report must also include an evaluation of the
655 effectiveness of its direct enhancement services and conform to
656 the content and format specifications adopted by the Office of
657 Early Learning. The Office of Early Learning must include an
658 analysis of the early learning coalitions’ reports in the
659 office’s annual report.
660 (6) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.—The school readiness program is
661 established for children from birth to the beginning of the
662 school year for which a child is eligible for admission to
663 kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. or who
664 are eligible for any federal subsidized child care program. Each
665 early learning coalition shall give priority for participation
666 in the school readiness program as follows:
667 (a) Priority shall be given first to a child from birth
668 through 12 years of age who is from a family in which there is
669 an adult receiving temporary cash assistance who is subject to
670 federal work requirements.
671 (b) Priority shall be given next to an at-risk a child from
672 birth through 12 years of age who is eligible for a school
673 readiness program but who has not yet entered school, who is
674 served by the Family Safety Program Office of the Department of
675 Children and Family Services or a community-based lead agency
676 under chapter 39 or chapter 409, and for whom child care is
677 needed to minimize risk of further abuse, neglect, or
678 abandonment.
679 (c) Priority shall be given next to a child from birth
680 through the beginning of the school year for which the child is
681 eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under
682 s. 1003.21(1)(a)2., who is from a working family that is
683 economically disadvantaged, including children of agricultural
684 workers. However, the child ceases to be eligible if his or her
685 family income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
686 In addition, priority shall be given to a child who has special
687 needs, who is 3 through 5 years of age, who has been determined
688 eligible as a student with disabilities, and who has a current
689 individual education plan.
690 (d) Priority shall be given next to a child who is younger
691 than 13 years of age and who is a sibling of a child enrolled in
692 the school readiness program under paragraph (c).
693 (e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(d), priority shall be
694 given last to a child who otherwise meets the eligibility
695 criteria in paragraph (c), but who is also enrolled concurrently
696 in the federal Head Start program and the Voluntary
697 Prekindergarten Education Program.
698
699 An early learning coalition may not disenroll any school
700 readiness child who is receiving services under the eligibility
701 priorities in effect on June 30, 2012, until such child is no
702 longer eligible under those priorities. An early learning
703 coalition shall enroll all eligible children, including those
704 from its waiting list, in accordance with the eligibility
705 priorities in this paragraph.
706 (c) Subsequent priority shall be given to a child who meets
707 one or more of the following criteria:
708 1. A child who is younger than the age of kindergarten
709 eligibility and:
710 a. Is at risk of welfare dependency, including an
711 economically disadvantaged child, a child of a participant in
712 the welfare transition program, a child of a migratory
713 agricultural worker, or a child of a teen parent.
714 b. Is a member of a working family that is economically
715 disadvantaged.
716 c. For whom financial assistance is provided through the
717 Relative Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085.
718 2. A 3-year-old child or 4-year-old child who may not be
719 economically disadvantaged but who has a disability; has been
720 served in a specific part-time exceptional education program or
721 a combination of part-time exceptional education programs with
722 required special services, aids, or equipment; and was
723 previously reported for funding part time under the Florida
724 Education Finance Program as an exceptional student.
725 3. An economically disadvantaged child, a child with a
726 disability, or a child at risk of future school failure, from
727 birth to 4 years of age, who is served at home through a home
728 visitor program and an intensive parent education program.
729 4. A child who meets federal and state eligibility
730 requirements for the migrant preschool program but who is not
731 economically disadvantaged.
732
733 As used in this paragraph, the term “economically disadvantaged”
734 means having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of
735 the federal poverty level. Notwithstanding any change in a
736 family’s economic status, but subject to additional family
737 contributions in accordance with the parent copayment under sub
738 subparagraph (5)(d)4.b. sliding fee scale, a child who meets the
739 eligibility requirements upon initial registration for the
740 program remains eligible until the beginning of the school year
741 for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in
742 a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
743 (7) PARENTAL CHOICE.—
744 (a) Parental choice of child care providers shall be
745 established, to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance
746 with 45 C.F.R. s. 98.30.
747 (b) As used in this subsection, the term “payment
748 certificate” means a child care certificate as defined in 45
749 C.F.R. s. 98.2.
750 (c) The school readiness program shall, in accordance with
751 45 C.F.R. s. 98.30, provide parental choice through a payment
752 certificate that ensures, to the maximum extent possible,
753 flexibility in the school readiness program and payment
754 arrangements. The payment certificate must bear the names of the
755 beneficiary and the program provider and, when redeemed, must
756 bear the signatures of both the beneficiary and an authorized
757 representative of the provider.
758 (d) If it is determined that a provider has given any cash
759 to the beneficiary in return for receiving a payment
760 certificate, the early learning coalition or its fiscal agent
761 shall refer the matter to the Department of Financial Services
762 pursuant to s. 414.411 for investigation.
763 (e) The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall
764 establish an electronic transfer system for the disbursement of
765 funds in accordance with this subsection. Each early learning
766 coalition shall fully implement the electronic funds transfer
767 system within 2 years after approval of the coalition’s school
768 readiness plan, unless a waiver is obtained from the Office of
769 Early Learning.
770 (8) STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.—A program provider
771 participating in the school readiness program must meet the
772 performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the Office
773 of Early Learning.
774 (9) FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.—
775 (a) Funding for the school readiness program shall be
776 allocated among the early learning coalitions in accordance with
777 this section or as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
778 It is the intent of this section to establish an integrated and
779 quality seamless service delivery system for all publicly funded
780 early childhood education and child care programs operating in
781 this state.
782 (b)1. The Office of Early Learning shall administer school
783 readiness funds, plans, and policies and shall prepare and
784 submit a unified budget request for the school readiness system
785 in accordance with chapter 216.
786 2. All instructions to early learning coalitions for
787 administering this section shall emanate from the Office of
788 Early Learning in accordance with the policies of the
789 Legislature.
790 (c) The Office of Early Learning, subject to legislative
791 notice and review under s. 216.177, shall establish a formula
792 for the allocation of all state and federal school readiness
793 funds provided for children participating in the school
794 readiness program, whether served by a public or private
795 provider, based upon equity for each county. The allocation
796 formula must be submitted to the Governor, the chair of the
797 Senate Ways and Means Committee or its successor, and the chair
798 of the House of Representatives Fiscal Council or its successor
799 no later than January 1 of each year. If the Legislature
800 specifies changes to the allocation formula, the Office of Early
801 Learning shall allocate funds as specified in the General
802 Appropriations Act.
803 (d) All state, federal, and required local maintenance-of
804 effort or matching funds provided to an early learning coalition
805 for purposes of this section shall be used for implementation of
806 its approved school readiness plan, including the hiring of
807 staff to effectively operate the coalition’s school readiness
808 program. As part of plan approval and periodic plan review, the
809 Office of Early Learning shall require that administrative costs
810 be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and effective
811 administration of the school readiness plan, but no more than 18
812 percent may be used for administrative, nondirect, and quality
813 expenditures, of which the total administrative expenditures
814 must not exceed 4 5 percent unless specifically waived by the
815 Office of Early Learning. The Office of Early Learning may
816 provide a waiver of this limitation to an early learning
817 coalition during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years if the
818 early learning coalition provides adequate documentation
819 justifying why it could not meet this limitation. The Office of
820 Early Learning shall annually report to the Legislature any
821 problems relating to administrative costs.
822 (e) For each early learning coalition, the Office of Early
823 Learning shall adopt payment rates for school readiness
824 providers based on the prevailing market rate schedule
825 calculated under s. 411.01013. By July 1, 2015, the Office of
826 Early Learning shall ensure that the payment rates are uniform
827 statewide by care level and provider type. Each school readiness
828 provider payment shall be based on the uniform statewide rate
829 multiplied by the district cost differential as determined in s.
830 1011.62(2) for the county in which the school readiness provider
831 is located.
832 (f)(e) The Office of Early Learning shall annually
833 distribute, to a maximum extent practicable, all eligible funds
834 provided under this section as block grants to the early
835 learning coalitions in accordance with the terms and conditions
836 specified by the office.
837 (g)(f) State funds appropriated for the school readiness
838 program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
839 or the purchase of buses.
840 (h)(g) All cost savings and all revenues received through a
841 mandatory parent copayment sliding fee scale shall be used to
842 help fund each early learning coalition’s school readiness
843 program.
844 (10) CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.—If a conflict exists between
845 this section and federal requirements, the federal requirements
846 control.
847 (11) INVESTIGATIONS OF FRAUD OR OVERPAYMENT; PENALTIES.—
848 (a) The Office of Early Learning may investigate early
849 learning coalitions, recipients, and providers of the school
850 readiness program. While conducting such investigation, the
851 office may examine all records, including electronic benefits
852 transfer records and make inquiry of all persons who may have
853 knowledge as to any irregularity incidental to the disbursement
854 of public moneys or other items or benefits authorizations to
855 recipients. All school readiness recipients, as a condition
856 precedent to qualification for public assistance under this
857 chapter, must give in writing, on a form prescribed by rule of
858 the Office of Early Learning, to the early learning coalition
859 and to the Office of Early Learning, consent to make inquiry of
860 past or present employers and records, financial or otherwise.
861 (b) The Office of Early Learning may employ persons having
862 qualifications that are useful in conducting an investigation
863 authorized under this subsection.
864 (c) The results of the investigation shall be reported by
865 the Office of Early Learning to the appropriate legislative
866 committees, the Department of Education, the Department of
867 Financial Services, the Department of Children and Family
868 Services, and to such others as the office may determine
869 appropriate.
870 (d) The Department of Financial Services, the Department of
871 Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services
872 shall report to the Office of Early Learning the final
873 disposition of all cases wherein action has been taken, whether
874 criminal, civil, or administrative, based upon information
875 furnished by the Office of Early Learning.
876 (e) All lawful fees and expenses of officers and witnesses,
877 expenses incident to taking testimony and transcripts of
878 testimony, and proceedings are a proper charge to the Office of
879 Early Learning.
880 (f) This subsection shall be liberally construed in order
881 to effectively carry out the purposes of this subsection in the
882 interest of protecting public moneys and other public property.
883 (g) Based on the results of the investigation, in addition
884 to the reporting requirement in paragraph (c), the Office of
885 Early Learning may refer the investigation for criminal
886 prosecution, seek civil enforcement, or refer the matter to the
887 applicable early learning coalition.
888 (h) When the early learning coalition receives the referral
889 described in paragraph (g), the early learning coalition may
890 pursue reimbursement through the court system, suspend or deny
891 the provider or client from further participation in the school
892 readiness program, or create a repayment plan or other
893 appropriate civil or administrative remedies.
894 (i) If an early learning coalition or other subrecipient
895 reviews and determines that a school readiness provider has
896 fraudulently misrepresented enrollment or attendance in order to
897 receive funds related to the school readiness program, the early
898 learning coalition or other subrecipient may not contract or use
899 the services of that provider for a minimum of 3 years after
900 such determination.
901 (j) If a school readiness provider, after the investigation
902 and adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction, has been
903 convicted of fraudulently misrepresenting eligibility,
904 enrollment, or attendance related to the school readiness
905 program, the early learning coalition shall permanently refrain
906 from contracting with, or using the services of, that provider.
907 (k) As a condition of school readiness eligibility, subject
908 to federal approval, a school readiness recipient shall agree in
909 writing to forfeit all entitlements to any goods or services
910 provided through the school readiness program for 3 years if the
911 school readiness recipient has been found to have committed
912 public assistance fraud, through judicial or administrative
913 determination. This paragraph applies only to the school
914 readiness recipient found to have committed or participated in
915 public assistance fraud and does not apply to any family member
916 of the recipient who was not involved in the fraud.
917 (11) SUBSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS.—Each school district shall
918 make a list of all individuals currently eligible to act as a
919 substitute teacher within the county pursuant to the rules
920 adopted by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.35 available
921 to an early learning coalition serving students within the
922 school district. Child care facilities, as defined by s.
923 402.302, may employ individuals listed as substitute instructors
924 for the purpose of offering the school readiness program, the
925 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, and all other
926 legally operating child care programs.
927 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 411.0101, Florida
928 Statutes, is amended to read:
929 411.0101 Child care and early childhood resource and
930 referral.—
931 (1) As a part of the school readiness programs, the Office
932 of Early Learning shall establish a statewide child care
933 resource and referral network that is unbiased and provides
934 referrals to families for child care. Preference shall be given
935 to using the already established early learning coalitions as
936 the child care resource and referral agencies. If an early
937 learning coalition cannot comply with the requirements to offer
938 the resource information component or does not want to offer
939 that service, the early learning coalition shall select the
940 resource and referral agency for its county or multicounty
941 region based upon a request for proposal pursuant to s.
942 411.01(5)(e) 411.01(5)(e)1.
943 Section 3. Section 411.01013, Florida Statutes, is amended
944 to read:
945 411.01013 Prevailing market rate schedule.—
946 (1) As used in this section, the term:
947 (a) “Market rate” means the price that a child care
948 provider charges for daily, weekly, or monthly child care
949 services.
950 (b) “Prevailing market rate” means the annually determined
951 75th percentile of a reasonable frequency distribution of the
952 market rate in a predetermined geographic market at which child
953 care providers charge a person for child care services.
954 (1)(2) The Office of Early Learning shall establish
955 procedures for the adoption of a prevailing market rate
956 schedule. The schedule must include, at a minimum, county-by
957 county rates:
958 (a) At the prevailing market rate, plus the maximum rate,
959 for child care providers that hold a Gold Seal Quality Care
960 designation under s. 402.281.
961 (b) At the prevailing market rate for child care providers
962 that do not hold a Gold Seal Quality Care designation.
963 (3) The prevailing market rate schedule, at a minimum,
964 must:
965 (a) Differentiate rates by type, including, but not limited
966 to, a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care
967 designation under s. 402.281, a child care facility licensed
968 under s. 402.305, a public or nonpublic school exempt from
969 licensure under s. 402.3025, a faith-based child care facility
970 exempt from licensure under s. 402.316 that does not hold a Gold
971 Seal Quality Care designation, a large family child care home
972 licensed under s. 402.3131, or a family day care home licensed
973 or registered under s. 402.313.
974 (b) Differentiate rates by the type of child care services
975 provided for children with special needs or risk categories,
976 infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and school-age
977 children.
978 (c) Differentiate rates between full-time and part-time
979 child care services.
980 (d) Consider discounted rates for child care services for
981 multiple children in a single family.
982 (2)(4) The prevailing market rate schedule must be based
983 exclusively on the prices charged for child care services. If a
984 conflict exists between this subsection and federal
985 requirements, the federal requirements shall control.
986 (3)(5) Each child care and early childhood education
987 provider that receives school readiness funds must submit its
988 market rate by August 1 of each year to the Office of Early
989 Learning for inclusion in the calculation of the prevailing
990 market rate schedule. The prevailing market rate shall be
991 considered by an early learning coalition in the adoption of a
992 payment schedule in accordance with s. 411.01(5)(e)2.
993 (4)(6) The office of Early Learning may contract with one
994 or more qualified entities to administer this section and
995 provide support and technical assistance for child care
996 providers.
997 (5)(7) The office of Early Learning may adopt rules
998 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 for establishing
999 procedures for the collection of child care providers’ market
1000 rate, the calculation of a reasonable frequency distribution of
1001 the market rate, and the publication of a prevailing market rate
1002 schedule.
1003 Section 4. Section 411.0106, Florida Statutes, is amended
1004 to read:
1005 411.0106 Infants and toddlers in state-funded education and
1006 care programs; brain development activities.—Each state-funded
1007 education and care program for children from birth to 5 years of
1008 age must provide activities to foster brain development in
1009 infants and toddlers. A program must provide an environment that
1010 helps children attain the performance standards adopted by the
1011 Office of Early Learning under s. 411.01(4)(d)9. 411.01(4)(d)8.
1012 and must be rich in language and music and filled with objects
1013 of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to stimulate
1014 visual, tactile, auditory, and linguistic senses in the children
1015 and must include classical music and at least 30 minutes of
1016 reading to the children each day. A program may be offered
1017 through an existing early childhood program such as Healthy
1018 Start, the Title I program, the school readiness program, the
1019 Head Start program, or a private child care program. A program
1020 must provide training for the infants’ and toddlers’ parents
1021 including direct dialogue and interaction between teachers and
1022 parents demonstrating the urgency of brain development in the
1023 first year of a child’s life. Family day care centers are
1024 encouraged, but not required, to comply with this section.
1025 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1002.71, Florida
1026 Statutes, is amended to read:
1027 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
1028 (4) Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(3) and subsection (2):
1029 (a) A child who, for any of the prekindergarten programs
1030 listed in s. 1002.53(3), has not completed more than 70 percent
1031 of the hours authorized to be reported for funding under
1032 subsection (2), or has not expended more than 70 percent of the
1033 funds authorized for the child under s. 1002.66, may withdraw
1034 from the program for good cause and reenroll in one of the
1035 programs. The total funding for a child who reenrolls in one of
1036 the programs for good cause may not exceed one full-time
1037 equivalent student. Funding for a child who withdraws and
1038 reenrolls in one of the programs for good cause shall be issued
1039 in accordance with the Office of Early Learning’s uniform
1040 attendance policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (6)(d).
1041 (b) A child who has not substantially completed any of the
1042 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) may withdraw
1043 from the program due to an extreme hardship that is beyond the
1044 child’s or parent’s control, reenroll in one of the summer
1045 programs, and be reported for funding purposes as a full-time
1046 equivalent student in the summer program for which the child is
1047 reenrolled.
1048
1049 A child may reenroll only once in a prekindergarten program
1050 under this section. A child who reenrolls in a prekindergarten
1051 program under this subsection may not subsequently withdraw from
1052 the program and reenroll, unless the child is granted a good
1053 cause exemption under this subsection. The Office of Early
1054 Learning shall establish criteria specifying whether a good
1055 cause exists for a child to withdraw from a program under
1056 paragraph (a), whether a child has substantially completed a
1057 program under paragraph (b), and whether an extreme hardship
1058 exists which is beyond the child’s or parent’s control under
1059 paragraph (b). The Office of Early Learning shall also establish
1060 criteria for granting a good cause exemption under this
1061 subsection.
1062 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.
1063
1064 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
1065 And the title is amended as follows:
1066 Delete everything before the enacting clause
1067 and insert:
1068 A bill to be entitled
1069 An act relating to early learning funding; amending s.
1070 411.01, F.S.; revising the duties of the Office of
1071 Early Learning; authorizing the Office of Early
1072 Learning to adopt rules relating to the adoption of a
1073 uniform chart of accounts and the adoption of a
1074 statewide, standardized contract and standardized
1075 contract monitoring tool; requiring that the Office of
1076 Early Learning coordinate with other state agencies to
1077 perform data matches on families participating in the
1078 school readiness program; revising the minimum number
1079 of children who must be served by each early learning
1080 coalition; deleting provisions that require the Office
1081 of Early Learning to grant waivers to early learning
1082 coalitions serving fewer children than the minimum
1083 number established; requiring that each school
1084 readiness provider administer preassessments and
1085 postassessments; revising the standards for school
1086 readiness plans to conform to changes made by the act;
1087 requiring that each approved plan require a parent
1088 copayment of a minimum percentage of a family’s
1089 income; authorizing an early learning coalition to
1090 grant a waiver from such parent copayment; revising
1091 provisions relating to eligibility for school
1092 readiness programs; requiring that each early learning
1093 coalition give priority to children who meet certain
1094 requirements; requiring that funding for the school
1095 readiness program be allocated among the early
1096 learning coalitions pursuant to the act or as provided
1097 in the General Appropriations Act; revising provisions
1098 relating to the minimum percentage of funds to be used
1099 for administrative, nondirect, and quality
1100 expenditures; authorizing the Office of Early Learning
1101 to provide waivers of limitations on such expenditures
1102 under certain circumstances; requiring that the Office
1103 of Early Learning adopt school readiness provider
1104 payment rates for each early learning coalition
1105 service area based on the prevailing market rate;
1106 requiring that the Office of Early Learning ensure
1107 that each payment rate is uniform statewide by care
1108 level and provider type; authorizing the Office of
1109 Early Learning to investigate early learning
1110 coalitions and school readiness recipients and
1111 providers for fraud or overpayment; providing
1112 reporting requirements; providing penalties; amending
1113 s. 411.0101, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
1114 amending s. 411.01013, F.S.; revising provisions
1115 relating to the prevailing market rate schedule
1116 established by the Office of Early Learning; requiring
1117 that each child care and early learning education
1118 provider that receives school readiness funds submit
1119 its market rate to the Office of Early Learning by a
1120 specified date each year; amending s. 411.0106, F.S.;
1121 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1002.71,
1122 F.S.; requiring that the Office of Early Learning
1123 establish criteria for granting exemptions for good
1124 cause for children enrolled in prekindergarten
1125 programs; providing an effective date.