Florida Senate - 2021                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 1282
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì240086+Î240086                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  04/12/2021           .                                
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       Appropriations Subcommittee on Education (Harrell) recommended
       the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
    6  39.604, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
    7         39.604 Rilya Wilson Act; short title; legislative intent;
    8  child care; early education; preschool.—
    9         (5) EDUCATIONAL STABILITY.—Just as educational stability is
   10  important for school-age children, it is also important to
   11  minimize disruptions to secure attachments and stable
   12  relationships with supportive caregivers of children from birth
   13  to school age and to ensure that these attachments are not
   14  disrupted due to placement in out-of-home care or subsequent
   15  changes in out-of-home placement.
   16         (b) If it is not in the best interest of the child for him
   17  or her to remain in his or her child care or early education
   18  setting upon entry into out-of-home care, the caregiver must
   19  work with the case manager, guardian ad litem, child care and
   20  educational staff, and educational surrogate, if one has been
   21  appointed, to determine the best setting for the child. Such
   22  setting may be a child care provider that receives a Gold Seal
   23  Quality Care designation pursuant to s. 1002.945 s. 402.281, a
   24  provider participating in a quality rating system, a licensed
   25  child care provider, a public school provider, or a license
   26  exempt child care provider, including religious-exempt and
   27  registered providers, and nonpublic schools.
   28         Section 2. Paragraph (m) of subsection (5) of section
   29  212.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   30         212.08 Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution, and
   31  storage tax; specified exemptions.—The sale at retail, the
   32  rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and the
   33  storage to be used or consumed in this state of the following
   34  are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed by this
   35  chapter.
   36         (5) EXEMPTIONS; ACCOUNT OF USE.—
   37         (m) Educational materials purchased by certain child care
   38  facilities.—Educational materials, such as glue, paper, paints,
   39  crayons, unique craft items, scissors, books, and educational
   40  toys, purchased by a child care facility that meets the
   41  standards delineated in s. 402.305, is licensed under s.
   42  402.308, holds a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation
   43  pursuant to s. 1002.945 s. 402.281, and provides basic health
   44  insurance to all employees are exempt from the taxes imposed by
   45  this chapter. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “basic
   46  health insurance” shall be defined and promulgated in rules
   47  developed jointly by the Office of Early Learning Department of
   48  Children and Families, the Agency for Health Care
   49  Administration, and the Financial Services Commission.
   50         Section 3. Subsection (6) of section 402.26, Florida
   51  Statutes, is amended to read:
   52         402.26 Child care; legislative intent.—
   53         (6)It is the intent of the Legislature that a child care
   54  facility licensed pursuant to s. 402.305 or a child care
   55  facility exempt from licensing pursuant to s. 402.316, that
   56  achieves Gold Seal Quality status pursuant to s. 402.281, be
   57  considered an educational institution for the purpose of
   58  qualifying for exemption from ad valorem tax pursuant to s.
   59  196.198.
   60         Section 4. Type two transfer from the Department of
   61  Children and Families.—
   62         (1)All powers, duties, functions, records, offices,
   63  personnel, associated administrative support positions,
   64  property, pending issues, existing contracts, administrative
   65  authority, administrative rules, and unexpended balances of
   66  appropriations, allocations, and other funds relating to the
   67  Gold Seal Quality Care program within the Department of Children
   68  and Families are transferred by a type two transfer, as defined
   69  in s. 20.06(2), Florida Statutes, to the Office of Early
   70  Learning.
   71         (2)Any binding contract or interagency agreement existing
   72  before July 1, 2020, between the Department of Children and
   73  Families, or an entity or agent of the department, and any other
   74  agency, entity, or person relating to the Gold Seal Quality Care
   75  program shall continue as a binding contract or agreement for
   76  the remainder of the term of such contract or agreement on the
   77  successor entity responsible for the program, activity, or
   78  functions relative to the contract or agreement.
   79         Section 5. Subsection (5) of section 402.315, Florida
   80  Statutes, is amended to read:
   81         402.315 Funding; license fees.—
   82         (5) All moneys collected by the department for child care
   83  licensing shall be held in a trust fund of the department to be
   84  reallocated to the department during the following fiscal year
   85  to fund child care licensing activities, including the Gold Seal
   86  Quality Care program created pursuant to s. 1002.945 s. 402.281.
   87         Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 1001.213, Florida
   88  Statutes, is amended to read:
   89         1001.213 Office of Early Learning.—There is created within
   90  the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice the
   91  Office of Early Learning, as required under s. 20.15, which
   92  shall be administered by an executive director. The office shall
   93  be fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education but shall:
   94         (4) In compliance with parts V and VI of chapter 1002 and
   95  its powers and duties under s. 1002.73 s. 1002.75, administer
   96  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the state
   97  level.
   98         Section 7. Subsection (7) of section 1001.215, Florida
   99  Statutes, is amended to read:
  100         1001.215 Just Read, Florida! Office.—There is created in
  101  the Department of Education the Just Read, Florida! Office. The
  102  office is fully accountable to the Commissioner of Education and
  103  shall:
  104         (7) Review, evaluate, and provide technical assistance to
  105  school districts’ implementation of the K-12 comprehensive
  106  reading plan required in s. 1011.62(9).
  107         Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 1001.23, Florida
  108  Statutes, is amended to read:
  109         1001.23 Specific powers and duties of the Department of
  110  Education.—In addition to all other duties assigned to it by law
  111  or by rule of the State Board of Education, the department
  112  shall:
  113         (1)Adopt the statewide kindergarten screening in
  114  accordance with s. 1002.69.
  115         Section 9. Subsections (3) and (10) of section 1002.32,
  116  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  117         1002.32 Developmental research (laboratory) schools.—
  118         (3) MISSION.—The mission of a lab school shall be the
  119  provision of a vehicle for the conduct of research,
  120  demonstration, and evaluation regarding management, teaching,
  121  and learning. Programs to achieve the mission of a lab school
  122  shall embody the goals and standards established pursuant to ss.
  123  1000.03(5) and 1001.23(1) 1001.23(2) and shall ensure an
  124  appropriate education for its students.
  125         (a) Each lab school shall emphasize mathematics, science,
  126  computer science, and foreign languages. The primary goal of a
  127  lab school is to enhance instruction and research in such
  128  specialized subjects by using the resources available on a state
  129  university campus, while also providing an education in
  130  nonspecialized subjects. Each lab school shall provide
  131  sequential elementary and secondary instruction where
  132  appropriate. A lab school may not provide instruction at grade
  133  levels higher than grade 12 without authorization from the State
  134  Board of Education. Each lab school shall develop and implement
  135  a school improvement plan pursuant to s. 1003.02(3).
  136         (b) Research, demonstration, and evaluation conducted at a
  137  lab school may be generated by the college of education and
  138  other colleges within the university with which the school is
  139  affiliated.
  140         (c) Research, demonstration, and evaluation conducted at a
  141  lab school may be generated by the State Board of Education.
  142  Such research shall respond to the needs of the education
  143  community at large, rather than the specific needs of the
  144  affiliated college.
  145         (d) Research, demonstration, and evaluation conducted at a
  146  lab school may consist of pilot projects to be generated by the
  147  affiliated college, the State Board of Education, or the
  148  Legislature.
  149         (e) The exceptional education programs offered at a lab
  150  school shall be determined by the research and evaluation goals
  151  and the availability of students for efficiently sized programs.
  152  The fact that a lab school offers an exceptional education
  153  program in no way lessens the general responsibility of the
  154  local school district to provide exceptional education programs.
  155         (10) EXCEPTIONS TO LAW.—To encourage innovative practices
  156  and facilitate the mission of the lab schools, in addition to
  157  the exceptions to law specified in s. 1001.23(1) s. 1001.23(2),
  158  the following exceptions shall be permitted for lab schools:
  159         (a) The methods and requirements of the following statutes
  160  shall be held in abeyance: ss. 316.75; 1001.30; 1001.31;
  161  1001.32; 1001.33; 1001.34; 1001.35; 1001.36; 1001.361; 1001.362;
  162  1001.363; 1001.37; 1001.371; 1001.372; 1001.38; 1001.39;
  163  1001.395; 1001.40; 1001.41; 1001.44; 1001.453; 1001.46;
  164  1001.461; 1001.462; 1001.463; 1001.464; 1001.47; 1001.48;
  165  1001.49; 1001.50; 1001.51; 1006.12(2); 1006.21(3), (4); 1006.23;
  166  1010.07(2); 1010.40; 1010.41; 1010.42; 1010.43; 1010.44;
  167  1010.45; 1010.46; 1010.47; 1010.48; 1010.49; 1010.50; 1010.51;
  168  1010.52; 1010.53; 1010.54; 1010.55; 1011.02(1)-(3), (5);
  169  1011.04; 1011.20; 1011.21; 1011.22; 1011.23; 1011.71; 1011.72;
  170  1011.73; and 1011.74.
  171         (b) With the exception of s. 1001.42(18), s. 1001.42 shall
  172  be held in abeyance. Reference to district school boards in s.
  173  1001.42(18) shall mean the president of the university or the
  174  president’s designee.
  175         Section 10. Subsection (5) and paragraph (c) of subsection
  176  (6) of section 1002.53, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
  177  paragraph (d) is added to subsection (6) of that section, to
  178  read:
  179         1002.53 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
  180  eligibility and enrollment.—
  181         (5) The early learning coalition shall provide each parent
  182  enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  183  Program with a profile of every private prekindergarten provider
  184  and public school delivering the program within the county where
  185  the child is being enrolled. The profiles shall be provided to
  186  parents in a format prescribed by the Office of Early Learning
  187  in accordance with s. 1002.92(3). The profiles must include, at
  188  a minimum, the following information about each provider and
  189  school:
  190         (a)The provider’s or school’s services, curriculum,
  191  instructor credentials, and instructor-to-student ratio; and
  192         (b)The provider’s or school’s kindergarten readiness rate
  193  calculated in accordance with s. 1002.69, based upon the most
  194  recent available results of the statewide kindergarten
  195  screening.
  196         (6)
  197         (c) Each private prekindergarten provider and public school
  198  must comply with the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 in
  199  accordance with chapter 760 antidiscrimination requirements of
  200  42 U.S.C. s. 2000d, regardless of whether the provider or school
  201  receives federal financial assistance. A private prekindergarten
  202  provider or public school may not discriminate against a parent
  203  or child, including the refusal to admit a child for enrollment
  204  in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, in violation
  205  of chapter 760 these antidiscrimination requirements.
  206         (d)Each parent who enrolls his or her child in the
  207  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must allow his or
  208  her child to participate in the coordinated screening and
  209  progress monitoring program under s. 1008.2125.
  210         Section 11. Paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (g), (i), and (l) of
  211  subsection (3), subsection (4), and paragraph (b) of subsection
  212  (5) of section 1002.55, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
  213  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
  214         1002.55 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
  215  private prekindergarten providers.—
  216         (3) To be eligible to deliver the prekindergarten program,
  217  a private prekindergarten provider must meet each of the
  218  following requirements:
  219         (a) The private prekindergarten provider must be a child
  220  care facility licensed under s. 402.305, family day care home
  221  licensed under s. 402.313, large family child care home licensed
  222  under s. 402.3131, nonpublic school exempt from licensure under
  223  s. 402.3025(2), or faith-based child care provider exempt from
  224  licensure under s. 402.316, child development program accredited
  225  by a national accrediting body and operating on a military
  226  installation certified by the United States Department of
  227  Defense, or private prekindergarten provider issued a
  228  provisional license under s. 402.309. A private prekindergarten
  229  provider may not deliver the program while holding a probation
  230  status license under s. 402.310.
  231         (b) The private prekindergarten provider must:
  232         1. Be accredited by an accrediting association that is a
  233  member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation,
  234  or the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools, or be
  235  accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,
  236  or Western Association of Colleges and Schools, or North Central
  237  Association of Colleges and Schools, or Middle States
  238  Association of Colleges and Schools, or New England Association
  239  of Colleges and Schools; and have written accreditation
  240  standards that meet or exceed the state’s licensing requirements
  241  under s. 402.305, s. 402.313, or s. 402.3131 and require at
  242  least one onsite visit to the provider or school before
  243  accreditation is granted;
  244         2. Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation under
  245  s. 1002.945 s. 402.281; or
  246         3. Be licensed under s. 402.305, s. 402.313, or s. 402.3131
  247  and demonstrate, before delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  248  Education Program, as verified by the early learning coalition,
  249  that the provider meets each of the requirements of the program
  250  under this part, including, but not limited to, the requirements
  251  for credentials and background screenings of prekindergarten
  252  instructors under paragraphs (c) and (d), minimum and maximum
  253  class sizes under paragraph (f), prekindergarten director
  254  credentials under paragraph (g), and a developmentally
  255  appropriate curriculum under s. 1002.67(2)(b).
  256         (c) The private prekindergarten provider must have, for
  257  each prekindergarten class of 11 children or fewer, at least one
  258  prekindergarten instructor who meets each of the following
  259  requirements:
  260         1. The prekindergarten instructor must hold, at a minimum,
  261  one of the following credentials:
  262         a. A child development associate credential issued by the
  263  National Credentialing Program of the Council for Professional
  264  Recognition; or
  265         b. A credential approved by the Department of Children and
  266  Families as being equivalent to or greater than the credential
  267  described in sub-subparagraph a.
  268  
  269  The Department of Children and Families may adopt rules under
  270  ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which provide criteria and procedures
  271  for approving equivalent credentials under sub-subparagraph b.
  272         2. The prekindergarten instructor must successfully
  273  complete at least three an emergent literacy training courses
  274  that include developmentally appropriate and experiential
  275  learning practices for children course and a student performance
  276  standards training course approved by the office as meeting or
  277  exceeding the minimum standards adopted under s. 1002.59, and be
  278  recognized as part of the informal early learning career pathway
  279  identified by the office under s. 1002.995(1)(b). The
  280  requirement for completion of the standards training course
  281  shall take effect July 1, 2021. Such 2014, and the course shall
  282  be available online or in person.
  283         (g) The private prekindergarten provider must have a
  284  prekindergarten director who has a prekindergarten director
  285  credential that is approved by the office as meeting or
  286  exceeding the minimum standards adopted under s. 1002.57. A
  287  private school administrator who holds a valid certificate in
  288  educational leadership issued by the office satisfies the
  289  requirement for a prekindergarten director credential under s.
  290  1002.57 Successful completion of a child care facility director
  291  credential under s. 402.305(2)(g) before the establishment of
  292  the prekindergarten director credential under s. 1002.57 or July
  293  1, 2006, whichever occurs later, satisfies the requirement for a
  294  prekindergarten director credential under this paragraph.
  295         (i) The private prekindergarten provider must execute the
  296  statewide provider contract prescribed under s. 1002.73 s.
  297  1002.75, except that an individual who owns or operates multiple
  298  private prekindergarten sites providers within a coalition’s
  299  service area may execute a single agreement with the coalition
  300  on behalf of each site provider.
  301         (l) Notwithstanding paragraph (j), for a private
  302  prekindergarten provider that is a state agency or a subdivision
  303  thereof, as defined in s. 768.28(2), the provider must agree to
  304  notify the coalition of any additional liability coverage
  305  maintained by the provider in addition to that otherwise
  306  established under s. 768.28. The provider shall indemnify the
  307  coalition to the extent permitted by s. 768.28. Notwithstanding
  308  paragraph (j), for a child development program accredited by a
  309  national accrediting body and operating on a military
  310  installation certified by the United States Department of
  311  Defense, the provider may demonstrate liability coverage by
  312  affirming that it is subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28
  313  U.S.C. s. 2671 et seq.
  314         (4) A prekindergarten instructor, in lieu of the minimum
  315  credentials and courses required under paragraph (3)(c), may
  316  hold one of the following educational credentials:
  317         (a) A bachelor’s or higher degree in early childhood
  318  education, prekindergarten or primary education, preschool
  319  education, or family and consumer science;
  320         (b) A bachelor’s or higher degree in elementary education,
  321  if the prekindergarten instructor has been certified to teach
  322  children any age from birth through 6th grade, regardless of
  323  whether the instructor’s educator certificate is current, and if
  324  the instructor is not ineligible to teach in a public school
  325  because his or her educator certificate is suspended or revoked;
  326         (c) An associate’s or higher degree in child development;
  327         (d) An associate’s or higher degree in an unrelated field,
  328  at least 6 credit hours in early childhood education or child
  329  development, and at least 480 hours of experience in teaching or
  330  providing child care services for children any age from birth
  331  through 8 years of age; or
  332         (e) An educational credential approved by the department as
  333  being equivalent to or greater than an educational credential
  334  described in this subsection. The department may adopt criteria
  335  and procedures for approving equivalent educational credentials
  336  under this paragraph.
  337         (5)
  338         (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a
  339  private prekindergarten provider has been cited for a class I
  340  violation, as defined by rule of the Child Care Services Program
  341  Office of the Department of Children and Families, the coalition
  342  may refuse to contract with the provider.
  343         (6)Each early learning coalition must verify that each
  344  private prekindergarten provider delivering the Voluntary
  345  Prekindergarten Education Program within the coalition’s county
  346  or multicounty region complies with this part. If a private
  347  prekindergarten provider fails or refuses to comply with this
  348  part or engages in misconduct, the office must require the early
  349  learning coalition to remove the provider from eligibility to
  350  deliver the program or to receive state funds under this part
  351  for a period of at least 2 years but no more than 5 years.
  352         Section 12. Present paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection
  353  (2) of section 1002.57, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
  354  paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively, and a new paragraph (b) is
  355  added to that subsection, to read:
  356         1002.57 Prekindergarten director credential.—
  357         (2) The educational requirements must include training in
  358  the following:
  359         (b)Implementation of curriculum and usage of student-level
  360  data to inform the delivery of instruction;
  361         Section 13. Section 1002.59, Florida Statutes, is amended
  362  to read:
  363         1002.59 Emergent literacy and performance standards
  364  training courses.—
  365         (1) The office shall adopt minimum standards for one or
  366  more training courses in emergent literacy for prekindergarten
  367  instructors. Each course must comprise 5 clock hours and provide
  368  instruction in strategies and techniques to address the age
  369  appropriate progress of prekindergarten students in developing
  370  emergent literacy skills, including oral communication,
  371  knowledge of print and letters, phonemic and phonological
  372  awareness, and vocabulary and comprehension development. Each
  373  course must also provide resources containing strategies that
  374  allow students with disabilities and other special needs to
  375  derive maximum benefit from the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  376  Education Program. Successful completion of an emergent literacy
  377  training course approved under this section satisfies
  378  requirements for approved training in early literacy and
  379  language development under ss. 402.305(2)(e)5., 402.313(6), and
  380  402.3131(5).
  381         (2) The office shall adopt minimum standards for one or
  382  more training courses on the performance standards adopted under
  383  s. 1002.67(1). Each course must comprise at least 3 clock hours,
  384  provide instruction in strategies and techniques to address age
  385  appropriate progress of each child in attaining the standards,
  386  and be available online.
  387         (3)The office shall make available online professional
  388  development and training courses consisting of at least 8 clock
  389  hours that support prekindergarten instructors in increasing the
  390  competency of teacher-child interactions.
  391         Section 14. Present subsections (6), (7), and (8) of
  392  section 1002.61, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
  393  subsections (7), (8), and (9), respectively, a new subsection
  394  (6) and subsection (10) are added to that section, and paragraph
  395  (b) of subsection (1), paragraph (b) of subsection (3), and
  396  subsection (4) of that section are amended, to read:
  397         1002.61 Summer prekindergarten program delivered by public
  398  schools and private prekindergarten providers.—
  399         (1)
  400         (b) Each early learning coalition shall administer the
  401  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the county or
  402  regional level for students enrolled under s. 1002.53(3)(b) in a
  403  summer prekindergarten program delivered by a private
  404  prekindergarten provider. A child development program accredited
  405  by a national accrediting body and operating on a military
  406  installation certified by the United States Department of
  407  Defense may administer the summer prekindergarten program as a
  408  private prekindergarten provider.
  409         (3)
  410         (b) Each public school delivering the summer
  411  prekindergarten program must execute the statewide provider
  412  contract prescribed under s. 1002.73 s. 1002.75, except that the
  413  school district may execute a single agreement with the early
  414  learning coalition on behalf of all district schools.
  415         (4) Notwithstanding ss. 1002.55(3)(c)1. and 1002.63(4),
  416  each public school and private prekindergarten provider must
  417  have, for each prekindergarten class, at least one
  418  prekindergarten instructor who is a certified teacher or holds
  419  one of the educational credentials specified in s. 1002.55(4)(a)
  420  or (b). As used in this subsection, the term “certified teacher”
  421  means a teacher holding a valid Florida educator certificate
  422  under s. 1012.56 who has the qualifications required by the
  423  district school board to instruct students in the summer
  424  prekindergarten program. In selecting instructional staff for
  425  the summer prekindergarten program, each school district shall
  426  give priority to teachers who have experience or coursework in
  427  early childhood education and have completed emergent literacy
  428  and performance standards courses, as described in s.
  429  1002.55(3)(c)2.
  430         (6)A child development program accredited by a national
  431  accrediting body and operating on a military installation
  432  certified by the United States Department of Defense shall
  433  comply with the requirements of a private prekindergarten
  434  provider in this section.
  435         (10)(a)Each early learning coalition shall verify that
  436  each private prekindergarten provider and public school
  437  delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  438  within the coalition’s county or multicounty region complies
  439  with this part.
  440         (b)If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
  441  fails or refuses to comply with this part or engages in
  442  misconduct, the office must require the early learning coalition
  443  to remove the provider or school from eligibility to deliver the
  444  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or to receive state
  445  funds under this part for a period of at least 2 years but no
  446  more than 5 years.
  447         Section 15. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
  448  1002.63, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (9) is
  449  added to that section, to read:
  450         1002.63 School-year prekindergarten program delivered by
  451  public schools.—
  452         (3)
  453         (b) Each public school delivering the school-year
  454  prekindergarten program must execute the statewide provider
  455  contract prescribed under s. 1002.73 s. 1002.75, except that the
  456  school district may execute a single agreement with the early
  457  learning coalition on behalf of all district schools.
  458         (9)(a)Each early learning coalition shall verify that each
  459  public school delivering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  460  Program within the coalition’s service area complies with this
  461  part.
  462         (b)If a public school fails or refuses to comply with this
  463  part or engages in misconduct, the office must require the early
  464  learning coalition to remove the school from eligibility to
  465  deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or to
  466  receive state funds under this part for a period of at least 2
  467  years but no more than 5 years.
  468         Section 16. Section 1002.67, Florida Statutes, is amended
  469  to read:
  470         1002.67 Performance standards and; curricula and
  471  accountability.—
  472         (1)(a) The office shall develop and adopt performance
  473  standards for students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  474  Education Program. The performance standards must address the
  475  age-appropriate progress of students in the development of:
  476         1. The capabilities, capacities, and skills required under
  477  s. 1(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution; and
  478         2. Emergent literacy skills, including oral communication,
  479  knowledge of print and letters, phonemic and phonological
  480  awareness, and vocabulary and comprehension development; and
  481         3.Mathematical thinking and early math skills.
  482  
  483  By October 1, 2013, the office shall examine the existing
  484  performance standards in the area of mathematical thinking and
  485  develop a plan to make appropriate professional development and
  486  training courses available to prekindergarten instructors.
  487         (b) At least every 3 years, the office shall periodically
  488  review and, if necessary, revise the performance standards
  489  established under this section for the statewide kindergarten
  490  screening administered under s. 1002.69 and align the standards
  491  to the standards established by the state board for student
  492  performance on the statewide assessments administered pursuant
  493  to s. 1008.22.
  494         (2)(a) Each private prekindergarten provider and public
  495  school may select or design the curriculum that the provider or
  496  school uses to implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  497  Program, except as otherwise required for a provider or school
  498  that is placed on probation under s. 1002.68 paragraph (4)(c).
  499         (b) Each private prekindergarten provider’s and public
  500  school’s curriculum must be developmentally appropriate and
  501  must:
  502         1. Be designed to prepare a student for early literacy and
  503  provide for instruction in early math skills;
  504         2. Enhance the age-appropriate progress of students in
  505  attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
  506  under subsection (1); and
  507         3. Support student learning gains through differentiated
  508  instruction that shall be measured by the coordinated screening
  509  and progress monitoring program under s. 1008.2125 Prepare
  510  students to be ready for kindergarten based upon the statewide
  511  kindergarten screening administered under s. 1002.69.
  512         (c) The office shall adopt procedures for the review and
  513  approval of approve curricula for use by private prekindergarten
  514  providers and public schools that are placed on probation under
  515  s. 1002.68 paragraph (4)(c). The office shall administer the
  516  review and approval process and maintain a list of the curricula
  517  approved under this paragraph. Each approved curriculum must
  518  meet the requirements of paragraph (b).
  519         (3)(a)Contingent upon legislative appropriation, each
  520  private prekindergarten provider and public school in the
  521  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must implement an
  522  evidence-based pre- and post-assessment that has been approved
  523  by rule of the State Board of Education.
  524         (b)In order to be approved, the assessment must be valid,
  525  reliable, developmentally appropriate, and designed to measure
  526  student progress on domains which must include, but are not
  527  limited to, early literacy, numeracy, and language.
  528         (c)The pre- and post-assessment must be administered by
  529  individuals meeting requirements established by rule of the
  530  State Board of Education.
  531         (4)(a)Each early learning coalition shall verify that each
  532  private prekindergarten provider delivering the Voluntary
  533  Prekindergarten Education Program within the coalition’s county
  534  or multicounty region complies with this part. Each district
  535  school board shall verify that each public school delivering the
  536  program within the school district complies with this part.
  537         (b)If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
  538  fails or refuses to comply with this part, or if a provider or
  539  school engages in misconduct, the office shall require the early
  540  learning coalition to remove the provider and require the school
  541  district to remove the school from eligibility to deliver the
  542  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and receive state
  543  funds under this part for a period of 5 years.
  544         (c)1.If the kindergarten readiness rate of a private
  545  prekindergarten provider or public school falls below the
  546  minimum rate adopted by the office as satisfactory under s.
  547  1002.69(6), the early learning coalition or school district, as
  548  applicable, shall require the provider or school to submit an
  549  improvement plan for approval by the coalition or school
  550  district, as applicable, and to implement the plan; shall place
  551  the provider or school on probation; and shall require the
  552  provider or school to take certain corrective actions, including
  553  the use of a curriculum approved by the office under paragraph
  554  (2)(c) or a staff development plan to strengthen instruction in
  555  language development and phonological awareness approved by the
  556  office.
  557         2.A private prekindergarten provider or public school that
  558  is placed on probation must continue the corrective actions
  559  required under subparagraph 1., including the use of a
  560  curriculum or a staff development plan to strengthen instruction
  561  in language development and phonological awareness approved by
  562  the office, until the provider or school meets the minimum rate
  563  adopted by the office as satisfactory under s. 1002.69(6).
  564  Failure to implement an approved improvement plan or staff
  565  development plan shall result in the termination of the
  566  provider’s contract to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  567  Education Program for a period of 5 years.
  568         3.If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
  569  remains on probation for 2 consecutive years and fails to meet
  570  the minimum rate adopted by the office as satisfactory under s.
  571  1002.69(6) and is not granted a good cause exemption by the
  572  office pursuant to s. 1002.69(7), the office shall require the
  573  early learning coalition or the school district to remove, as
  574  applicable, the provider or school from eligibility to deliver
  575  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and receive
  576  state funds for the program for a period of 5 years.
  577         (d)Each early learning coalition and the office shall
  578  coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
  579  Department of Children and Families to minimize interagency
  580  duplication of activities for monitoring private prekindergarten
  581  providers for compliance with requirements of the Voluntary
  582  Prekindergarten Education Program under this part, the school
  583  readiness program under part VI of this chapter, and the
  584  licensing of providers under ss. 402.301-402.319.
  585         Section 17. Section 1002.68, Florida Statutes, is created
  586  to read:
  587         1002.68Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  588  accountability.—
  589         (1)(a)Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, each
  590  private prekindergarten provider and public school participating
  591  in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must
  592  participate in the coordinated screening and progress monitoring
  593  program in accordance with s. 1008.2125. The coordinated
  594  screening and progress monitoring program results shall be used
  595  by the office to identify student learning gains, index
  596  development learning outcomes upon program completion relative
  597  to the performance standards established under s. 1002.67 and
  598  representative norms, and inform a private prekindergarten
  599  provider’s and public school’s performance metric.
  600         (b)At a minimum, the initial and final progress monitoring
  601  or screening must be administered by individuals meeting
  602  requirements adopted by the department pursuant to s. 1008.2125.
  603         (c)Each private prekindergarten provider and public school
  604  participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  605  must provide a student’s performance results from the
  606  coordinated screening and progress monitoring to the student’s
  607  parents within 7 days after the administration of such
  608  coordinated screening and progress monitoring.
  609         (2)Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, each private
  610  prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the
  611  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must participate in
  612  a program assessment of each voluntary prekindergarten education
  613  classroom. The program assessment shall measure the quality of
  614  teacher-child interactions, including emotional support,
  615  classroom organization, and instructional support for children
  616  ages 3 to 5 years. Each private prekindergarten provider and
  617  public school participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  618  Education Program shall receive from the office the results of
  619  the program assessment for each classroom within 14 days after
  620  the observation. Each early learning coalition shall be
  621  responsible for the administration of the program assessments,
  622  which must be conducted by individuals qualified to conduct
  623  program assessments under s. 1002.82(2)(n).
  624         (3)For the 2020-2021 program year, the office shall
  625  calculate a kindergarten readiness rate for each private
  626  prekindergarten provider and public school participating in the
  627  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program based upon learning
  628  gains and the percentage of students assessed as ready for
  629  kindergarten. The department shall require that each school
  630  district administer the statewide kindergarten screening in use
  631  before the 2021-2022 school year to each kindergarten student in
  632  the school district within the first 30 school days of the 2021
  633  2022 school year. Private schools may administer the statewide
  634  kindergarten screening to each kindergarten student in a private
  635  school who was enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  636  Education Program. Learning gains shall be determined using a
  637  value-added measure based on growth demonstrated by the results
  638  of the preassessment and postassessment in use before the 2021
  639  2022 program year. Any private prekindergarten provider or
  640  public school participating in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  641  Education Program which fails to meet the minimum kindergarten
  642  readiness rate for the 2020-2021 program year is subject to the
  643  probation requirements of subsection (5).
  644         (4)(a)Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, the
  645  office shall adopt a methodology for calculating each private
  646  prekindergarten provider’s and public school provider’s
  647  performance metric, which must be based on a combination of the
  648  following:
  649         1.Program assessment composite scores under subsection
  650  (2), which must be weighted at no less than 50 percent.
  651         2.Learning gains operationalized as change-in-ability
  652  scores from the initial and final progress monitoring results
  653  described in subsection (1).
  654         3.Norm-referenced developmental learning outcomes
  655  described in subsection (1).
  656         (b)The methodology for calculating a provider’s
  657  performance metric may only include prekindergarten students who
  658  have attended at least 85 percent of a private prekindergarten
  659  provider’s or public school’s program.
  660         (c)The program assessment composite score and performance
  661  metric must be calculated for each private prekindergarten or
  662  public school site.
  663         (d)The methodology shall include a statistical latent
  664  profile analysis that has been conducted by an independent
  665  expert with experience in relevant quantitative analysis, early
  666  childhood assessment, and designing state-level accountability
  667  systems. The independent expert shall be able to produce a
  668  limited number of performance metric profiles that summarize the
  669  profiles of all sites that must be used to inform the following
  670  designations: “unsatisfactory,” “emerging proficiency,”
  671  “proficient,” “highly proficient,” and “excellent” or comparable
  672  terminology determined by the office which may not include
  673  letter grades. The independent expert may not be a direct
  674  stakeholder or have had a financial interest in the design or
  675  delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or
  676  public school system within the last 5 years.
  677         (e)Subject to an appropriation, the office shall provide
  678  for a differential payment to a private prekindergarten provider
  679  and public school based on the provider’s designation. The
  680  maximum differential payment may not exceed a total of 15
  681  percent of the base student allocation per full-time equivalent
  682  student under s. 1002.71 attending in the consecutive program
  683  year for that program. A private prekindergarten provider or
  684  public school may not receive a differential payment if it
  685  receives a designation of “proficient” or lower. Before the
  686  adoption of the methodology, the office and the independent
  687  expert shall confer with the Council for Early Grade Success
  688  under s. 1008.2125 before receiving approval from the office for
  689  the final recommendations on the designation system and
  690  differential payments.
  691         (f)The office shall adopt procedures to annually calculate
  692  each private prekindergarten provider’s and public school’s
  693  performance metric, based on the methodology adopted in
  694  paragraphs (a) and (b), and assign a designation under paragraph
  695  (d). Beginning with the 2023-2024 program year, each private
  696  prekindergarten provider or public school shall be assigned a
  697  designation within 45 days after the conclusion of the school
  698  year Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program delivered by
  699  all participating private prekindergarten providers or public
  700  schools and within 45 days after the conclusion of the summer
  701  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program delivered by all
  702  participating private prekindergarten providers or public
  703  schools.
  704         (g)A private prekindergarten provider or public school
  705  designated “proficient,” “highly proficient,” or “excellent”
  706  demonstrates the provider’s or school’s satisfactory delivery of
  707  the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
  708         (h)The designations shall be displayed in the early
  709  learning provider performance profiles required under s.
  710  1002.92(3).
  711         (5)(a)If a public school’s or private prekindergarten
  712  provider’s program assessment composite score for its
  713  prekindergarten classrooms fails to meet the minimum program
  714  assessment composite score for contracting established by the
  715  office pursuant to s. 1002.82(2)(n), the private prekindergarten
  716  provider or public school may not participate in the Voluntary
  717  Prekindergarten Education Program beginning in the consecutive
  718  program year and thereafter until the public school or private
  719  prekindergarten provider meets the minimum composite score for
  720  contracting. A public school or private prekindergarten provider
  721  may request one program assessment per program year in order to
  722  requalify for participation in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  723  Education Program. If a public school or private prekindergarten
  724  provider would like an additional program assessment completed
  725  within the same program year, the public school or private
  726  prekindergarten provider shall be responsible for the cost of
  727  the program assessment.
  728         (b)If a private prekindergarten provider’s or public
  729  school’s performance metric or designation falls below the
  730  minimum performance metric or designation, the early learning
  731  coalition shall:
  732         1.Require the provider or school to submit for approval to
  733  the early learning coalition an improvement plan and implement
  734  the plan.
  735         2.Place the provider or school on probation.
  736         3.Require the provider or school to take certain
  737  corrective actions, including the use of a curriculum approved
  738  by the office under s. 1002.67(2)(c) and a staff development
  739  plan approved by the office to strengthen instructional
  740  practices in emotional support, classroom organization,
  741  instructional support, language development, phonological
  742  awareness, alphabet knowledge, and mathematical thinking.
  743         (c)A private prekindergarten provider or public school
  744  placed on probation must continue the corrective actions
  745  required under paragraph (b) until the provider or school meets
  746  the minimum performance metric or designation adopted by the
  747  office. Failure to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (b)1.
  748  and 3. shall result in the termination of the provider’s or
  749  school’s contract to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  750  Education Program for a period of at least 2 years but no more
  751  than 5 years.
  752         (d)If a private prekindergarten provider or public school
  753  remains on probation for 2 consecutive years and fails to meet
  754  the minimum performance metric or designation, or is not granted
  755  a good cause exemption by the office, the office shall require
  756  the early learning coalition to revoke the provider’s or
  757  school’s eligibility to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  758  Education Program or to receive state funds for the program for
  759  a period of at least 2 years but no more than 5 years.
  760         (6)(a)The office, upon the request of a private
  761  prekindergarten provider or public school that remains on
  762  probation for at least 2 consecutive years and subsequently
  763  fails to meet the minimum performance metric or designation, and
  764  for good cause shown, may grant to the provider or school an
  765  exemption from being determined ineligible to deliver the
  766  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or to receive state
  767  funds for the program. Such exemption is valid for 1 year and,
  768  upon the request of the private prekindergarten provider or
  769  public school and for good cause shown, may be renewed.
  770         (b)A private prekindergarten provider’s or public school’s
  771  request for a good cause exemption, or renewal of such an
  772  exemption, must be submitted to the office in the manner and
  773  within the timeframes prescribed by the office and must include
  774  the following:
  775         1.Data from the private prekindergarten provider or public
  776  school which documents the achievement and progress of the
  777  children served, as measured by any required screenings or
  778  assessments.
  779         2.Data from the program assessment required under
  780  subsection (2) which demonstrates effective teaching practices
  781  as recognized by the tool developer.
  782         3.Data from the early learning coalition or district
  783  school board, as applicable, the Department of Children and
  784  Families, the local licensing authority, or an accrediting
  785  association, as applicable, relating to the private
  786  prekindergarten provider’s or public school’s compliance with
  787  state and local health and safety standards.
  788         (c)The office shall adopt criteria for granting good cause
  789  exemptions. Such criteria must include, but are not limited to,
  790  all of the following:
  791         1.Child demographic data that evidences a private
  792  prekindergarten provider or public school serves a statistically
  793  significant population of children with special needs who have
  794  individual education plans and can demonstrate progress toward
  795  meeting the goals outlined in the students’ individual education
  796  plans.
  797         2.Learning gains of children served in the Voluntary
  798  Prekindergarten Education Program by the private prekindergarten
  799  provider or public school on an alternative measure that has
  800  comparable validity and reliability of the coordinated screening
  801  and progress monitoring program in accordance with s. 1008.2125.
  802         3.Program assessment data under subsection (2) which
  803  demonstrates effective teaching practices as recognized by the
  804  tool developer.
  805         4.Verification that local and state health and safety
  806  requirements are met.
  807         (d)A good cause exemption may not be granted to any
  808  private prekindergarten provider or public school that has any
  809  class I violations or two or more class II violations, as
  810  defined by rule of the Department of Children and Families,
  811  within the 2 years preceding the provider’s or school’s request
  812  for the exemption.
  813         (e)A private prekindergarten provider or public school
  814  granted a good cause exemption shall continue to implement its
  815  improvement plan and continue the corrective actions required
  816  under paragraph (5)(b) until the provider or school meets the
  817  minimum performance metric.
  818         (f)If a good cause exemption is granted to a private
  819  prekindergarten provider or public school that remains on
  820  probation for 2 consecutive years and if the provider meets all
  821  other applicable requirements of this part, the office must
  822  notify the early learning coalition of the good cause exemption
  823  and direct that the early learning coalition not remove the
  824  provider from eligibility to deliver the Voluntary
  825  Prekindergarten Education Program or to receive state funds for
  826  the program.
  827         (g)The office shall report the number of private
  828  prekindergarten providers or public schools that have received a
  829  good cause exemption and the reasons for the exemptions as part
  830  of its annual reporting requirements under s. 1002.82(7).
  831         (7)Representatives from each school district and
  832  corresponding early learning coalitions must meet annually to
  833  develop strategies to transition students from the Voluntary
  834  Prekindergarten Education Program to kindergarten.
  835         Section 18. Section 1002.69, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  836         Section 19. Section 1002.73, Florida Statutes, is amended
  837  to read:
  838         1002.73 Office of Early Learning Department of Education;
  839  powers and duties; accountability requirements.—
  840         (1) The office department shall adopt by rule a standard
  841  statewide provider contract to be used with each Voluntary
  842  Prekindergarten Education Program provider, with standardized
  843  attachments by provider type. The office shall publish a copy of
  844  the standard statewide provider contract on its website. The
  845  standard statewide provider contract shall include, at a
  846  minimum, provisions for provider probation, termination for
  847  cause, and emergency termination for actions or inactions of a
  848  provider that pose an immediate and serious danger to the
  849  health, safety, or welfare of children. The standard statewide
  850  provider contract shall also include appropriate due process
  851  procedures. During the pendency of an appeal of a termination,
  852  the provider may not continue to offer its services. Any
  853  provision imposed upon a provider that is inconsistent with, or
  854  prohibited by, law is void and unenforceable administer the
  855  accountability requirements of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  856  Education Program at the state level.
  857         (2) The office department shall adopt procedures for its:
  858         (a) The approval of prekindergarten director credentials
  859  under ss. 1002.55 and 1002.57.
  860         (b) The approval of emergent literacy and early mathematics
  861  skills training courses under ss. 1002.55 and 1002.59.
  862         (c)Annually notifying private prekindergarten providers
  863  and public schools placed on probation for not meeting the
  864  minimum performance metric or designation as required by s.
  865  1002.68 of the high-quality professional development
  866  opportunities developed or supported by the office.
  867         (d)The administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  868  Education Program by the early learning coalitions, including,
  869  but not limited to, procedures for:
  870         1.Enrolling children in and determining the eligibility of
  871  children for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  872  under s. 1002.53, which shall include the enrollment of children
  873  by public schools and private providers that meet specified
  874  requirements.
  875         2.Providing parents with profiles of private
  876  prekindergarten providers and public schools under s. 1002.53.
  877         3.Registering private prekindergarten providers and public
  878  schools to deliver the program under ss. 1002.55, 1002.61, and
  879  1002.63.
  880         4.Determining the eligibility of private prekindergarten
  881  providers to deliver the program under ss. 1002.55 and 1002.61
  882  and streamlining the process of determining provider eligibility
  883  whenever possible.
  884         5.Verifying the compliance of private prekindergarten
  885  providers and public schools and removing providers or schools
  886  from eligibility to deliver the program due to noncompliance or
  887  misconduct as provided in s. 1002.67.
  888         6.Paying private prekindergarten providers and public
  889  schools under s. 1002.71.
  890         7.Documenting and certifying student enrollment and
  891  student attendance under s. 1002.71.
  892         8.Reconciling advance payments in accordance with the
  893  uniform attendance policy under s. 1002.71.
  894         9.Reenrolling students dismissed by a private
  895  prekindergarten provider or public school for noncompliance with
  896  the provider’s or school district’s attendance policy under s.
  897  1002.71.
  898         (3)The office shall administer the accountability
  899  requirements of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  900  at the state level.
  901         (4)The office shall adopt procedures governing the
  902  administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
  903  Program by the early learning coalitions for:
  904         (a)Approving improvement plans of private prekindergarten
  905  providers and public schools under s. 1002.68.
  906         (b)Placing private prekindergarten providers and public
  907  schools on probation and requiring corrective actions under s.
  908  1002.68.
  909         (c)Removing a private prekindergarten provider or public
  910  school from eligibility to deliver the program due to the
  911  provider’s or school’s remaining on probation beyond the time
  912  permitted under s. 1002.68. Notwithstanding any other law, if a
  913  private prekindergarten provider has been cited for a class I
  914  violation, as defined by rule of the Child Care Services Program
  915  Office of the Department of Children and Families, the coalition
  916  may refuse to contract with the provider or revoke the
  917  provider’s eligibility to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten
  918  Education Program.
  919         (d)Enrolling children in and determining the eligibility
  920  of children for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
  921  under s. 1002.66.
  922         (e)Paying specialized instructional services providers
  923  under s. 1002.66.
  924         (c)Administration of the statewide kindergarten screening
  925  and calculation of kindergarten readiness rates under s.
  926  1002.69.
  927         (d)Implementation of, and determination of costs
  928  associated with, the state-approved prekindergarten enrollment
  929  screening and the standardized postassessment approved by the
  930  department, and determination of the learning gains of students
  931  who complete the state-approved prekindergarten enrollment
  932  screening and the standardized postassessment approved by the
  933  department.
  934         (f)(e)Approving Approval of specialized instructional
  935  services providers under s. 1002.66.
  936         (f)Annual reporting of the percentage of kindergarten
  937  students who meet all state readiness measures.
  938         (g) Granting of a private prekindergarten provider’s or
  939  public school’s request for a good cause exemption under s.
  940  1002.68 s. 1002.69(7).
  941         (5)The office shall adopt procedures for the distribution
  942  of funds to early learning coalitions under s. 1002.71.
  943         (6)(3) Except as provided by law, the office department may
  944  not impose requirements on a private prekindergarten provider or
  945  public school that does not deliver the Voluntary
  946  Prekindergarten Education Program or receive state funds under
  947  this part.
  948         Section 20. Section 1002.75, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  949         Section 21. Section 1002.81, Florida Statutes, is reordered
  950  and amended to read:
  951         1002.81 Definitions.—Consistent with the requirements of 45
  952  C.F.R. parts 98 and 99 and as used in this part, the term:
  953         (1) “At-risk child” means:
  954         (a) A child from a family under investigation by the
  955  Department of Children and Families or a designated sheriff’s
  956  office for child abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation.
  957         (b) A child who is in a diversion program provided by the
  958  Department of Children and Families or its contracted provider
  959  and who is from a family that is actively participating and
  960  complying in department-prescribed activities, including
  961  education, health services, or work.
  962         (c) A child from a family that is under supervision by the
  963  Department of Children and Families or a contracted service
  964  provider for abuse, neglect, abandonment, or exploitation.
  965         (d) A child placed in court-ordered, long-term custody or
  966  under the guardianship of a relative or nonrelative after
  967  termination of supervision by the Department of Children and
  968  Families or its contracted provider.
  969         (e) A child in the custody of a parent who is considered a
  970  victim of domestic violence and is receiving services through a
  971  certified domestic violence center.
  972         (f) A child in the custody of a parent who is considered
  973  homeless as verified by a Department of Children and Families
  974  certified homeless shelter.
  975         (2) “Authorized hours of care” means the hours of care that
  976  are necessary to provide protection, maintain employment, or
  977  complete work activities or eligible educational activities,
  978  including reasonable travel time.
  979         (13)(3) “Prevailing Average market rate” means the
  980  biennially determined 75th percentile of a reasonable frequency
  981  distribution average of the market rate by program care level
  982  and provider type in a predetermined geographic market at which
  983  child care providers charge a person for child care services.
  984         (3)(4) “Direct enhancement services” means services for
  985  families and children that are in addition to payments for the
  986  placement of children in the school readiness program. Direct
  987  enhancement services for families and children may include
  988  supports for providers, parent training and involvement
  989  activities, and strategies to meet the needs of unique
  990  populations and local eligibility priorities. Direct enhancement
  991  services offered by an early learning coalition shall be
  992  consistent with the activities prescribed in s. 1002.89(6)(b).
  993         (4)(5) “Disenrollment” means the removal, either temporary
  994  or permanent, of a child from participation in the school
  995  readiness program. Removal of a child from the school readiness
  996  program may be based on the following events: a reduction in
  997  available school readiness program funding, participant’s
  998  failure to meet eligibility or program participation
  999  requirements, fraud, or a change in local service priorities.
 1000         (5)(6) “Earned income” means gross remuneration derived
 1001  from work, professional service, or self-employment. The term
 1002  includes commissions, bonuses, back pay awards, and the cash
 1003  value of all remuneration paid in a medium other than cash.
 1004         (6)(7) “Economically disadvantaged” means having a family
 1005  income that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty
 1006  level and includes being a child of a working migratory family
 1007  as defined by 34 C.F.R. s. 200.81(d) or (f) or an agricultural
 1008  worker who is employed by more than one agricultural employer
 1009  during the course of a year, and whose income varies according
 1010  to weather conditions and market stability.
 1011         (7)(8) “Family income” means the combined gross income,
 1012  whether earned or unearned, that is derived from any source by
 1013  all family or household members who are 18 years of age or older
 1014  who are currently residing together in the same dwelling unit.
 1015  The term does not include income earned by a currently enrolled
 1016  high school student who, since attaining the age of 18 years, or
 1017  a student with a disability who, since attaining the age of 22
 1018  years, has not terminated school enrollment or received a high
 1019  school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, special
 1020  diploma, or certificate of high school completion. The term also
 1021  does not include food stamp benefits or federal housing
 1022  assistance payments issued directly to a landlord or the
 1023  associated utilities expenses.
 1024         (8)(9) “Family or household members” means spouses, former
 1025  spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are
 1026  parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have
 1027  been married, and other persons who are currently residing
 1028  together in the same dwelling unit as if a family.
 1029         (9)(10) “Full-time care” means at least 6 hours, but not
 1030  more than 11 hours, of child care or early childhood education
 1031  services within a 24-hour period.
 1032         (10)(11) “Market rate” means the price that a child care or
 1033  early childhood education provider charges for full-time or
 1034  part-time daily, weekly, or monthly child care or early
 1035  childhood education services.
 1036         (11)(12) “Office” means the Office of Early Learning of the
 1037  Department of Education.
 1038         (12)(13) “Part-time care” means less than 6 hours of child
 1039  care or early childhood education services within a 24-hour
 1040  period.
 1041         (14) “Single point of entry” means an integrated
 1042  information system that allows a parent to enroll his or her
 1043  child in the school readiness program or the Voluntary
 1044  Prekindergarten Education Program at various locations
 1045  throughout a county, that may allow a parent to enroll his or
 1046  her child by telephone or through a website, and that uses a
 1047  uniform waiting list to track eligible children waiting for
 1048  enrollment in the school readiness program.
 1049         (15) “Unearned income” means income other than earned
 1050  income. The term includes, but is not limited to:
 1051         (a) Documented alimony and child support received.
 1052         (b) Social security benefits.
 1053         (c) Supplemental security income benefits.
 1054         (d) Workers’ compensation benefits.
 1055         (e) Reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation
 1056  benefits.
 1057         (f) Veterans’ benefits.
 1058         (g) Retirement benefits.
 1059         (h) Temporary cash assistance under chapter 414.
 1060         (16) “Working family” means:
 1061         (a) A single-parent family in which the parent with whom
 1062  the child resides is employed or engaged in eligible work or
 1063  education activities for at least 20 hours per week;
 1064         (b) A two-parent family in which both parents with whom the
 1065  child resides are employed or engaged in eligible work or
 1066  education activities for a combined total of at least 40 hours
 1067  per week; or
 1068         (c) A two-parent family in which one of the parents with
 1069  whom the child resides is exempt from work requirements due to
 1070  age or disability, as determined and documented by a physician
 1071  licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, and one parent is
 1072  employed or engaged in eligible work or education activities at
 1073  least 20 hours per week.
 1074         Section 22. Section 1002.82, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1075  to read:
 1076         1002.82 Office of Early Learning; powers and duties.—
 1077         (1) For purposes of administration of the Child Care and
 1078  Development Block Grant Trust Fund, pursuant to 45 C.F.R. parts
 1079  98 and 99, the Office of Early Learning is designated as the
 1080  lead agency and must comply with lead agency responsibilities
 1081  pursuant to federal law. The office may apply to the Governor
 1082  and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and Cabinet may
 1083  waive, any provision of ss. 411.223 and 1003.54 if the waiver is
 1084  necessary for implementation of the school readiness program.
 1085  Section 125.901(2)(a)3. does not apply to the school readiness
 1086  program.
 1087         (2) The office shall:
 1088         (a) Focus on improving the educational quality delivered by
 1089  all providers participating in the school readiness program.
 1090         (b) Preserve parental choice by permitting parents to
 1091  choose from a variety of child care categories, including
 1092  center-based care, family child care, and informal child care to
 1093  the extent authorized in the state’s Child Care and Development
 1094  Fund Plan as approved by the United States Department of Health
 1095  and Human Services pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s. 98.18. Care and
 1096  curriculum by a faith-based provider may not be limited or
 1097  excluded in any of these categories.
 1098         (c) Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
 1099  private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
 1100  requirements, safeguarding the effective use of federal, state,
 1101  and local resources to achieve the highest practicable level of
 1102  school readiness for the children described in s. 1002.87,
 1103  including:
 1104         1. The adoption of a uniform chart of accounts for
 1105  budgeting and financial reporting purposes that provides
 1106  standardized definitions for expenditures and reporting,
 1107  consistent with the requirements of 45 C.F.R. part 98 and s.
 1108  1002.89 for each of the following categories of expenditure:
 1109         a. Direct services to children.
 1110         b. Administrative costs.
 1111         c. Quality activities.
 1112         d. Nondirect services.
 1113         2. Coordination with other state and federal agencies to
 1114  perform data matches on children participating in the school
 1115  readiness program and their families in order to verify the
 1116  children’s eligibility pursuant to s. 1002.87.
 1117         (d) Establish procedures for the biennial calculation of
 1118  the prevailing average market rate or an alternative model
 1119  approved by the Administration for Children and Families
 1120  pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s. 98.45(c).
 1121         (e) Review each early learning coalition’s school readiness
 1122  program plan every 2 years and provide final approval of the
 1123  plan and any amendments submitted.
 1124         (f) Establish a unified approach to the state’s efforts to
 1125  coordinate a comprehensive early learning program. In support of
 1126  this effort, the office:
 1127         1. Shall adopt specific program support services that
 1128  address the state’s school readiness program, including:
 1129         a. Statewide data information program requirements that
 1130  include:
 1131         (I) Eligibility requirements.
 1132         (II) Financial reports.
 1133         (III) Program accountability measures.
 1134         (IV) Child progress reports.
 1135         b. Child care resource and referral services.
 1136         c. A single point of entry and uniform waiting list.
 1137         2. May provide technical assistance and guidance on
 1138  additional support services to complement the school readiness
 1139  program, including:
 1140         a.Rating and improvement systems.
 1141         a.b. Warm-Line services.
 1142         b.c. Anti-fraud plans.
 1143         d.School readiness program standards.
 1144         e.Child screening and assessments.
 1145         c.f. Training and support for parental involvement in
 1146  children’s early education.
 1147         d.g. Family literacy activities and services.
 1148         (g) Provide technical assistance to early learning
 1149  coalitions.
 1150         (h) In cooperation with the early learning coalitions,
 1151  coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
 1152  Department of Children and Families to reduce paperwork and to
 1153  avoid duplicating interagency activities, health and safety
 1154  monitoring, and acquiring and composing data pertaining to child
 1155  care training and credentialing.
 1156         (i) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with local
 1157  licensing agencies and the Child Care Services Program Office of
 1158  the Department of Children and Families for inspections of
 1159  school readiness program providers to monitor and verify
 1160  compliance with s. 1002.88 and the health and safety checklist
 1161  adopted by the office. The provider contract of a school
 1162  readiness program provider that refuses permission for entry or
 1163  inspection shall be terminated. The health and safety checklist
 1164  may not exceed the requirements of s. 402.305 and the Child Care
 1165  and Development Fund pursuant to 45 C.F.R. part 98. A child
 1166  development program accredited by a national accrediting body
 1167  and operating on a military installation certified by the United
 1168  States Department of Defense is exempted from the inspection
 1169  requirements under s. 1002.88.
 1170         (j) Monitor the alignment and consistency of the Develop
 1171  and adopt standards and benchmarks developed and adopted by the
 1172  office that address the age-appropriate progress of children in
 1173  the development of school readiness skills. The standards for
 1174  children from birth to kindergarten entry 5 years of age in the
 1175  school readiness program must be aligned with the performance
 1176  standards adopted for children in the Voluntary Prekindergarten
 1177  Education Program and must address the following domains:
 1178         1. Approaches to learning.
 1179         2. Cognitive development and general knowledge.
 1180         3. Numeracy, language, and communication.
 1181         4. Physical development.
 1182         5. Self-regulation.
 1183         (k) Identify observation-based child assessments that are
 1184  valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate for use at
 1185  least three times a year. The assessments must:
 1186         1. Provide interval level and norm-referenced criterion
 1187  referenced data that measures equivalent levels of growth across
 1188  the core domains of early childhood development and that can be
 1189  used for determining developmentally appropriate learning gains.
 1190         2. Measure progress in the performance standards adopted
 1191  pursuant to paragraph (j).
 1192         3. Provide for appropriate accommodations for children with
 1193  disabilities and English language learners and be administered
 1194  by qualified individuals, consistent with the developer’s
 1195  instructions.
 1196         4. Coordinate with the performance standards adopted by the
 1197  department under s. 1002.67(1) for the Voluntary Prekindergarten
 1198  Education Program.
 1199         5. Provide data in a format for use in the single statewide
 1200  information system to meet the requirements of paragraph (q)
 1201  (p).
 1202         (l) Adopt a list of approved curricula that meet the
 1203  performance standards for the school readiness program and
 1204  establish a process for the review and approval of a provider’s
 1205  curriculum that meets the performance standards.
 1206         (m) Provide technical support to an early learning
 1207  coalition to facilitate the use of Adopt by rule a standard
 1208  statewide provider contract adopted by the office to be used
 1209  with each school readiness program provider, with standardized
 1210  attachments by provider type. The office shall publish a copy of
 1211  the standard statewide provider contract on its website. The
 1212  standard statewide contract shall include, at a minimum,
 1213  contracted slots, if applicable, in accordance with the Child
 1214  Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, 45 C.F.R. parts 98
 1215  and 99; quality improvement strategies, if applicable; program
 1216  assessment requirements; and provisions for provider probation,
 1217  termination for cause, and emergency termination for those
 1218  actions or inactions of a provider that pose an immediate and
 1219  serious danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the
 1220  children. The standard statewide provider contract shall also
 1221  include appropriate due process procedures. During the pendency
 1222  of an appeal of a termination, the provider may not continue to
 1223  offer its services. Any provision imposed upon a provider that
 1224  is inconsistent with, or prohibited by, law is void and
 1225  unenforceable. Provisions for termination for cause must also
 1226  include failure to meet the minimum quality measures established
 1227  under paragraph (n) for a period of up to 5 years, unless the
 1228  coalition determines that the provider is essential to meeting
 1229  capacity needs based on the assessment under s. 1002.85(2)(j)
 1230  and the provider has an active improvement plan pursuant to
 1231  paragraph (n).
 1232         (n) Adopt a program assessment for school readiness program
 1233  providers that measures the quality of teacher-child
 1234  interactions, including emotional and behavioral support,
 1235  engaged support for learning, classroom organization, and
 1236  instructional support for children ages birth to 5 years. The
 1237  implementation of the program assessment must also include the
 1238  following components adopted by the office:
 1239         1. Quality measures, including a minimum program assessment
 1240  composite score threshold for contracting purposes and program
 1241  improvement through an improvement plan. The minimum program
 1242  assessment composite score required for the Voluntary
 1243  Prekindergarten Education Program contracting threshold must be
 1244  the same as the minimum program assessment composite score
 1245  required for contracting for the school readiness program. The
 1246  methodology for the calculation of the minimum program
 1247  assessment composite score shall be reviewed by the independent
 1248  expert identified in s. 1002.68(4)(d).
 1249         2. Requirements for program participation, frequency of
 1250  program assessment, and exemptions.
 1251         (o) No later than July 1, 2019, develop a differential
 1252  payment program based on the quality measures adopted by the
 1253  office under paragraph (n). The differential payment may not
 1254  exceed a total of 15 percent for each care level and unit of
 1255  child care for a child care provider. No more than 5 percent of
 1256  the 15 percent total differential may be provided to providers
 1257  who submit valid and reliable data to the statewide information
 1258  system in the domains of language and executive functioning
 1259  using a child assessment identified pursuant to paragraph (k).
 1260  Providers below the minimum program assessment score adopted
 1261  threshold for contracting purposes are ineligible for such
 1262  payment.
 1263         (p)No later than July 1, 2022, develop and adopt
 1264  requirements for the implementation of a program designed to
 1265  make available contracted slots to serve children at the
 1266  greatest risk of school failure as determined by such children
 1267  being located in an area that has been designated as a poverty
 1268  area tract according to the latest census data. The contracted
 1269  slot program may also be used to increase the availability of
 1270  child care capacity based on the assessment under s.
 1271  1002.85(2)(j).
 1272         (q)(p) Establish a single statewide information system that
 1273  each coalition must use for the purposes of managing the single
 1274  point of entry, tracking children’s progress, coordinating
 1275  services among stakeholders, determining eligibility of
 1276  children, tracking child attendance, and streamlining
 1277  administrative processes for providers and early learning
 1278  coalitions. By July 1, 2019, the system, subject to ss. 1002.72
 1279  and 1002.97, shall:
 1280         1. Allow a parent to monitor the development of his or her
 1281  child as the child moves among programs within the state.
 1282         2. Enable analysis at the state, regional, and local level
 1283  to measure child growth over time, program impact, and quality
 1284  improvement and investment decisions.
 1285         (r)(q)Provide technical support to coalitions to
 1286  facilitate the use of Adopt by rule standardized procedures
 1287  adopted by the office for early learning coalitions to use when
 1288  monitoring the compliance of school readiness program providers
 1289  with the terms of the standard statewide provider contract.
 1290         (s)(r)At least biennially provide fiscal and programmatic
 1291  monitoring to Monitor and evaluate the performance of each early
 1292  learning coalition in administering the school readiness
 1293  program, ensuring proper payments for school readiness program
 1294  services, implementing the coalition’s school readiness program
 1295  plan, and administering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1296  Program. These monitoring and performance evaluations must
 1297  include, at a minimum, onsite monitoring of each coalition’s
 1298  finances, management, operations, and programs.
 1299         (t)(s) Work in conjunction with the Bureau of Federal
 1300  Education Programs within the Department of Education to
 1301  coordinate readiness and voluntary prekindergarten services to
 1302  the populations served by the bureau.
 1303         (u)(t) Administer a statewide toll-free Warm-Line to
 1304  provide assistance and consultation to child care facilities and
 1305  family day care homes regarding health, developmental,
 1306  disability, and special needs issues of the children they are
 1307  serving, particularly children with disabilities and other
 1308  special needs. The office shall:
 1309         1. Annually inform child care facilities and family day
 1310  care homes of the availability of this service through the child
 1311  care resource and referral network under s. 1002.92.
 1312         2. Expand or contract for the expansion of the Warm-Line to
 1313  maintain at least one Warm-Line in each early learning coalition
 1314  service area.
 1315         (v)(u) Develop and implement strategies to increase the
 1316  supply and improve the quality of child care services for
 1317  infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, children who
 1318  receive care during nontraditional hours, children in
 1319  underserved areas, and children in areas that have significant
 1320  concentrations of poverty and unemployment.
 1321         (w)(v) Establish preservice and inservice training
 1322  requirements that address, at a minimum, school readiness child
 1323  development standards, health and safety requirements, and
 1324  social-emotional behavior intervention models, which may include
 1325  positive behavior intervention and support models, including the
 1326  integration of early learning professional development pathways
 1327  established in s. 1002.995.
 1328         (x)(w) Establish standards for emergency preparedness plans
 1329  for school readiness program providers.
 1330         (y)(x) Establish group sizes.
 1331         (z)(y) Establish staff-to-children ratios that do not
 1332  exceed the requirements of s. 402.302(8) or (11) or s.
 1333  402.305(4), as applicable, for school readiness program
 1334  providers.
 1335         (aa)(z) Establish eligibility criteria, including
 1336  limitations based on income and family assets, in accordance
 1337  with s. 1002.87 and federal law.
 1338         (3)(a)The office shall adopt performance standards and
 1339  outcome measures for early learning coalitions that, at a
 1340  minimum, include the development of objective and statistically
 1341  valid customer service surveys by a state university or other
 1342  independent researcher with specific expertise in customer
 1343  service survey development. The survey shall be deployed
 1344  beginning in fiscal year 2023-2024 and be distributed to:
 1345         1.Customers who use the services in s. 1002.92 upon the
 1346  completion of a referral inquiry.
 1347         2.Parents annually at the time of eligibility
 1348  determination.
 1349         3.Child care providers that participate in the school
 1350  readiness program or the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1351  Program at the time of execution of the statewide provider
 1352  contract.
 1353         4.Board members required under s. 1002.83.
 1354         (b)Results of the survey shall be based on a statistically
 1355  significant sample size of completed surveys and calculated
 1356  annually for each early learning coalition and included in the
 1357  department’s annual report under subsection (7). If an early
 1358  learning coalition’s customer satisfaction survey results are
 1359  below 60 percent, the coalition shall be placed on a 1-year
 1360  corrective action plan that outlines specific steps the
 1361  coalition shall take to improve the results of the customer
 1362  service surveys, including, but not limited to, technical
 1363  assistance, staff professional development or coaching.
 1364         (4)(3) If the office determines during the review of school
 1365  readiness program plans, or through monitoring and performance
 1366  evaluations conducted under s. 1002.85, that an early learning
 1367  coalition has not substantially implemented its plan, has not
 1368  substantially met the performance standards and outcome measures
 1369  adopted by the office or the terms of a customer service
 1370  corrective action plan, or has not effectively administered the
 1371  school readiness program or Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1372  Program, the office may remove the coalition from eligibility to
 1373  administer early learning programs and temporarily contract with
 1374  a qualified entity to continue school readiness program and
 1375  prekindergarten services in the coalition’s county or
 1376  multicounty region until the office reestablishes or merges the
 1377  coalition and a new school readiness program plan is approved in
 1378  accordance with the rules adopted by the office.
 1379         (5)The office shall adopt procedures for merging early
 1380  learning coalitions for failure to meet the requirements of
 1381  subsection (3) or subsection (4), including procedures for the
 1382  consolidation of merging coalitions that minimizes duplication
 1383  of programs and services due to the merger, and for the early
 1384  termination of the terms of the coalition members which are
 1385  necessary to accomplish the mergers.
 1386         (6)(4) The office may request the Governor to apply for a
 1387  waiver to allow a coalition to administer the Head Start Program
 1388  to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness program.
 1389         (7)(5) By January 1 of each year, the office shall annually
 1390  publish on its website a report of its activities conducted
 1391  under this section. The report must include a summary of the
 1392  coalitions’ annual reports, a statewide summary, and the
 1393  following:
 1394         (a) An analysis of early learning activities throughout the
 1395  state, including the school readiness program and the Voluntary
 1396  Prekindergarten Education Program.
 1397         1. The total and average number of children served in the
 1398  school readiness program, enumerated by age, eligibility
 1399  priority category, and coalition, and the total number of
 1400  children served in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1401  Program.
 1402         2. A summary of expenditures by coalition, by fund source,
 1403  including a breakdown by coalition of the percentage of
 1404  expenditures for administrative activities, quality activities,
 1405  nondirect services, and direct services for children.
 1406         3. A description of the office’s and each coalition’s
 1407  expenditures by fund source for the quality and enhancement
 1408  activities described in s. 1002.89(6)(b).
 1409         4. A summary of annual findings and collections related to
 1410  provider fraud and parent fraud.
 1411         5. Data regarding the coalitions’ delivery of early
 1412  learning programs.
 1413         6. The total number of children disenrolled statewide and
 1414  the reason for disenrollment.
 1415         7. The total number of providers by provider type.
 1416         8. The number of school readiness program providers who
 1417  have completed the program assessment required under paragraph
 1418  (2)(n); the number of providers who have not met the minimum
 1419  program assessment composite score threshold for contracting
 1420  established under paragraph (2)(n); and the number of providers
 1421  that have an active improvement plan based on the results of the
 1422  program assessment under paragraph (2)(n).
 1423         9. The total number of provider contracts revoked and the
 1424  reasons for revocation.
 1425         (b) A detailed summary of the analysis compiled using the
 1426  single statewide information system established in subsection
 1427  (2) activities and detailed expenditures related to the Child
 1428  Care Executive Partnership Program.
 1429         (8)(a)(6)(a) Parental choice of child care providers,
 1430  including private and faith-based providers, shall be
 1431  established to the maximum extent practicable in accordance with
 1432  45 C.F.R. s. 98.30.
 1433         (b) As used in this subsection, the term “payment
 1434  certificate” means a child care certificate as defined in 45
 1435  C.F.R. s. 98.2.
 1436         (c) The school readiness program shall, in accordance with
 1437  45 C.F.R. s. 98.30, provide parental choice through a payment
 1438  certificate that provides, to the maximum extent possible,
 1439  flexibility in the school readiness program and payment
 1440  arrangements. The payment certificate must bear the names of the
 1441  beneficiary and the program provider and, when redeemed, must
 1442  bear the signatures of both the beneficiary and an authorized
 1443  representative of the provider.
 1444         (d) If it is determined that a provider has given any cash
 1445  or other consideration to the beneficiary in return for
 1446  receiving a payment certificate, the early learning coalition or
 1447  its fiscal agent shall refer the matter to the Department of
 1448  Financial Services pursuant to s. 414.411 for investigation.
 1449         (9)(7) Participation in the school readiness program does
 1450  not expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers,
 1451  or an early learning coalition to impose any additional
 1452  regulation on providers beyond those necessary to enforce the
 1453  requirements set forth in this part and part V of this chapter.
 1454         Section 23. Present subsections (5) through (14) of section
 1455  1002.83, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (6)
 1456  through (15), respectively, a new subsection (5) is added to
 1457  that section, and subsections (1) and (3), paragraphs (e), (f),
 1458  and (m) of subsection (4), and present subsections (5), (11),
 1459  and (13) of that section are amended, to read:
 1460         1002.83 Early learning coalitions.—
 1461         (1) Thirty Thirty-one or fewer early learning coalitions
 1462  are established and shall maintain direct enhancement services
 1463  at the local level and provide access to such services in all 67
 1464  counties. Two or more early learning coalitions may join for
 1465  purposes of planning and implementing a school readiness program
 1466  and the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
 1467         (3) The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
 1468  members of each early learning coalition, who must each meet the
 1469  same qualifications of a as private sector business member
 1470  members appointed by the coalition under subsection (6)(5). In
 1471  the absence of a governor-appointed chair, the Executive
 1472  Director of the Office of Early Learning may appoint an interim
 1473  chair from the current early learning coalition board
 1474  membership.
 1475         (4) Each early learning coalition must include the
 1476  following member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition,
 1477  each ex officio member position may be filled by multiple
 1478  nonvoting members but no more than one voting member shall be
 1479  seated per member position. If an early learning coalition has
 1480  more than one member representing the same entity, only one of
 1481  such members may serve as a voting member:
 1482         (e) A children’s services council or juvenile welfare board
 1483  chair or executive director from each county, if applicable.
 1484         (f) A Department of Children and Families child care
 1485  regulation representative or an agency head of a local licensing
 1486  agency as defined in s. 402.302, where applicable.
 1487         (m)A central agency administrator, where applicable.
 1488         (5)If members of the board are found to be
 1489  nonparticipating according to the early learning coalition
 1490  bylaws, the early learning coalition may request an alternate
 1491  designee who meets the same qualifications or membership
 1492  requirements of the nonparticipating member.
 1493         (6)(5)The early learning coalition may appoint additional
 1494  Including the members who appointed by the Governor under
 1495  subsection (3), more than one-third of the members of each early
 1496  learning coalition must be private sector business members,
 1497  either for-profit or nonprofit, who do not have, and none of
 1498  whose relatives as defined in s. 112.3143 has, a substantial
 1499  financial interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
 1500  Prekindergarten Education Program created under part V of this
 1501  chapter or the school readiness program. To meet this
 1502  requirement, an early learning coalition must appoint additional
 1503  members. The office shall establish criteria for appointing
 1504  private sector business members. These criteria must include
 1505  standards for determining whether a member or relative has a
 1506  substantial financial interest in the design or delivery of the
 1507  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or the school
 1508  readiness program.
 1509         (12)(11) Each early learning coalition shall establish
 1510  terms for all appointed members of the coalition. The terms must
 1511  be staggered and must be a uniform length that does not exceed 4
 1512  years per term. Coalition chairs shall be appointed for 4 years
 1513  pursuant to s. 20.052. Appointed members may serve a maximum of
 1514  two consecutive terms. When a vacancy occurs in an appointed
 1515  position, the coalition must advertise the vacancy.
 1516         (14)(13) Each early learning coalition shall complete an
 1517  annual evaluation of the early learning coalition’s executive
 1518  director or chief executive officer on forms adopted by the
 1519  office. The annual evaluation must be submitted to the Executive
 1520  Director of the Office of Early Learning by June 30 of each year
 1521  use a coordinated professional development system that supports
 1522  the achievement and maintenance of core competencies by school
 1523  readiness program teachers in helping children attain the
 1524  performance standards adopted by the office.
 1525         Section 24. Present subsections (7) through (20) of section
 1526  1002.84, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (8)
 1527  through (21), respectively, a new subsection (7) is added to
 1528  that section, and subsection (4), present subsections (8) and
 1529  (16), paragraph (a) of present subsection (18), and present
 1530  subsection (20) of that section are amended, to read:
 1531         1002.84 Early learning coalitions; school readiness powers
 1532  and duties.—Each early learning coalition shall:
 1533         (4) Establish a regional Warm-Line as directed by the
 1534  office pursuant to s. 1002.82(2)(u) s. 1002.82(2)(t). Regional
 1535  Warm-Line staff shall provide onsite technical assistance, when
 1536  requested, to assist child care facilities and family day care
 1537  homes with inquiries relating to the strategies, curriculum, and
 1538  environmental adaptations the child care facilities and family
 1539  day care homes may need as they serve children with disabilities
 1540  and other special needs.
 1541         (7)Use a coordinated professional development system that
 1542  supports the achievement and maintenance of core competencies by
 1543  school readiness program teachers in helping children attain the
 1544  performance standards adopted by the office.
 1545         (9)(8) Establish a parent sliding fee scale that provides
 1546  for a parent copayment that is not a barrier to families
 1547  receiving school readiness program services. Providers are
 1548  required to collect the parent’s copayment. A coalition may, on
 1549  a case-by-case basis, waive the copayment for an at-risk child
 1550  or temporarily waive the copayment for a child whose family’s
 1551  income is at or below the federal poverty level or and whose
 1552  family experiences a natural disaster or an event that limits
 1553  the parent’s ability to pay, such as incarceration, placement in
 1554  residential treatment, or becoming homeless, or an emergency
 1555  situation such as a household fire or burglary, or while the
 1556  parent is participating in parenting classes or participating in
 1557  an Early Head Start program or the Head Start Program. A parent
 1558  may not transfer school readiness program services to another
 1559  school readiness program provider until the parent has submitted
 1560  documentation from the current school readiness program provider
 1561  to the early learning coalition stating that the parent has
 1562  satisfactorily fulfilled the copayment obligation.
 1563         (17)(16) Adopt a payment schedule that encompasses all
 1564  programs funded under this part and part V of this chapter. The
 1565  payment schedule must take into consideration the prevailing
 1566  average market rate or an alternative model that has been
 1567  approved by the Administration for Children and Families
 1568  pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 98.45(c), include the projected number of
 1569  children to be served, and be submitted for approval by the
 1570  office. Informal child care arrangements shall be reimbursed at
 1571  not more than 50 percent of the rate adopted for a family day
 1572  care home.
 1573         (19)(18) By October 1 of each year, submit an annual report
 1574  to the office. The report shall conform to the format adopted by
 1575  the office and must include:
 1576         (a) Segregation of school readiness program funds,
 1577  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program funds, Child Care
 1578  Executive Partnership Program funds, and other local revenues
 1579  available to the coalition.
 1580         (21)(a)(20) To increase transparency and accountability,
 1581  comply with the requirements of this section before contracting
 1582  with one or more of the following persons or business entities
 1583  which employs, has a contractual relationship with, or is owned
 1584  by the following persons:
 1585         1. A member of the coalition appointed pursuant to s.
 1586  1002.83(4);
 1587         2.A board member of any other early learning subrecipient
 1588  entity;
 1589         3.A coalition employee; or
 1590         4. A relative, as defined in s. 112.3143(1)(c), of any
 1591  person listed in subparagraphs 1.-3 a coalition member or of an
 1592  employee of the coalition.
 1593         (b) Such contracts may not be executed without the approval
 1594  of the office. Such contracts, as well as documentation
 1595  demonstrating adherence to this section by the coalition, must
 1596  be approved by a two-thirds vote of the coalition, a quorum
 1597  having been established; all conflicts of interest must be
 1598  disclosed before the vote; and any member who may benefit from
 1599  the contract, or whose relative may benefit from the contract,
 1600  must abstain from the vote. A contract under $25,000 between an
 1601  early learning coalition and a member of that coalition or
 1602  between a relative, as defined in s. 112.3143(1)(c), of a
 1603  coalition member or of an employee of the coalition is not
 1604  required to have the prior approval of the office but must be
 1605  approved by a two-thirds vote of the coalition, a quorum having
 1606  been established, and must be reported to the office within 30
 1607  days after approval. If a contract cannot be approved by the
 1608  office, a review of the decision to disapprove the contract may
 1609  be requested by the early learning coalition or other parties to
 1610  the disapproved contract.
 1611         Section 25. Paragraphs (c) and (f) of subsection (2) of
 1612  section 1002.85, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1613         1002.85 Early learning coalition plans.—
 1614         (2) Each early learning coalition must biennially submit a
 1615  school readiness program plan to the office before the
 1616  expenditure of funds. A coalition may not implement its school
 1617  readiness program plan until it receives approval from the
 1618  office. A coalition may not implement any revision to its school
 1619  readiness program plan until the coalition submits the revised
 1620  plan to and receives approval from the office. If the office
 1621  rejects a plan or revision, the coalition must continue to
 1622  operate under its previously approved plan. The plan must
 1623  include, but is not limited to:
 1624         (c) The coalition’s procedures for implementing the
 1625  requirements of this part, including:
 1626         1. Single point of entry.
 1627         2. Uniform waiting list.
 1628         3. Eligibility and enrollment processes and local
 1629  eligibility priorities for children pursuant to s. 1002.87.
 1630         4. Parent access and choice.
 1631         5. Sliding fee scale and policies on applying the waiver or
 1632  reduction of fees in accordance with s. 1002.84(9) s.
 1633  1002.84(8).
 1634         6. Use of preassessments and postassessments, as
 1635  applicable.
 1636         7. Payment rate schedule.
 1637         8. Use of contracted slots, as applicable, based on the
 1638  results of the assessment required under paragraph (j).
 1639         (f) A detailed accounting, in the format prescribed by the
 1640  office, of all revenues and expenditures during the previous
 1641  state fiscal year. Revenue sources should be identifiable, and
 1642  expenditures should be reported by two three categories: state
 1643  and federal funds and, local matching funds, and Child Care
 1644  Executive Partnership Program funds.
 1645         Section 26. Paragraphs (a), (c), and (p) of subsection (1)
 1646  of section 1002.88, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
 1647  (s) is added to that subsection, to read:
 1648         1002.88 School readiness program provider standards;
 1649  eligibility to deliver the school readiness program.—
 1650         (1) To be eligible to deliver the school readiness program,
 1651  a school readiness program provider must:
 1652         (a) Be a child care facility licensed under s. 402.305, a
 1653  family day care home licensed or registered under s. 402.313, a
 1654  large family child care home licensed under s. 402.3131, a
 1655  public school or nonpublic school exempt from licensure under s.
 1656  402.3025, a faith-based child care provider exempt from
 1657  licensure under s. 402.316, a before-school or after-school
 1658  program described in s. 402.305(1)(c), a child development
 1659  program accredited by a national accrediting body and operating
 1660  on a military installation certified by the United States
 1661  Department of Defense, or an informal child care provider to the
 1662  extent authorized in the state’s Child Care and Development Fund
 1663  Plan as approved by the United States Department of Health and
 1664  Human Services pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s. 98.18, or a provider who
 1665  has been issued a provisional license pursuant to s. 402.309. A
 1666  provider may not deliver the program while holding a probation
 1667  status license under s. 402.310.
 1668         (c) Provide basic health and safety of its premises and
 1669  facilities and compliance with requirements for age-appropriate
 1670  immunizations of children enrolled in the school readiness
 1671  program.
 1672         1. For a provider that is licensed, compliance with s.
 1673  402.305, s. 402.3131, or s. 402.313 and this subsection, as
 1674  verified pursuant to s. 402.311, satisfies this requirement.
 1675         2. For a provider that is a registered family day care home
 1676  or is not subject to licensure or registration by the Department
 1677  of Children and Families, compliance with this subsection, as
 1678  verified pursuant to s. 402.311, satisfies this requirement.
 1679  Upon verification pursuant to s. 402.311, the provider shall
 1680  annually post the health and safety checklist adopted by the
 1681  office prominently on its premises in plain sight for visitors
 1682  and parents and shall annually submit the checklist to its local
 1683  early learning coalition.
 1684         3.For a child development program accredited by a national
 1685  accrediting body and operating on a military installation
 1686  certified by the United States Department of Defense, the
 1687  submission and verification of annual inspections pursuant to
 1688  United States Department of Defense Instructions 6060.2 and
 1689  1402.05 satisfies this requirement.
 1690         (p) Notwithstanding paragraph (m), for a provider that is a
 1691  state agency or a subdivision thereof, as defined in s.
 1692  768.28(2), agree to notify the coalition of any additional
 1693  liability coverage maintained by the provider in addition to
 1694  that otherwise established under s. 768.28. The provider shall
 1695  indemnify the coalition to the extent permitted by s. 768.28.
 1696  Notwithstanding paragraph (m), for a child development program
 1697  accredited by a national accrediting body and operating on a
 1698  military installation certified by the United States Department
 1699  of Defense, the provider may demonstrate liability coverage by
 1700  affirming that it is subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28
 1701  U.S.C. ss. 2671 et seq.
 1702         (s)Collect all parent copayment fees unless a waiver has
 1703  been granted under s. 1002.84(9).
 1704         Section 27. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1), paragraph (a)
 1705  of subsection (2), and subsections (4) and (6) of section
 1706  1002.895, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1707         1002.895 Market rate schedule.—The school readiness program
 1708  market rate schedule shall be implemented as follows:
 1709         (1) The office shall establish procedures for the adoption
 1710  of a market rate schedule until an alternative model that has
 1711  been approved by the Administration for Children and Families
 1712  pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s. 98.45(c) is available for adoption. The
 1713  schedule must include, at a minimum, county-by-county rates:
 1714         (a) The market rate, including the minimum and the maximum
 1715  rates for child care providers that hold a Gold Seal Quality
 1716  Care designation under s. 1002.945 and adhere to its accrediting
 1717  association’s teacher-to-child ratios and group size
 1718  requirements s. 402.281.
 1719         (2) The market rate schedule, at a minimum, must:
 1720         (a) Differentiate rates by type, including, but not limited
 1721  to, a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care
 1722  designation under s. 1002.945 and adheres to its accrediting
 1723  association’s teacher-to-child ratios and group size
 1724  requirements s. 402.281, a child care facility licensed under s.
 1725  402.305, a public or nonpublic school exempt from licensure
 1726  under s. 402.3025, a faith-based child care facility exempt from
 1727  licensure under s. 402.316 that does not hold a Gold Seal
 1728  Quality Care designation, a large family child care home
 1729  licensed under s. 402.3131, or a family day care home licensed
 1730  or registered under s. 402.313.
 1731         (4) The market rate schedule shall be considered by an
 1732  early learning coalition in the adoption of a payment schedule.
 1733  The payment schedule must take into consideration the prevailing
 1734  average market rate and, include the projected number of
 1735  children to be served by each county, and be submitted for
 1736  approval by the office. Informal child care arrangements shall
 1737  be reimbursed at not more than 50 percent of the rate adopted
 1738  for a family day care home.
 1739         (6) The office may adopt rules for establishing procedures
 1740  for the collection of child care providers’ market rate, the
 1741  calculation of the prevailing average market rate by program
 1742  care level and provider type in a predetermined geographic
 1743  market, and the publication of the market rate schedule.
 1744         Section 28. Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a), (c), and (d)
 1745  of subsection (3) of section 1002.92, Florida Statutes, are
 1746  amended to read:
 1747         1002.92 Child care and early childhood resource and
 1748  referral.—
 1749         (1) As a part of the school readiness program, the office
 1750  shall establish a statewide child care resource and referral
 1751  network that is unbiased and provides referrals to families for
 1752  child care and information on available community resources.
 1753  Preference shall be given to using early learning coalitions as
 1754  the child care resource and referral agencies. If an early
 1755  learning coalition cannot comply with the requirements to offer
 1756  the resource information component or does not want to offer
 1757  that service, the early learning coalition shall select the
 1758  resource and referral agency for its county or multicounty
 1759  region based upon the procurement requirements of s. 1002.84(13)
 1760  s. 1002.84(12).
 1761         (3) Child care resource and referral agencies shall provide
 1762  the following services:
 1763         (a) Identification of existing public and private child
 1764  care and early childhood education services, including child
 1765  care services by public and private employers, and the
 1766  development of an early learning provider performance profile a
 1767  resource file of those services through the single statewide
 1768  information system developed by the office under s.
 1769  1002.82(2)(q) s. 1002.82(2)(p). These services may include
 1770  family day care, public and private child care programs, the
 1771  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, Head Start, the
 1772  school readiness program, special education programs for
 1773  prekindergarten children with disabilities, services for
 1774  children with developmental disabilities, full-time and part
 1775  time programs, before-school and after-school programs, and
 1776  vacation care programs, parent education, the temporary cash
 1777  assistance program, and related family support services. The
 1778  early learning provider performance profile resource file shall
 1779  include, but not be limited to:
 1780         1. Type of program.
 1781         2. Hours of service.
 1782         3. Ages of children served.
 1783         4. Number of children served.
 1784         5. Program information.
 1785         6. Fees and eligibility for services.
 1786         7. Availability of transportation.
 1787         8.Participation in the Child Care Food Program, if
 1788  applicable.
 1789         9.A link to licensing inspection reports, if applicable.
 1790         10.The components of the Voluntary Prekindergarten
 1791  Education Program performance metric calculated under s. 1002.68
 1792  that must consist of the program assessment composite score,
 1793  learning gains score, achievement score, and its designations,
 1794  if applicable.
 1795         11.The school readiness program assessment composite score
 1796  and program assessment care level composite score results
 1797  delineated by infant classrooms, toddler classrooms, and
 1798  preschool classrooms results under s. 1002.82, if applicable.
 1799         12.Gold Seal Quality Care designation under s. 1002.945,
 1800  if applicable.
 1801         13.Indication of whether the provider implements a
 1802  curriculum approved by the office and the name of the
 1803  curriculum, if applicable.
 1804         14.Participation in school readiness child assessment
 1805  under s. 1002.82.
 1806         (c) Maintenance of ongoing documentation of requests for
 1807  service tabulated through the internal referral process through
 1808  the single statewide information system. The following
 1809  documentation of requests for service shall be maintained by the
 1810  child care resource and referral network:
 1811         1. Number of calls and contacts to the child care resource
 1812  information and referral network component by type of service
 1813  requested.
 1814         2. Ages of children for whom service was requested.
 1815         3. Time category of child care requests for each child.
 1816         4. Special time category, such as nights, weekends, and
 1817  swing shift.
 1818         5. Reason that the child care is needed.
 1819         6. Customer service survey data required under s.
 1820  1002.82(3) Name of the employer and primary focus of the
 1821  business for an employer-based child care program.
 1822         (d) Assistance to families which connects them to parent
 1823  education opportunities, the temporary cash assistance program,
 1824  or social services programs that support families with children,
 1825  and related child development support services Provision of
 1826  technical assistance to existing and potential providers of
 1827  child care services. This assistance may include:
 1828         1.Information on initiating new child care services,
 1829  zoning, and program and budget development and assistance in
 1830  finding such information from other sources.
 1831         2.Information and resources which help existing child care
 1832  services providers to maximize their ability to serve children
 1833  and parents in their community.
 1834         3.Information and incentives that may help existing or
 1835  planned child care services offered by public or private
 1836  employers seeking to maximize their ability to serve the
 1837  children of their working parent employees in their community,
 1838  through contractual or other funding arrangements with
 1839  businesses.
 1840         Section 29. Section 402.281, Florida Statutes, is
 1841  transferred, renumbered as section 1002.945, Florida Statutes,
 1842  and amended to read:
 1843         1002.945 402.281 Gold Seal Quality Care program.—
 1844         (1)(a) There is established within the Office of Early
 1845  Learning department the Gold Seal Quality Care Program.
 1846         (b) A child care facility, large family child care home, or
 1847  family day care home that is accredited by an accrediting
 1848  association approved by the office department under subsection
 1849  (3) and meets all other requirements shall, upon application to
 1850  the department, receive a separate “Gold Seal Quality Care”
 1851  designation.
 1852         (2) The office department shall adopt rules establishing
 1853  Gold Seal Quality Care accreditation standards using nationally
 1854  recognized accrediting standards and input from accrediting
 1855  associations based on the applicable accrediting standards of
 1856  the National Association for the Education of Young Children
 1857  (NAEYC), the National Association of Family Child Care, and the
 1858  National Early Childhood Program Accreditation Commission.
 1859         (3)(a) In order to be approved by the office department for
 1860  participation in the Gold Seal Quality Care program, an
 1861  accrediting association must apply to the office department and
 1862  demonstrate that it:
 1863         1. Is a recognized accrediting association.
 1864         2. Has accrediting standards that substantially meet or
 1865  exceed the Gold Seal Quality Care standards adopted by the
 1866  office department under subsection (2).
 1867         3.Is a registered corporation with the Department of
 1868  State.
 1869         4.Can provide evidence that the process for accreditation
 1870  has, at a minimum, all of the following components:
 1871         a.Clearly defined prerequisites that a child care provider
 1872  must meet before beginning the accreditation process. However,
 1873  accreditation may not be granted to a child care facility, large
 1874  family child care home, or family day care home before the site
 1875  is operational and is attended by children.
 1876         b.Procedures for completion of a self-study and
 1877  comprehensive onsite verification process for each classroom
 1878  that documents compliance with accrediting standards.
 1879         c.A training process for accreditation verifiers to ensure
 1880  inter-rater reliability.
 1881         d.Ongoing compliance procedures that include requiring
 1882  each accredited child care facility, large family child care
 1883  home, and family day care home to file an annual report with the
 1884  accrediting association and risk-based, onsite auditing
 1885  protocols for accredited child care facilities, large family
 1886  child care homes, and family day care homes.
 1887         e.Procedures for the revocation of accreditation due to
 1888  failure to maintain accrediting standards as evidenced by sub
 1889  subparagraph d. or any other relevant information received by
 1890  the accrediting association.
 1891         f.Accreditation renewal procedures that include an onsite
 1892  verification occurring at least every 5 years.
 1893         g.A process for verifying continued accreditation
 1894  compliance in the event of a transfer of ownership of
 1895  facilities.
 1896         h.A process to communicate issues that arise during the
 1897  accreditation period with governmental entities that have a
 1898  vested interest in the Gold Seal Quality Care Program, including
 1899  the office, the Department of Children and Families, the
 1900  Department of Health, local licensing entities if applicable,
 1901  and the early learning coalition.
 1902         (b)The office shall establish a process that verifies that
 1903  the accrediting association meets the provisions of paragraph
 1904  (a), which must include an auditing program and any other
 1905  procedures that may reasonably determine an accrediting
 1906  association’s compliance with this section. If an accrediting
 1907  association is not in compliance and fails to cure its
 1908  deficiencies within 30 days, the office shall recommend to the
 1909  state board termination of the accrediting association’s
 1910  participation as an accrediting association in the program for a
 1911  period of at least 2 years but no more than 5 years. If an
 1912  accrediting association is removed from being an approved
 1913  accrediting association, each child care provider accredited by
 1914  that association shall have up to 1 year to obtain a new
 1915  accreditation from an office approved accreditation association.
 1916         (c)If an accrediting association has granted accreditation
 1917  to a child care facility, large family child care home, or
 1918  family day care under fraudulent terms or failed to conduct
 1919  onsite verifications, the accrediting association shall be
 1920  liable for the repayment of any rate differentials paid under
 1921  subsection (6).
 1922         (b)In approving accrediting associations, the department
 1923  shall consult with the Department of Education, the Florida Head
 1924  Start Directors Association, the Florida Association of Child
 1925  Care Management, the Florida Family Child Care Home Association,
 1926  the Florida Children’s Forum, the Florida Association for the
 1927  Education of the Young, the Child Development Education
 1928  Alliance, the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools,
 1929  the Association of Early Learning Coalitions, providers
 1930  receiving exemptions under s. 402.316, and parents.
 1931         (4) In order to obtain and maintain a designation as a Gold
 1932  Seal Quality Care provider, a child care facility, large family
 1933  child care home, or family day care home must meet the following
 1934  additional criteria:
 1935         (a) The child care provider must not have had any class I
 1936  violations, as defined by rule of the Department of Children and
 1937  Families, within the 2 years preceding its application for
 1938  designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Commission of
 1939  a class I violation shall be grounds for termination of the
 1940  designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the
 1941  provider has no class I violations for a period of 2 years.
 1942         (b) The child care provider must not have had three or more
 1943  class II violations, as defined by rule of the Department of
 1944  Children and Families, within the 2 years preceding its
 1945  application for designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care
 1946  provider. Commission of three or more class II violations within
 1947  a 2-year period shall be grounds for termination of the
 1948  designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider until the
 1949  provider has no class II violations for a period of 1 year.
 1950         (c) The child care provider must not have been cited for
 1951  the same class III violation, as defined by rule of the
 1952  Department of Children and Families, three or more times and
 1953  failed to correct the violation within 1 year after the date of
 1954  each citation, within the 2 years preceding its application for
 1955  designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider. Commission of
 1956  the same class III violation three or more times and failure to
 1957  correct within the required time during a 2-year period may be
 1958  grounds for termination of the designation as a Gold Seal
 1959  Quality Care provider until the provider has no class III
 1960  violations for a period of 1 year.
 1961         (d)Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the office determines
 1962  through a formal process that a provider has been in business
 1963  for at least 5 years and has no other class I violations
 1964  recorded, the office may recommend to the state board that the
 1965  provider maintain its Gold Seal Quality Care status. The state
 1966  board’s determination regarding such provider’s status is final.
 1967         (5)A child care facility licensed pursuant to s. 402.305
 1968  or a child care facility exempt from licensing pursuant to s.
 1969  402.316 which achieves Gold Seal Quality Care status under this
 1970  section shall be considered an educational institution for the
 1971  purpose of qualifying for exemption from ad valorem tax under s.
 1972  196.198.
 1973         (6)A child care facility licensed pursuant to s. 402.305
 1974  or a child care facility exempt from licensing pursuant to s.
 1975  402.316 which achieves Gold Seal Quality Care status under this
 1976  section and which participates in the school readiness program
 1977  shall receive a minimum of a 20 percent rate differential for
 1978  each enrolled school readiness child by care level and unit of
 1979  child care.
 1980         (7)(5) The office Department of Children and Families shall
 1981  adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 which provide
 1982  criteria and procedures for reviewing and approving accrediting
 1983  associations for participation in the Gold Seal Quality Care
 1984  program and, conferring and revoking designations of Gold Seal
 1985  Quality Care providers, and classifying violations.
 1986         Section 30. Section 1008.2125, Florida Statutes, is created
 1987  to read:
 1988         1008.2125Coordinated screening and progress monitoring
 1989  program for students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 1990  Program through grade 3.—
 1991         (1)The primary purpose of the coordinated screening and
 1992  progress monitoring program for students in the Voluntary
 1993  Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3 is to provide
 1994  information on students’ progress in mastering the appropriate
 1995  grade level standards and to provide information on their
 1996  progress to parents, teachers, and school and program
 1997  administrators. Data shall be used by Voluntary Prekindergarten
 1998  Education Program providers and school districts to improve
 1999  instruction, by parents and teachers to guide learning
 2000  objectives and provide timely and appropriate supports and
 2001  interventions to students not meeting grade level expectations,
 2002  and by the public to assess the cost benefit of the expenditure
 2003  of taxpayer dollars. The coordinated screening and progress
 2004  monitoring program must:
 2005         (a)Assess the progress of students in the Voluntary
 2006  Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3 in meeting the
 2007  appropriate expectations in early literacy and math skills and
 2008  in English Language Arts and mathematics, as required by ss.
 2009  1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41.
 2010         (b)Provide data for accountability of the Voluntary
 2011  Prekindergarten Education Program, as required by s. 1002.68.
 2012         (c)Provide baseline data to the department of each
 2013  student’s readiness for kindergarten, which must be based on
 2014  each kindergarten student’s progress monitoring results within
 2015  the first 30 days of enrollment in accordance with paragraph
 2016  (2)(a). The methodology for determining a student’s readiness
 2017  for kindergarten shall be developed by the same independent
 2018  expert identified in s. 1002.68(4)(d).
 2019         (d)Identify the educational strengths and needs of
 2020  students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
 2021  through grade 3.
 2022         (e)Provide teachers with progress monitoring data to
 2023  provide timely interventions and supports pursuant to s.
 2024  1008.25(4).
 2025         (f)Assess how well educational goals and curricular
 2026  standards are met at the provider, school, district, and state
 2027  levels.
 2028         (g)Provide information to aid in the evaluation and
 2029  development of educational programs and policies.
 2030         (2)The Commissioner of Education shall design a statewide,
 2031  standardized coordinated screening and progress monitoring
 2032  program to assess early literacy and mathematics skills and the
 2033  English Language Arts and mathematics standards established in
 2034  ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41, respectively. The coordinated
 2035  screening and progress monitoring program must provide interval
 2036  level and norm-referenced data that measures equivalent levels
 2037  of growth; be a developmentally appropriate, valid, and reliable
 2038  direct assessment; be able to capture data on students who may
 2039  be performing below grade or developmental level and which may
 2040  enable the identification of early indicators of dyslexia or
 2041  other developmental delays; accurately measure the core content
 2042  in the applicable grade level standards; document learning gains
 2043  for the achievement of these standards; and provide teachers
 2044  with progress monitoring supports and materials that enhance
 2045  differentiated instruction and parent communication.
 2046  Participation in the coordinated screening and progress
 2047  monitoring program is mandatory for all students in the
 2048  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and enrolled in a
 2049  public school in kindergarten through grade 3. The coordinated
 2050  screening and progress monitoring program shall be implemented
 2051  beginning in the 2022-2023 school year for students in the
 2052  Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and kindergarten
 2053  students, as follows:
 2054         (a)The coordinated screening and progress monitoring
 2055  program shall be administered within the first 30 days after
 2056  enrollment, midyear, and within the last 30 days of the program
 2057  or school year, in accordance with the rules adopted by the
 2058  State Board of Education. The state board may adopt alternate
 2059  timeframes to address nontraditional school year calendars or
 2060  summer programs to ensure administration of the coordinated
 2061  screening and progress monitoring program is administered a
 2062  minimum of 3 times within a year or program.
 2063         (b)The results of the coordinated screening and progress
 2064  monitoring program shall be reported to the department, in
 2065  accordance with the rules adopted by the state board, and
 2066  maintained in the department’s educational data warehouse.
 2067         (3)The Commissioner of Education shall:
 2068         (a)Develop a plan, in coordination with the Council for
 2069  Early Grade Success, for implementing the coordinated screening
 2070  and progress monitoring program in consideration of timelines
 2071  for implementing new early literacy and mathematics skills and
 2072  the English Language Arts and mathematics standards established
 2073  in ss. 1002.67(1)(a) and 1003.41, as appropriate.
 2074         (b)Provide data, reports, and information as requested to
 2075  the Council for Early Grade Success.
 2076         (4)The Council for Early Grade Success, a council as
 2077  defined in s. 20.03(7), is created within the Department of
 2078  Education to oversee the coordinated screening and progress
 2079  monitoring program and, except as otherwise provided in this
 2080  section, shall operate consistent with s. 20.052.
 2081         (a)The council shall be responsible for reviewing the
 2082  implementation of, training for, and outcomes from the
 2083  coordinated screening and progress monitoring program to provide
 2084  recommendations to the department that support grade 3 students
 2085  reading at or above grade level. The council, at a minimum,
 2086  shall:
 2087         1.Provide recommendations on the implementation of the
 2088  coordinated screening and progress monitoring program, including
 2089  reviewing any procurement solicitation documents and criteria
 2090  before being published.
 2091         2.Develop training plans and timelines for such training.
 2092         3.Identify appropriate personnel, processes, and
 2093  procedures required for the administration of the coordinated
 2094  screening and progress monitoring program.
 2095         4.Provide input on the methodology for calculating a
 2096  provider’s or school’s performance metric and designations under
 2097  s. 1002.68.
 2098         5.Work with the department’s independent expert under s.
 2099  1002.68(4)(d) to review the methodology for determining a
 2100  child’s kindergarten readiness.
 2101         6.Review data on age-appropriate learning gains by grade
 2102  level that a student would need to attain in order to
 2103  demonstrate proficiency in reading by grade 3.
 2104         7.Continually review anonymized data from the results of
 2105  the coordinated screening and progress monitoring program for
 2106  students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
 2107  through grade 3 to help inform recommendations to the department
 2108  that support practices that will enable grade 3 students to read
 2109  at or above grade level.
 2110         (b)The council shall be composed of 17 members who are
 2111  residents of this state and appointed, as follows:
 2112         1.Three members appointed by the Governor, as follows:
 2113         a.One representative from the Department of Education.
 2114         b.One parent of a child who is 4 to 9 years of age.
 2115         c.One representative who is a school principal.
 2116         2.Seven members appointed by the President of the Senate,
 2117  as follows:
 2118         a.One senator who serves at the pleasure of the President
 2119  of the Senate.
 2120         b.One representative of an urban school district.
 2121         c.One representative of a rural early learning coalition.
 2122         d.One representative of a faith-based early learning
 2123  provider that offers the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education
 2124  Program.
 2125         e.One representative who is a second grade teacher with at
 2126  least 5 years of teaching experience.
 2127         f.Two representatives with subject matter expertise in
 2128  early learning, early grade success, or child assessments.
 2129         3.Seven members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
 2130  Representatives, as follows:
 2131         a.One member of the House of Representatives who serves at
 2132  the pleasure of the Speaker of the House.
 2133         b.One representative of a rural school district.
 2134         c.One representative of an urban early learning coalition.
 2135         d.One representative of an early learning provider that
 2136  offers the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
 2137         e.One member who is a kindergarten teacher with at least 5
 2138  years of teaching experience.
 2139         f.Two representatives with subject matter expertise in
 2140  early learning, early grade success, or child assessment.
 2141         (5)The four representatives with subject matter expertise
 2142  in sub-subparagraphs (4)(b)2.f. and (4)(b)3.f. may not be direct
 2143  stakeholders within the early learning or public school systems
 2144  or potential recipients of a contract resulting from the
 2145  council’s recommendations.
 2146         (6)The council shall elect a chair and vice chair, one of
 2147  whom must be a member who has subject matter expertise in early
 2148  learning, early grade success, or child assessments. The vice
 2149  chair must be a member appointed by the President of the Senate
 2150  or the Speaker of the House of Representatives who is not one of
 2151  the four members with subject matter expertise in early
 2152  learning, early grade success, or child assessments. Members of
 2153  the council shall serve without compensation but are entitled to
 2154  reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses pursuant to s.
 2155  112.061.
 2156         (7)The council must meet at least biannually and may meet
 2157  by teleconference or other electronic means, if possible, to
 2158  reduce costs.
 2159         (8)A majority of the members constitutes a quorum.
 2160         Section 31. Present paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection
 2161  (5) of section 1008.25, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
 2162  paragraphs (c) and (d), respectively, a new paragraph (b) is
 2163  added to that subsection, and paragraph (b) of subsection (6),
 2164  subsection (7), and paragraph (a) of subsection (8) are amended,
 2165  to read:
 2166         1008.25 Public school student progression; student support;
 2167  reporting requirements.—
 2168         (5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.—
 2169         (b)Any Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program student
 2170  who exhibits a substantial deficiency in early literacy in
 2171  accordance with the standards under s. 1002.67(1)(a) and based
 2172  upon the results of the administration of the final coordinated
 2173  screening and progress monitoring under s. 1008.2125 shall be
 2174  referred to the local school district and may be eligible to
 2175  receive intensive reading interventions before participating in
 2176  kindergarten. Such intensive reading interventions shall be paid
 2177  for using funds from the district’s research-based reading
 2178  instruction allocation in accordance with s. 1011.62(9).
 2179         (6) ELIMINATION OF SOCIAL PROMOTION.—
 2180         (b) The district school board may only exempt students from
 2181  mandatory retention, as provided in paragraph (5)(c) (5)(b), for
 2182  good cause. A student who is promoted to grade 4 with a good
 2183  cause exemption shall be provided intensive reading instruction
 2184  and intervention that include specialized diagnostic information
 2185  and specific reading strategies to meet the needs of each
 2186  student so promoted. The school district shall assist schools
 2187  and teachers with the implementation of explicit, systematic,
 2188  and multisensory reading instruction and intervention strategies
 2189  for students promoted with a good cause exemption which research
 2190  has shown to be successful in improving reading among students
 2191  who have reading difficulties. Good cause exemptions are limited
 2192  to the following:
 2193         1. Limited English proficient students who have had less
 2194  than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other
 2195  Languages program based on the initial date of entry into a
 2196  school in the United States.
 2197         2. Students with disabilities whose individual education
 2198  plan indicates that participation in the statewide assessment
 2199  program is not appropriate, consistent with the requirements of
 2200  s. 1008.212.
 2201         3. Students who demonstrate an acceptable level of
 2202  performance on an alternative standardized reading or English
 2203  Language Arts assessment approved by the State Board of
 2204  Education.
 2205         4. A student who demonstrates through a student portfolio
 2206  that he or she is performing at least at Level 2 on the
 2207  statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment.
 2208         5. Students with disabilities who take the statewide,
 2209  standardized English Language Arts assessment and who have an
 2210  individual education plan or a Section 504 plan that reflects
 2211  that the student has received intensive instruction in reading
 2212  or English Language Arts for more than 2 years but still
 2213  demonstrates a deficiency and was previously retained in
 2214  kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3.
 2215         6. Students who have received intensive reading
 2216  intervention for 2 or more years but still demonstrate a
 2217  deficiency in reading and who were previously retained in
 2218  kindergarten, grade 1, grade 2, or grade 3 for a total of 2
 2219  years. A student may not be retained more than once in grade 3.
 2220         (7) SUCCESSFUL PROGRESSION FOR RETAINED THIRD GRADE
 2221  STUDENTS.—
 2222         (a) Students retained under paragraph (5)(c) (5)(b) must be
 2223  provided intensive interventions in reading to ameliorate the
 2224  student’s specific reading deficiency and prepare the student
 2225  for promotion to the next grade. These interventions must
 2226  include:
 2227         1. Evidence-based, explicit, systematic, and multisensory
 2228  reading instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
 2229  vocabulary, and comprehension and other strategies prescribed by
 2230  the school district.
 2231         2. Participation in the school district’s summer reading
 2232  camp, which must incorporate the instructional and intervention
 2233  strategies under subparagraph 1.
 2234         3. A minimum of 90 minutes of daily, uninterrupted reading
 2235  instruction incorporating the instructional and intervention
 2236  strategies under subparagraph 1. This instruction may include:
 2237         a. Integration of content-rich texts in science and social
 2238  studies within the 90-minute block.
 2239         b. Small group instruction.
 2240         c. Reduced teacher-student ratios.
 2241         d. More frequent progress monitoring.
 2242         e. Tutoring or mentoring.
 2243         f. Transition classes containing 3rd and 4th grade
 2244  students.
 2245         g. Extended school day, week, or year.
 2246         (b) Each school district shall:
 2247         1. Provide written notification to the parent of a student
 2248  who is retained under paragraph (5)(c) (5)(b) that his or her
 2249  child has not met the proficiency level required for promotion
 2250  and the reasons the child is not eligible for a good cause
 2251  exemption as provided in paragraph (6)(b). The notification must
 2252  comply with paragraph (5)(d) (5)(c) and must include a
 2253  description of proposed interventions and supports that will be
 2254  provided to the child to remediate the identified areas of
 2255  reading deficiency.
 2256         2. Implement a policy for the midyear promotion of a
 2257  student retained under paragraph (5)(c) (5)(b) who can
 2258  demonstrate that he or she is a successful and independent
 2259  reader and performing at or above grade level in reading or,
 2260  upon implementation of English Language Arts assessments,
 2261  performing at or above grade level in English Language Arts.
 2262  Tools that school districts may use in reevaluating a student
 2263  retained may include subsequent assessments, alternative
 2264  assessments, and portfolio reviews, in accordance with rules of
 2265  the State Board of Education. Students promoted during the
 2266  school year after November 1 must demonstrate proficiency levels
 2267  in reading equivalent to the level necessary for the beginning
 2268  of grade 4. The rules adopted by the State Board of Education
 2269  must include standards that provide a reasonable expectation
 2270  that the student’s progress is sufficient to master appropriate
 2271  grade 4 level reading skills.
 2272         3. Provide students who are retained under paragraph (5)(c)
 2273  (5)(b), including students participating in the school
 2274  district’s summer reading camp under subparagraph (a)2., with a
 2275  highly effective teacher as determined by the teacher’s
 2276  performance evaluation under s. 1012.34, and, beginning July 1,
 2277  2020, the teacher must also be certified or endorsed in reading.
 2278         4. Establish at each school, when applicable, an intensive
 2279  reading acceleration course for any student retained in grade 3
 2280  who was previously retained in kindergarten, grade 1, or grade
 2281  2. The intensive reading acceleration course must provide the
 2282  following:
 2283         a. Uninterrupted reading instruction for the majority of
 2284  student contact time each day and opportunities to master the
 2285  grade 4 Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in other core
 2286  subject areas through content-rich texts.
 2287         b. Small group instruction.
 2288         c. Reduced teacher-student ratios.
 2289         d. The use of explicit, systematic, and multisensory
 2290  reading interventions, including intensive language, phonics,
 2291  and vocabulary instruction, and use of a speech-language
 2292  therapist if necessary, that have proven results in accelerating
 2293  student reading achievement within the same school year.
 2294         e. A read-at-home plan.
 2295         (8) ANNUAL REPORT.—
 2296         (a) In addition to the requirements in paragraph (5)(c)
 2297  (5)(b), each district school board must annually report to the
 2298  parent of each student the progress of the student toward
 2299  achieving state and district expectations for proficiency in
 2300  English Language Arts, science, social studies, and mathematics.
 2301  The district school board must report to the parent the
 2302  student’s results on each statewide, standardized assessment.
 2303  The evaluation of each student’s progress must be based upon the
 2304  student’s classroom work, observations, tests, district and
 2305  state assessments, response to intensive interventions provided
 2306  under paragraph (5)(a), and other relevant information. Progress
 2307  reporting must be provided to the parent in writing in a format
 2308  adopted by the district school board.
 2309         Section 32. Subsection (9) of section 1011.62, Florida
 2310  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2311         1011.62 Funds for operation of schools.—If the annual
 2312  allocation from the Florida Education Finance Program to each
 2313  district for operation of schools is not determined in the
 2314  annual appropriations act or the substantive bill implementing
 2315  the annual appropriations act, it shall be determined as
 2316  follows:
 2317         (9) RESEARCH-BASED READING INSTRUCTION ALLOCATION.—
 2318         (a) The research-based reading instruction allocation is
 2319  created to provide comprehensive reading instruction to students
 2320  in kindergarten through grade 12, including certain students who
 2321  exhibit a substantial deficiency in early literacy and who
 2322  completed the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
 2323  pursuant to s. 1008.25(5)(b). Each school district that has one
 2324  or more of the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools based on
 2325  a 3-year average of the state reading assessment data must use
 2326  the school’s portion of the allocation to provide an additional
 2327  hour per day of intensive reading instruction for the students
 2328  in each school. The additional hour may be provided within the
 2329  school day. Students enrolled in these schools who earned a
 2330  level 4 or level 5 score on the statewide, standardized English
 2331  Language Arts assessment for the previous school year may
 2332  participate in the additional hour of instruction. Exceptional
 2333  student education centers may not be included in the 300
 2334  schools. The intensive reading instruction delivered in this
 2335  additional hour shall include: research-based reading
 2336  instruction that has been proven to accelerate progress of
 2337  students exhibiting a reading deficiency; differentiated
 2338  instruction based on screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring,
 2339  or student assessment data to meet students’ specific reading
 2340  needs; explicit and systematic reading strategies to develop
 2341  phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and
 2342  comprehension, with more extensive opportunities for guided
 2343  practice, error correction, and feedback; and the integration of
 2344  social studies, science, and mathematics-text reading, text
 2345  discussion, and writing in response to reading.
 2346         (b) Funds for comprehensive, research-based reading
 2347  instruction shall be allocated annually to each school district
 2348  in the amount provided in the General Appropriations Act. Each
 2349  eligible school district shall receive the same minimum amount
 2350  as specified in the General Appropriations Act, and any
 2351  remaining funds shall be distributed to eligible school
 2352  districts based on each school district’s proportionate share of
 2353  K-12 base funding.
 2354         (c) Funds allocated under this subsection must be used to
 2355  provide a system of comprehensive reading instruction to
 2356  students enrolled in the K-12 programs and certain students who
 2357  exhibit a substantial deficiency in early literacy and who
 2358  completed the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
 2359  pursuant to s. 1008.25(5)(b), which may include the following:
 2360         1. An additional hour per day of evidence-based intensive
 2361  reading instruction to students in the 300 lowest-performing
 2362  elementary schools by teachers and reading specialists who have
 2363  demonstrated effectiveness in teaching reading as required in
 2364  paragraph (a).
 2365         2. Kindergarten through grade 5 evidence-based reading
 2366  intervention teachers to provide intensive reading interventions
 2367  provided by reading intervention teachers intervention during
 2368  the school day and in the required extra hour for students
 2369  identified as having a reading deficiency.
 2370         3. Highly qualified reading coaches to specifically support
 2371  teachers in making instructional decisions based on student
 2372  data, and improve teacher delivery of effective reading
 2373  instruction, intervention, and reading in the content areas
 2374  based on student need.
 2375         4. Professional development for school district teachers in
 2376  scientifically based reading instruction, including strategies
 2377  to teach reading in content areas and with an emphasis on
 2378  technical and informational text, to help school district
 2379  teachers earn a certification or an endorsement in reading.
 2380         5. Summer reading camps, using only teachers or other
 2381  district personnel who are certified or endorsed in reading
 2382  consistent with s. 1008.25(7)(b)3., for all students in
 2383  kindergarten through grade 2 who demonstrate a reading
 2384  deficiency as determined by district and state assessments, and
 2385  students in grades 3 through 5 who score at Level 1 on the
 2386  statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment, and
 2387  certain students who exhibit a substantial deficiency in early
 2388  literacy and who completed the Voluntary Prekindergarten
 2389  Education Program pursuant to s. 1008.25(5)(b).
 2390         6. Scientifically researched and evidence-based
 2391  supplemental instructional materials that are grounded in
 2392  scientifically based reading research as identified by the Just
 2393  Read, Florida! Office pursuant to s. 1001.215(8).
 2394         7. Evidence-based intensive interventions for students in
 2395  kindergarten through grade 12 who have been identified as having
 2396  a reading deficiency or who are reading below grade level as
 2397  determined by the statewide, standardized English Language Arts
 2398  assessment or for certain students who exhibit a substantial
 2399  deficiency in early literacy and who completed the Voluntary
 2400  Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 1008.25(5)(b).
 2401         (d)1. Annually, by a date determined by the Department of
 2402  Education but before May 1, school districts shall submit a K-12
 2403  comprehensive reading plan for the specific use of the research
 2404  based reading instruction allocation in the format prescribed by
 2405  the department for review and approval by the Just Read,
 2406  Florida! Office created pursuant to s. 1001.215. The plan
 2407  annually submitted by school districts shall be deemed approved
 2408  unless the department rejects the plan on or before June 1. If a
 2409  school district and the Just Read, Florida! Office cannot reach
 2410  agreement on the contents of the plan, the school district may
 2411  appeal to the State Board of Education for resolution. School
 2412  districts shall be allowed reasonable flexibility in designing
 2413  their plans and shall be encouraged to offer reading
 2414  intervention through innovative methods, including career
 2415  academies. The plan format shall be developed with input from
 2416  school district personnel, including teachers and principals,
 2417  and shall provide for intensive reading interventions through
 2418  integrated curricula, provided that, beginning with the 2020
 2419  2021 school year, the interventions are delivered by a teacher
 2420  who is certified or endorsed in reading. Such interventions must
 2421  incorporate evidence-based strategies identified by the Just
 2422  Read, Florida! Office pursuant to s. 1001.215(8). No later than
 2423  July 1 annually, the department shall release the school
 2424  district’s allocation of appropriated funds to those districts
 2425  having approved plans. A school district that spends 100 percent
 2426  of this allocation on its approved plan shall be deemed to have
 2427  been in compliance with the plan. The department may withhold
 2428  funds upon a determination that reading instruction allocation
 2429  funds are not being used to implement the approved plan. The
 2430  department shall monitor and track the implementation of each
 2431  district plan, including conducting site visits and collecting
 2432  specific data on expenditures and reading improvement results.
 2433  By February 1 of each year, the department shall report its
 2434  findings to the Legislature.
 2435         2. Each school district that has a school designated as one
 2436  of the 300 lowest-performing elementary schools as specified in
 2437  paragraph (a) shall specifically delineate in the comprehensive
 2438  reading plan, or in an addendum to the comprehensive reading
 2439  plan, the implementation design and reading intervention
 2440  strategies that will be used for the required additional hour of
 2441  reading instruction. The term “reading intervention” includes
 2442  evidence-based strategies frequently used to remediate reading
 2443  deficiencies and also includes individual instruction, tutoring,
 2444  mentoring, or the use of technology that targets specific
 2445  reading skills and abilities.
 2446  
 2447  For purposes of this subsection, the term “evidence-based” means
 2448  demonstrating a statistically significant effect on improving
 2449  student outcomes or other relevant outcomes.
 2450         Section 33. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
 2451  
 2452  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
 2453  And the title is amended as follows:
 2454         Delete everything before the enacting clause
 2455  and insert:
 2456                        A bill to be entitled                      
 2457         An act relating to early learning and early grade
 2458         success; amending s. 39.604, F.S.; revising approved
 2459         child care or early education settings for the
 2460         placement of certain children; conforming cross
 2461         references; amending ss. 212.08 and 402.26, F.S.;
 2462         conforming provisions and cross-references to changes
 2463         made by the act; providing for a type two transfer of
 2464         the Gold Seal Quality Care program in the Department
 2465         of Children and Families to the Office of Early
 2466         Learning; providing for the continuation of certain
 2467         contracts and interagency agreements; amending ss.
 2468         402.315 and 1001.213, F.S.; conforming cross
 2469         references; amending ss. 1001.215 and 1001.23, F.S.;
 2470         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
 2471         amending s. 1002.53, F.S.; revising the requirements
 2472         for certain program provider profiles; requiring each
 2473         parent who enrolls his or her child in the Voluntary
 2474         Prekindergarten Education Program to allow his or her
 2475         child to participate in a specified screening and
 2476         progress monitoring program; amending s. 1002.32,
 2477         F.S.; conforming cross-references; amending s.
 2478         1002.55, F.S.; authorizing certain child development
 2479         programs operating on a military installation to be
 2480         private prekindergarten providers within the Voluntary
 2481         Prekindergarten Education Program; providing that a
 2482         private prekindergarten provider is ineligible for
 2483         participation in the program under certain
 2484         circumstances; revising requirements for
 2485         prekindergarten instructors; revising requirements for
 2486         specified courses for prekindergarten instructors;
 2487         providing that a private school administrator who
 2488         holds a specified certificate meets certain credential
 2489         requirements; providing liability insurance
 2490         requirements for child development programs operating
 2491         on a military installation participating in the
 2492         program; requiring early learning coalitions to verify
 2493         private prekindergarten provider compliance with
 2494         specified provisions; requiring such coalitions to
 2495         remove a provider’s eligibility under specified
 2496         circumstances; conforming provisions to changes made
 2497         by the act; amending s. 1002.57, F.S.; revising the
 2498         minimum standards for a credential for certain
 2499         prekindergarten directors; amending s. 1002.59, F.S.;
 2500         revising requirements for emergent literacy and
 2501         performance standards training courses for
 2502         prekindergarten instructors; requiring the department
 2503         to make certain courses available online; amending s.
 2504         1002.61, F.S.; authorizing certain child development
 2505         programs operating on a military installation to be
 2506         private prekindergarten providers within the summer
 2507         Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program;
 2508         conforming a provision to changes made by the act;
 2509         revising the criteria for a teacher to receive
 2510         priority for the summer program in a school district;
 2511         requiring a child development program operating on a
 2512         military installation to comply with specified
 2513         criteria; requiring early learning coalitions to
 2514         verify specified information; providing for the
 2515         removal of a program provider or public school from
 2516         eligibility under certain circumstances; amending s.
 2517         1002.63, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made
 2518         by the act; requiring early learning coalitions to
 2519         verify specified information; providing for the
 2520         removal of public schools from the program under
 2521         certain circumstances; amending s. 1002.67, F.S.;
 2522         revising the performance standards for the Voluntary
 2523         Prekindergarten Education Program; requiring the
 2524         department to review and revise performance standards
 2525         on a specified schedule; revising curriculum
 2526         requirements for the program; conforming a provision
 2527         to changes made by the act; requiring the office to
 2528         adopt procedures for the review and approval of
 2529         curricula for the program; deleting a required
 2530         preassessment and postassessment for the program;
 2531         creating s. 1002.68, F.S.; requiring providers of the
 2532         Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
 2533         participate in a specified screening and progress
 2534         monitoring program; providing specified uses for the
 2535         results of such program; requiring certain portions of
 2536         the screening and progress monitoring program to be
 2537         administered by individuals who meet specified
 2538         criteria; requiring the results of the screening and
 2539         monitoring to be reported to the parents of
 2540         participating students; requiring providers to
 2541         participate in a program assessment; providing
 2542         requirements for such assessments; providing office
 2543         duties and responsibilities relating to such
 2544         assessments; providing requirements for a specified
 2545         methodology used to calculate the results of such
 2546         assessments; requiring the department to establish a
 2547         designation system for program providers; providing
 2548         for the adoption of a minimum performance metric or
 2549         designation for program participation; providing
 2550         procedures for a provider whose score or designation
 2551         falls below the minimum requirement; providing for the
 2552         revocation of program eligibility for a provider;
 2553         authorizing the department to grant good cause
 2554         exemptions to providers under certain circumstances;
 2555         providing office and provider requirements for such
 2556         exemptions; requiring an annual meeting of
 2557         representatives from specified entities to develop
 2558         certain strategies; repealing s. 1002.69, F.S.,
 2559         relating to statewide kindergarten screening and
 2560         readiness rates; amending s. 1002.73, F.S.; requiring
 2561         the office to adopt a statewide provider contract;
 2562         requiring such contract to be published on the
 2563         office’s website; providing requirements for such
 2564         contract; prohibiting providers from offering services
 2565         during an appeal of termination from the program;
 2566         providing applicability; requiring the office to adopt
 2567         specified procedures relating to the Voluntary
 2568         Prekindergarten Education Program; providing duties of
 2569         the office relating to such program; repealing s.
 2570         1002.75, F.S., relating to the powers and duties of
 2571         the Office of Early Learning; amending 1002.81, F.S.;
 2572         conforming provisions and cross-references to changes
 2573         made by the act; amending s. 1002.82, F.S.; providing
 2574         duties of the office relating to early learning;
 2575         authorizing an alternative model for the calculation
 2576         of prevailing market rate; exempting certain child
 2577         development programs operating on a military
 2578         installation from specified inspection requirements;
 2579         requiring the office to monitor specified standards
 2580         and benchmarks for certain purposes; revising the age
 2581         range used for specified standards; requiring the
 2582         office to provide specified technical support;
 2583         revising requirements for a specified assessment
 2584         program; requiring the office to adopt requirements to
 2585         make certain contracted slots available to serve
 2586         specified populations; requiring the office to adopt
 2587         certain standards and outcome measures including
 2588         specified surveys; requiring the office to adopt
 2589         procedures for the merging of early learning
 2590         coalitions; revising the requirements for a specified
 2591         report; amending s. 1002.83, F.S.; revising the number
 2592         of authorized early learning coalitions; revising the
 2593         number of and requirements for members of an early
 2594         learning coalition; revising and adding requirements
 2595         for such coalitions; amending s. 1002.84, F.S.;
 2596         revising early learning coalition responsibilities and
 2597         duties; conforming a cross-reference; revising
 2598         requirements for the waiver of specified copayments;
 2599         amending s. 1002.85, F.S.; revising the requirements
 2600         for school readiness program plans; amending s.
 2601         1002.88, F.S.; authorizing certain child development
 2602         programs operating on military installations to
 2603         participate in the school readiness program; revising
 2604         requirements to deliver such program; providing that a
 2605         specified annual inspection for a child development
 2606         program participating in the school readiness program
 2607         meets certain provider requirements; providing
 2608         requirements for a child development program to meet
 2609         certain liability requirements; amending s. 1002.895,
 2610         F.S.; requiring the office to adopt certain procedures
 2611         until a specified event; conforming provisions to
 2612         changes made by the act; amending s. 1002.92, F.S.;
 2613         conforming a cross-reference; revising the
 2614         requirements for specified services that child care
 2615         resource and referral agencies must provide;
 2616         transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 402.281,
 2617         F.S.; revising the requirements of the Gold Seal
 2618         Quality Care program; requiring the Office of Early
 2619         Learning to adopt specified rules; revising
 2620         accrediting association requirements; providing
 2621         requirements for accrediting associations; requiring
 2622         the department to establish a specified process;
 2623         providing requirements for such process; deleting a
 2624         requirement for the department to consult certain
 2625         entities for specified purposes; providing
 2626         requirements for certain providers to maintain Gold
 2627         Seal Quality Care status; providing exemptions to
 2628         certain ad valorem taxes; providing rate differentials
 2629         to certain providers; creating s. 1008.2125, F.S.;
 2630         creating the coordinated screening and progress
 2631         monitoring program within the department for specified
 2632         purposes; requiring the Commissioner of Education to
 2633         design such program; providing requirements for the
 2634         administration of such program and the use of results
 2635         from the program; providing requirements for the
 2636         commissioner; creating the Council for Early Grade
 2637         Success within the department; providing duties of the
 2638         council; providing membership of the council;
 2639         requiring the council to elect a chair and a vice
 2640         chair; providing requirements for such appointments;
 2641         providing for per diem for members of the council;
 2642         providing meeting requirements for the council;
 2643         providing for a quorum of the council; amending s.
 2644         1008.25, F.S.; authorizing certain students enrolled
 2645         in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program to
 2646         receive intensive reading interventions using
 2647         specified funds; amending s. 1011.62, F.S.; revising
 2648         the research-based reading instruction allocation to
 2649         authorize the use of such funds for certain intensive
 2650         reading interventions for certain students; revising
 2651         the requirements for specified reading instruction and
 2652         interventions; defining the term “evidence-based”;
 2653         providing an effective date.