Florida Senate - 2012 (PROPOSED COMMITTEE BILL) SPB 7080
FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Budget
576-02053J-12 20127080__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to early learning funding; amending s.
3 411.01, F.S.; revising the duties of the Office of
4 Early Learning; authorizing the Office of Early
5 Learning to adopt rules relating to the adoption of a
6 uniform chart of accounts and the adoption of a
7 statewide, standardized contract and standardized
8 contract monitoring tool; requiring that the Office of
9 Early Learning coordinate with other state agencies to
10 perform data matches on families participating in the
11 school readiness program; revising the minimum number
12 of children who must be served by each early learning
13 coalition; deleting provisions that require the Office
14 of Early Learning to grant waivers to early learning
15 coalitions serving fewer children than the minimum
16 number established; requiring that each school
17 readiness provider administer preassessments and
18 postassessments; revising the standards for school
19 readiness plans to conform to changes made by the act;
20 requiring that each approved plan require a parent
21 copayment of a minimum percentage of a family’s
22 income; authorizing an early learning coalition to
23 grant a waiver from such parent copayment; revising
24 provisions relating to eligibility for school
25 readiness programs; requiring that each early learning
26 coalition give priority to children who meet certain
27 requirements; requiring that funding for the school
28 readiness program be allocated among the early
29 learning coalitions pursuant to the act or as provided
30 in the General Appropriations Act; revising provisions
31 relating to the minimum percentage of funds to be used
32 for administrative, nondirect, and quality
33 expenditures; authorizing the Office of Early Learning
34 to provide waivers of limitations on such expenditures
35 under certain circumstances; requiring that the Office
36 of Early Learning adopt school readiness provider
37 payment rates for each early learning coalition
38 service area based on the prevailing market rate;
39 requiring that the Office of Early Learning ensure
40 that each payment rate is uniform statewide by care
41 level and provider type; authorizing the Office of
42 Early Learning to investigate early learning
43 coalitions and school readiness recipients and
44 providers for fraud or overpayment; providing
45 reporting requirements; providing penalties; amending
46 s. 411.0101, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference;
47 amending s. 411.01013, F.S.; revising provisions
48 relating to the prevailing market rate schedule
49 established by the Office of Early Learning; requiring
50 that each child care and early learning education
51 provider that receives school readiness funds submit
52 its market rate to the Office of Early Learning by a
53 specified date each year; amending s. 411.0106, F.S.;
54 conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 1002.71,
55 F.S.; requiring that the Office of Early Learning
56 establish criteria for granting exemptions for good
57 cause for children enrolled in prekindergarten
58 programs; providing an effective date.
59
60 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
61
62 Section 1. Section 411.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
63 read:
64 411.01 School readiness programs; early learning
65 coalitions.—
66 (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the “School
67 Readiness Act.”
68 (2) LEGISLATIVE INTENT.—
69 (a) The Legislature recognizes that school readiness
70 programs increase children’s chances of achieving future
71 educational success and becoming productive members of society.
72 It is the intent of the Legislature that the programs be
73 developmentally appropriate, research-based, involve the parent
74 as a child’s first teacher, serve as preventive measures for
75 children at risk of future school failure, enhance the
76 educational readiness of eligible children, and support family
77 education. Each school readiness program shall provide the
78 elements necessary to prepare at-risk children for school,
79 including health screening and referral and an appropriate
80 educational program.
81 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
82 readiness programs be operated on a full-day, year-round basis
83 to the maximum extent possible to enable parents to work and
84 become financially self-sufficient.
85 (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
86 readiness programs not exist as isolated programs, but build
87 upon existing services and work in cooperation with other
88 programs for young children, and that school readiness programs
89 be coordinated to achieve full effectiveness.
90 (d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the
91 administrative staff for school readiness programs be kept to
92 the minimum necessary to administer the duties of the Office of
93 Early Learning and early learning coalitions. The Office of
94 Early Learning shall adopt system support services at the state
95 level to build a comprehensive early learning system. Each early
96 learning coalition shall implement and maintain direct
97 enhancement services at the local level, as approved in its
98 school readiness plan by the Office of Early Learning, and
99 ensure access to such services in all 67 counties.
100 (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that the school
101 readiness program coordinate and operate in conjunction with the
102 district school systems. However, it is also the intent of the
103 Legislature that the school readiness program not be construed
104 as part of the system of free public schools but rather as a
105 separate program for children under the age of kindergarten
106 eligibility, funded separately from the system of free public
107 schools, utilizing a mandatory sliding fee scale, and providing
108 an integrated and seamless system of school readiness services
109 for the state’s birth-to-kindergarten population.
110 (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that school
111 readiness services be an integrated and seamless program of
112 services with a developmentally appropriate education component
113 for the state’s eligible birth-to-kindergarten population
114 described in subsection (6) and not be construed as part of the
115 seamless K-20 education system.
116 (3) PARENTAL PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS.
117 This section does not:
118 (a) Relieve parents and guardians of their own obligations
119 to prepare their children for school; or
120 (b) Create any obligation to provide publicly funded school
121 readiness programs or services beyond those authorized by the
122 Legislature.
123 (4) OFFICE OF EARLY LEARNING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
124 EDUCATION.—
125 (a) The Office of Early Learning shall administer school
126 readiness programs at the state level and shall coordinate with
127 the early learning coalitions in providing school readiness
128 services on a full-day, full-year, full-choice basis to the
129 extent possible in order to enable parents to work and be
130 financially self-sufficient.
131 (b) The Office of Early Learning shall:
132 1. Prioritize services to eligible children from birth to
133 kindergarten.
134 2.1. Coordinate the birth-to-kindergarten services for
135 children who are eligible under subsection (6) and the
136 programmatic, administrative, and fiscal standards under this
137 section for all public providers of school readiness programs.
138 3.2. Focus on improving the educational quality of all
139 program providers participating in publicly funded school
140 readiness programs.
141 4.3. Provide comprehensive services to the state’s birth
142 to-5 population, which shall ensure the preservation of parental
143 choice by permitting parents to choose from a variety of child
144 care categories, including: center-based child care; group home
145 child care; family child care; and in-home child care. Care and
146 curriculum by a sectarian provider may not be limited or
147 excluded in any of these categories.
148 (c) The Governor shall designate the Office of Early
149 Learning as the lead agency for administration of the federal
150 Child Care and Development Fund, 45 C.F.R. parts 98 and 99, and
151 the office shall comply with the lead agency responsibilities
152 under federal law.
153 (d) The Office of Early Learning shall:
154 1. Be responsible for the prudent use of all public and
155 private funds in accordance with all legal and contractual
156 requirements.
157 2. Adopt a uniform chart of accounts for budgeting and
158 financial reporting which provides standard definitions for
159 expenditures and reports for each of the following categories:
160 a. Direct expenditures for services to children;
161 b. Administrative costs;
162 c. Nondirect expenditures; and
163 d. Quality.
164 3.2. Provide final approval and every 2 years review early
165 learning coalitions and school readiness plans.
166 4.3. Establish a unified approach to the state’s efforts
167 toward enhancement of school readiness. In support of this
168 effort, the Office of Early Learning shall adopt specific system
169 support services that address the state’s school readiness
170 programs. An early learning coalition shall amend its school
171 readiness plan to conform to the specific system support
172 services adopted by the Office of Early Learning. System support
173 services shall include, but are not limited to:
174 a. Child care resource and referral services;
175 b. Warm-Line services;
176 c. Eligibility determinations;
177 d. Child performance standards;
178 e. Child screening and assessment;
179 f. Developmentally appropriate curricula;
180 g. Health and safety requirements;
181 h. Statewide data system requirements; and
182 i. Rating and improvement systems.
183 5.4. Safeguard the effective use of and prioritize federal
184 and, state funds for direct services, local, and private
185 resources to achieve the highest possible level of school
186 readiness for the children in this state.
187 6.5. Adopt a rule establishing criteria for the expenditure
188 of funds designated for the purpose of funding activities to
189 improve the quality of child care within the state in accordance
190 with s. 658G of the federal Child Care and Development Block
191 Grant Act.
192 7.6. Provide technical assistance to early learning
193 coalitions in a manner determined by the Office of Early
194 Learning based upon information obtained by the office from
195 various sources, including, but not limited to, public input,
196 government reports, private interest group reports, office
197 monitoring visits, and coalition requests for service.
198 8.7. In cooperation with the early learning coalitions,
199 coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
200 Department of Children and Family Services to minimize
201 duplicating interagency activities, health and safety
202 monitoring, and acquiring and composing data pertaining to child
203 care training and credentialing.
204 9.8. Develop and adopt performance standards and outcome
205 measures for school readiness programs. The performance
206 standards must address the age-appropriate progress of children
207 in the development of school readiness skills. The performance
208 standards for children from birth to 5 years of age in school
209 readiness programs must be integrated with the performance
210 standards adopted by the Department of Education for children in
211 the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program under s.
212 1002.67.
213 10. By July 1, 2013, identify a preassessment and
214 postassessment aligned with the performance standards adopted
215 under subparagraph 9. The preassessments and postassessments
216 shall begin immediately after adoption and shall be used by
217 school readiness program providers. The office shall collect the
218 results of the preassessments and postassessments statewide to
219 evaluate the effectiveness of the school readiness program. At a
220 minimum, a preassessment shall be administered to each child who
221 participates in a school readiness program within the first 45
222 days after enrollment. By May 30 of each year, a postassessment
223 shall be administered to each child who participates in a
224 provider’s program for at least the previous 6 months.
225 11.9. Adopt a statewide, standardized standard contract
226 that must be used by the coalitions when contracting with school
227 readiness providers. The office shall prohibit the coalitions
228 from adopting addenda to the contract.
229 12. Adopt a statewide, standardized contract monitoring
230 tool that must be used by each early learning coalition when
231 monitoring the compliance of school readiness providers under
232 the statewide, standardized contract adopted under subparagraph
233 11.
234 (e) The Office of Early Learning may adopt rules under ss.
235 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer the provisions of law
236 conferring duties upon the office, including, but not limited
237 to, rules governing the administration of system support
238 services of school readiness programs, the adoption of a uniform
239 chart of accounts, the adoption of a statewide, standardized
240 contract and standardized contract monitoring tool, the
241 collection of data, the approval of early learning coalitions
242 and school readiness plans, the provision of a method whereby an
243 early learning coalition may serve two or more counties, the
244 award of incentives to early learning coalitions, child
245 performance standards, child outcome measures, the issuance of
246 waivers, and the implementation of the state’s Child Care and
247 Development Fund Plan as approved by the federal Administration
248 for Children and Families.
249 (f) The Office of Early Learning shall have all powers
250 necessary to administer this section, including, but not limited
251 to, the power to receive and accept grants, loans, or advances
252 of funds from any public or private agency and to receive and
253 accept from any source contributions of money, property, labor,
254 or any other thing of value, to be held, used, and applied for
255 purposes of this section.
256 (g) Except as provided by law, the Office of Early Learning
257 may not impose requirements on a child care or early childhood
258 education provider that does not deliver services under the
259 school readiness programs or receive state or federal funds
260 under this section.
261 (h) The Office of Early Learning shall have a budget for
262 school readiness programs, which shall be financed through an
263 annual appropriation made for purposes of this section in the
264 General Appropriations Act.
265 (i) The Office of Early Learning shall coordinate with
266 other state agencies to perform data matches on families
267 participating in the school readiness program in order to ensure
268 proper eligibility for the school readiness program.
269 (j)(i) The Office of Early Learning shall coordinate the
270 efforts toward school readiness in this state and provide
271 independent policy analyses, data analyses, and recommendations
272 to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the
273 Legislature.
274 (k)(j) The Office of Early Learning shall require that
275 school readiness programs, at a minimum, enhance the age
276 appropriate progress of each child in attaining the performance
277 standards adopted under subparagraph (d)9. (d)8. and in the
278 development of the following school readiness skills:
279 1. Compliance with rules, limitations, and routines.
280 2. Ability to perform tasks.
281 3. Interactions with adults.
282 4. Interactions with peers.
283 5. Ability to cope with challenges.
284 6. Self-help skills.
285 7. Ability to express the child’s needs.
286 8. Verbal communication skills.
287 9. Problem-solving skills.
288 10. Following of verbal directions.
289 11. Demonstration of curiosity, persistence, and
290 exploratory behavior.
291 12. Interest in books and other printed materials.
292 13. Paying attention to stories.
293 14. Participation in art and music activities.
294 15. Ability to identify colors, geometric shapes, letters
295 of the alphabet, numbers, and spatial and temporal
296 relationships.
297
298 Within 30 days after enrollment in the school readiness program,
299 the early learning coalition must ensure that the program
300 provider obtains information regarding the child’s
301 immunizations, physical development, and other health
302 requirements as necessary, including appropriate vision and
303 hearing screening and examinations. For a program provider
304 licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services, the
305 provider’s compliance with s. 402.305(9), as verified pursuant
306 to s. 402.311, shall satisfy this requirement.
307 (l)(k) The Office of Early Learning shall conduct studies
308 and planning activities related to the overall improvement and
309 effectiveness of the outcome measures adopted by the office for
310 school readiness programs and the specific system support
311 services to address the state’s school readiness programs
312 adopted by the Office of Early Learning in accordance with
313 subparagraph (d)4. (d)3.
314 (m)(l) The Office of Early Learning shall monitor and
315 evaluate the performance of each early learning coalition in
316 administering the school readiness program, implementing the
317 coalition’s school readiness plan, and administering the
318 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. These monitoring
319 and performance evaluations must include, at a minimum, onsite
320 monitoring of each coalition’s finances, management, operations,
321 and programs.
322 (n)(m) The Office of Early Learning shall submit an annual
323 report of its activities conducted under this section to the
324 Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House
325 of Representatives, and the minority leaders of both houses of
326 the Legislature. In addition, the Office of Early Learning’s
327 reports and recommendations shall be made available to the
328 Florida Early Learning Advisory Council and other appropriate
329 state agencies and entities. The annual report must provide an
330 analysis of school readiness activities across the state,
331 including the number of children who were served in the
332 programs.
333 (o)(n) The Office of Early Learning shall work with the
334 early learning coalitions to ensure availability of training and
335 support for parental involvement in children’s early education
336 and to provide family literacy activities and services.
337 (5) CREATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITIONS.—
338 (a) Early learning coalitions.—
339 1. Each early learning coalition shall maintain direct
340 enhancement services at the local level and ensure access to
341 such services in all 67 counties.
342 2. The Office of Early Learning shall establish the minimum
343 number of children to be served by each early learning coalition
344 through the coalition’s school readiness program. The Office of
345 Early Learning may only approve school readiness plans in
346 accordance with this minimum number. The minimum number must be
347 uniform for every early learning coalition and must:
348 a. Permit 31 or fewer coalitions to be established; and
349 b. Require each coalition to serve at least 1,700 2,000
350 children based upon the average number of all children served
351 per month through the coalition’s school readiness program
352 during the previous 12 months.
353 3. If an early learning coalition would serve fewer
354 children than the minimum number established under subparagraph
355 2., the coalition must merge with another county to form a
356 multicounty coalition. The Office of Early Learning shall adopt
357 procedures for merging early learning coalitions, including
358 procedures for the consolidation of merging coalitions, and for
359 the early termination of the terms of coalition members which
360 are necessary to accomplish the mergers. However, the Office of
361 Early Learning shall grant a waiver to an early learning
362 coalition to serve fewer children than the minimum number
363 established under subparagraph 2., if:
364 a. The Office of Early Learning has determined during the
365 most recent review of the coalition’s school readiness plan, or
366 through monitoring and performance evaluations conducted under
367 paragraph (4)(l), that the coalition has substantially
368 implemented its plan;
369 b. The coalition demonstrates to the Office of Early
370 Learning the coalition’s ability to effectively and efficiently
371 implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program; and
372 c. The coalition demonstrates to the Office of Early
373 Learning that the coalition can perform its duties in accordance
374 with law.
375
376 If an early learning coalition fails or refuses to merge as
377 required by this subparagraph, the Office of Early Learning may
378 dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified
379 entity to continue school readiness and prekindergarten services
380 in the coalition’s county or multicounty region until the office
381 reestablishes the coalition and a new school readiness plan is
382 approved by the office.
383 4. Each early learning coalition shall be composed of at
384 least 15 members but not more than 30 members. The Office of
385 Early Learning shall adopt standards establishing within this
386 range the minimum and maximum number of members that may be
387 appointed to an early learning coalition and procedures for
388 identifying which members have voting privileges under
389 subparagraph 6. These standards must include variations for a
390 coalition serving a multicounty region. Each early learning
391 coalition must comply with these standards.
392 5. The Governor shall appoint the chair and two other
393 members of each early learning coalition, who must each meet the
394 same qualifications as private sector business members appointed
395 by the coalition under subparagraph 7.
396 6. Each early learning coalition must include the following
397 member positions; however, in a multicounty coalition, each ex
398 officio member position may be filled by multiple nonvoting
399 members but no more than one voting member shall be seated per
400 member position. If an early learning coalition has more than
401 one member representing the same entity, only one of such
402 members may serve as a voting member:
403 a. A Department of Children and Family Services circuit
404 administrator or his or her designee who is authorized to make
405 decisions on behalf of the department.
406 b. A district superintendent of schools or his or her
407 designee who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the
408 district.
409 c. A regional workforce board executive director or his or
410 her designee.
411 d. A county health department director or his or her
412 designee.
413 e. A children’s services council or juvenile welfare board
414 chair or executive director, if applicable.
415 f. An agency head of a local licensing agency as defined in
416 s. 402.302, where applicable.
417 g. A president of a community college or his or her
418 designee.
419 h. One member appointed by a board of county commissioners
420 or the governing board of a municipality.
421 i. A central agency administrator, where applicable.
422 j. A Head Start director.
423 k. A representative of private for-profit child care
424 providers, including private for-profit family day care homes.
425 l. A representative of faith-based child care providers.
426 m. A representative of programs for children with
427 disabilities under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
428 Education Act.
429 7. Including the members appointed by the Governor under
430 subparagraph 5., more than one-third of the members of each
431 early learning coalition must be private sector business members
432 who do not have, and none of whose relatives as defined in s.
433 112.3143 has, a substantial financial interest in the design or
434 delivery of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program
435 created under part V of chapter 1002 or the coalition’s school
436 readiness program. To meet this requirement an early learning
437 coalition must appoint additional members. The Office of Early
438 Learning shall establish criteria for appointing private sector
439 business members. These criteria must include standards for
440 determining whether a member or relative has a substantial
441 financial interest in the design or delivery of the Voluntary
442 Prekindergarten Education Program or the coalition’s school
443 readiness program.
444 8. A majority of the voting membership of an early learning
445 coalition constitutes a quorum required to conduct the business
446 of the coalition. An early learning coalition board may use any
447 method of telecommunications to conduct meetings, including
448 establishing a quorum through telecommunications, provided that
449 the public is given proper notice of a telecommunications
450 meeting and reasonable access to observe and, when appropriate,
451 participate.
452 9. A voting member of an early learning coalition may not
453 appoint a designee to act in his or her place, except as
454 otherwise provided in this paragraph. A voting member may send a
455 representative to coalition meetings, but that representative
456 does not have voting privileges. When a district administrator
457 for the Department of Children and Family Services appoints a
458 designee to an early learning coalition, the designee is the
459 voting member of the coalition, and any individual attending in
460 the designee’s place, including the district administrator, does
461 not have voting privileges.
462 10. Each member of an early learning coalition is subject
463 to ss. 112.313, 112.3135, and 112.3143. For purposes of s.
464 112.3143(3)(a), each voting member is a local public officer who
465 must abstain from voting when a voting conflict exists.
466 11. For purposes of tort liability, each member or employee
467 of an early learning coalition shall be governed by s. 768.28.
468 12. An early learning coalition serving a multicounty
469 region must include representation from each county.
470 13. Each early learning coalition shall establish terms for
471 all appointed members of the coalition. The terms must be
472 staggered and must be a uniform length that does not exceed 4
473 years per term. Coalition chairs shall be appointed for 4 years
474 in conjunction with their membership on the Early Learning
475 Advisory Council under s. 20.052. Appointed members may serve a
476 maximum of two consecutive terms. When a vacancy occurs in an
477 appointed position, the coalition must advertise the vacancy.
478 (b) Limitation.—Except as provided by law, the early
479 learning coalitions may not impose requirements on a child care
480 or early childhood education provider that does not deliver
481 services under the school readiness programs or receive state,
482 federal, required maintenance of effort, or matching funds under
483 this section.
484 (c) Program expectations.—
485 1. The school readiness program must meet the following
486 expectations:
487 a. The program must, at a minimum, enhance the age
488 appropriate progress of each child in attaining the performance
489 standards and outcome measures adopted by the Office of Early
490 Learning.
491 b. The program must provide extended-day and extended-year
492 services to the maximum extent possible without compromising the
493 quality of the program to meet the needs of parents who work.
494 c. The program must provide a coordinated professional
495 development system that supports the achievement and maintenance
496 of core competencies by school readiness instructors in helping
497 children attain the performance standards and outcome measures
498 adopted by the Office of Early Learning.
499 d. There must be expanded access to community services and
500 resources for families to help achieve economic self
501 sufficiency.
502 e. There must be a single point of entry and unified
503 waiting list. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term “single
504 point of entry” means an integrated information system that
505 allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school
506 readiness program at various locations throughout a county, that
507 may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone or
508 through an Internet website, and that uses a unified waiting
509 list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the
510 school readiness program. The Office of Early Learning shall
511 establish through technology a single statewide information
512 system that each coalition must use for the purposes of managing
513 the single point of entry, tracking children’s progress,
514 coordinating services among stakeholders, determining
515 eligibility, tracking child attendance, and streamlining
516 administrative processes for providers and early learning
517 coalitions.
518 f. The Office of Early Learning must consider the access of
519 eligible children to the school readiness program, as
520 demonstrated in part by waiting lists, before approving a
521 proposed increase in payment rates submitted by an early
522 learning coalition. In addition, early learning coalitions shall
523 use school readiness funds made available due to enrollment
524 shifts from school readiness programs to the Voluntary
525 Prekindergarten Education Program for increasing the number of
526 children served in school readiness programs before increasing
527 payment rates.
528 f.g. The program must meet all state licensing guidelines,
529 where applicable.
530 g.h. The program must ensure that minimum standards for
531 child discipline practices are age-appropriate. Such standards
532 must provide that children not be subjected to discipline that
533 is severe, humiliating, or frightening or discipline that is
534 associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other
535 form of physical punishment is prohibited.
536 2. Each early learning coalition must implement a
537 comprehensive program of school readiness services in accordance
538 with the rules adopted by the office which enhance the
539 cognitive, social, and physical development of children to
540 achieve the performance standards and outcome measures. At a
541 minimum, these programs must contain the following system
542 support service elements:
543 a. Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to
544 enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining
545 the performance standards adopted by the Office of Early
546 Learning under subparagraph (4)(d)9 (4)(d)8.
547 b. A character development program to develop basic values.
548 c. An age-appropriate screening of each child’s
549 development.
550 d. An age-appropriate preassessment and postassessment of
551 children as provided in subsection (4) assessment administered
552 to children when they enter a program and an age-appropriate
553 assessment administered to children when they leave the program.
554 e. An appropriate staff-to-children ratio, pursuant to s.
555 402.305(4) or s. 402.302(8) or (11), as applicable, and as
556 verified pursuant to s. 402.311.
557 f. A healthy and safe environment pursuant to s.
558 401.305(5), (6), and (7), as applicable, and as verified
559 pursuant to s. 402.311.
560 g. A resource and referral network established under s.
561 411.0101 to assist parents in making an informed choice and a
562 regional Warm-Line under s. 411.01015.
563
564 The Office of Early Learning and early learning coalitions shall
565 coordinate with the Child Care Services Program Office of the
566 Department of Children and Family Services to minimize
567 duplicating interagency activities pertaining to acquiring and
568 composing data for child care training and credentialing.
569 (d) Implementation.—
570 1. An early learning coalition may not implement the school
571 readiness program until the coalition’s school readiness plan is
572 approved by the Office of Early Learning.
573 2. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with one
574 another to implement a comprehensive program of school readiness
575 services which enhances the cognitive, social, physical, and
576 moral character of the children to achieve the performance
577 standards and outcome measures and which helps families achieve
578 economic self-sufficiency. Such program must contain, at a
579 minimum, the following elements:
580 a. Implement the school readiness program to meet the
581 requirements of this section and the system support services,
582 performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by the
583 Office of Early Learning.
584 b. Demonstrate how the program will ensure that each child
585 from birth through 5 years of age in a publicly funded school
586 readiness program receives scheduled activities and instruction
587 designed to enhance the age-appropriate progress of the children
588 in attaining the performance standards adopted by the department
589 under subparagraph (4)(d)9 (4)(d)8.
590 c. Ensure that the coalition has solicited and considered
591 comments regarding the proposed school readiness plan from the
592 local community.
593
594 Before implementing the school readiness program, the early
595 learning coalition must submit the plan to the office for
596 approval. The office may approve the plan, reject the plan, or
597 approve the plan with conditions. The office shall review school
598 readiness plans at least every 2 years.
599 3. If the Office of Early Learning determines during the
600 review of school readiness plans, or through monitoring and
601 performance evaluations conducted under paragraph (4)(m) (4)(l),
602 that an early learning coalition has not substantially
603 implemented its plan, has not substantially met the performance
604 standards and outcome measures adopted by the office, or has not
605 effectively administered the school readiness program or
606 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, the office may
607 dissolve the coalition and temporarily contract with a qualified
608 entity to continue school readiness and prekindergarten services
609 in the coalition’s county or multicounty region until the office
610 reestablishes the coalition and a new school readiness plan is
611 approved in accordance with the rules adopted by the office.
612 4. The Office of Early Learning shall adopt rules
613 establishing criteria for the approval of school readiness
614 plans. The criteria must be consistent with the system support
615 services, performance standards, and outcome measures adopted by
616 the office and must require each approved plan to include the
617 following minimum standards for the school readiness program:
618 a. A community plan that addresses the needs of all
619 children and providers within the coalition’s county or
620 multicounty region.
621 b. Require a parent copayment of at least 10 percent of a
622 family’s income A sliding fee scale establishing a copayment for
623 parents based upon their ability to pay, which is the same for
624 all program providers. An early learning coalition may grant a
625 waiver from the required parent copayment on a case-by-case
626 basis and in accordance with federal law.
627 c. A choice of settings and locations in licensed,
628 registered, religious-exempt, or school-based programs to be
629 provided to parents.
630 d. Specific eligibility priorities for children in
631 accordance with subsection (6).
632 e. Performance standards and outcome measures adopted by
633 the office.
634 f. Payment rates adopted by the early learning coalitions
635 and approved by the office. Payment rates may not have the
636 effect of limiting parental choice or creating standards or
637 levels of services that have not been expressly established by
638 the Legislature, unless the creation of such standards or levels
639 of service, which must be uniform throughout the state, has been
640 approved by the Federal Government and result in the state being
641 eligible to receive additional federal funds available for early
642 learning on a statewide basis.
643 f.g. Direct enhancement services for families and children.
644 System support and direct enhancement services shall be in
645 addition to payments for the placement of children in school
646 readiness programs. Direct enhancement services for families may
647 include parent training and involvement activities and
648 strategies to meet the needs of unique populations and local
649 eligibility priorities. Enhancement services for children may
650 include provider supports and professional development approved
651 in the plan by the Office of Early Learning.
652 g.h. The business organization of the early learning
653 coalition, which must include the coalition’s articles of
654 incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a
655 corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a corporation
656 or other business entity, the plan must include the contract
657 with a fiscal agent. An early learning coalition may contract
658 with other coalitions to achieve efficiency in multicounty
659 services, and these contracts may be part of the coalition’s
660 school readiness plan.
661 h.i. The implementation of locally developed quality
662 programs in accordance with the requirements adopted by the
663 office under subparagraph (4)(d)6 (4)(d)5.
664
665 The Office of Early Learning may request the Governor to apply
666 for a waiver to allow the coalition to administer the Head Start
667 Program to accomplish the purposes of the school readiness
668 program.
669 5. Persons with an early childhood teaching certificate may
670 provide support and supervision to other staff in the school
671 readiness program.
672 6. An early learning coalition may not implement its school
673 readiness plan until it submits the plan to and receives
674 approval from the Office of Early Learning. Once the plan is
675 approved, the plan and the services provided under the plan
676 shall be controlled by the early learning coalition. The plan
677 shall be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least
678 biennially. An early learning coalition may not implement the
679 revisions until the coalition submits the revised plan to and
680 receives approval from the office. If the office rejects a
681 revised plan, the coalition must continue to operate under its
682 prior approved plan.
683 7. Section 125.901(2)(a)3. does not apply to school
684 readiness programs. The Office of Early Learning may apply to
685 the Governor and Cabinet for a waiver of, and the Governor and
686 Cabinet may waive, any of the provisions of ss. 411.223 and
687 1003.54, if the waiver is necessary for implementation of school
688 readiness programs.
689 8. Two or more early learning coalitions may join for
690 purposes of planning and implementing a school readiness
691 program.
692 (e) Requests for proposals; payment schedule.—
693 1. Each early learning coalition must comply with the
694 procurement and expenditure procedures adopted by the Office of
695 Early Learning, including, but not limited to, applying the
696 procurement and expenditure procedures required by federal law
697 for the expenditure of federal funds.
698 2. Each early learning coalition shall adopt a payment
699 schedule that encompasses all programs funded under this
700 section. The payment schedule must take into consideration the
701 prevailing market rate, must include the projected number of
702 children to be served, and must be submitted for approval by the
703 Office of Early Learning. Informal child care arrangements shall
704 be reimbursed at not more than 50 percent of the rate adopted
705 for a family day care home.
706 (f) Evaluation and annual report.—Each early learning
707 coalition shall conduct an evaluation of its implementation of
708 the school readiness program, including system support services,
709 performance standards, and outcome measures, and shall provide
710 an annual report and fiscal statement to the Office of Early
711 Learning. This report must also include an evaluation of the
712 effectiveness of its direct enhancement services and conform to
713 the content and format specifications adopted by the Office of
714 Early Learning. The Office of Early Learning must include an
715 analysis of the early learning coalitions’ reports in the
716 office’s annual report.
717 (6) PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY.—The school readiness program is
718 established for children from birth to the beginning of the
719 school year for which a child is eligible for admission to
720 kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. or who
721 are eligible for any federal subsidized child care program. Each
722 early learning coalition shall give priority for participation
723 in the school readiness program as follows:
724 (a) Priority shall be given first to a child from birth
725 through 12 years of age who is from a family in which there is
726 an adult receiving temporary cash assistance who is subject to
727 federal work requirements.
728 (b) Priority shall be given next to an at-risk a child from
729 birth through 12 years of age who is eligible for a school
730 readiness program but who has not yet entered school, who is
731 served by the Family Safety Program Office of the Department of
732 Children and Family Services or a community-based lead agency
733 under chapter 39 or chapter 409, and for whom child care is
734 needed to minimize risk of further abuse, neglect, or
735 abandonment.
736 (c) Priority shall be given next to a child from birth
737 through the beginning of the school year for which the child is
738 eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under
739 s. 1003.21(1)(a)2., who is from a working family that is
740 economically disadvantaged, including children of agricultural
741 workers. However, the child ceases to be eligible if his or her
742 family income exceeds 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
743 In addition, priority shall be given to a child who has special
744 needs, who is 3 through 5 years of age, who has been determined
745 eligible as a student with disabilities, and who has a current
746 individual education plan.
747 (d) Priority shall be given next to a child who is younger
748 than 13 years of age and who is a sibling of a child enrolled in
749 the school readiness program under paragraph (c).
750 (e) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(d), priority shall be
751 given last to a child who otherwise meets the eligibility
752 criteria in paragraph (c), but who is also enrolled concurrently
753 in the federal Head Start program and the Voluntary
754 Prekindergarten Education Program.
755
756 An early learning coalition may not disenroll any school
757 readiness child who is receiving services under the eligibility
758 priorities in effect on June 30, 2012, until such child is no
759 longer eligible under those priorities. An early learning
760 coalition shall enroll all eligible children, including those
761 from its waiting list, in accordance with the eligibility
762 priorities in this paragraph.
763 (c) Subsequent priority shall be given to a child who meets
764 one or more of the following criteria:
765 1. A child who is younger than the age of kindergarten
766 eligibility and:
767 a. Is at risk of welfare dependency, including an
768 economically disadvantaged child, a child of a participant in
769 the welfare transition program, a child of a migratory
770 agricultural worker, or a child of a teen parent.
771 b. Is a member of a working family that is economically
772 disadvantaged.
773 c. For whom financial assistance is provided through the
774 Relative Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085.
775 2. A 3-year-old child or 4-year-old child who may not be
776 economically disadvantaged but who has a disability; has been
777 served in a specific part-time exceptional education program or
778 a combination of part-time exceptional education programs with
779 required special services, aids, or equipment; and was
780 previously reported for funding part time under the Florida
781 Education Finance Program as an exceptional student.
782 3. An economically disadvantaged child, a child with a
783 disability, or a child at risk of future school failure, from
784 birth to 4 years of age, who is served at home through a home
785 visitor program and an intensive parent education program.
786 4. A child who meets federal and state eligibility
787 requirements for the migrant preschool program but who is not
788 economically disadvantaged.
789
790 As used in this paragraph, the term “economically disadvantaged”
791 means having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of
792 the federal poverty level. Notwithstanding any change in a
793 family’s economic status, but subject to additional family
794 contributions in accordance with the parent copayment under sub
795 subparagraph (5)(d)4.b. sliding fee scale, a child who meets the
796 eligibility requirements upon initial registration for the
797 program remains eligible until the beginning of the school year
798 for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in
799 a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2.
800 (7) PARENTAL CHOICE.—
801 (a) Parental choice of child care providers shall be
802 established, to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance
803 with 45 C.F.R. s. 98.30.
804 (b) As used in this subsection, the term “payment
805 certificate” means a child care certificate as defined in 45
806 C.F.R. s. 98.2.
807 (c) The school readiness program shall, in accordance with
808 45 C.F.R. s. 98.30, provide parental choice through a payment
809 certificate that ensures, to the maximum extent possible,
810 flexibility in the school readiness program and payment
811 arrangements. The payment certificate must bear the names of the
812 beneficiary and the program provider and, when redeemed, must
813 bear the signatures of both the beneficiary and an authorized
814 representative of the provider.
815 (d) If it is determined that a provider has given any cash
816 to the beneficiary in return for receiving a payment
817 certificate, the early learning coalition or its fiscal agent
818 shall refer the matter to the Department of Financial Services
819 pursuant to s. 414.411 for investigation.
820 (e) The office of the Chief Financial Officer shall
821 establish an electronic transfer system for the disbursement of
822 funds in accordance with this subsection. Each early learning
823 coalition shall fully implement the electronic funds transfer
824 system within 2 years after approval of the coalition’s school
825 readiness plan, unless a waiver is obtained from the Office of
826 Early Learning.
827 (8) STANDARDS; OUTCOME MEASURES.—A program provider
828 participating in the school readiness program must meet the
829 performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the Office
830 of Early Learning.
831 (9) FUNDING; SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM.—
832 (a) Funding for the school readiness program shall be
833 allocated among the early learning coalitions in accordance with
834 this section or as provided in the General Appropriations Act.
835 It is the intent of this section to establish an integrated and
836 quality seamless service delivery system for all publicly funded
837 early childhood education and child care programs operating in
838 this state.
839 (b)1. The Office of Early Learning shall administer school
840 readiness funds, plans, and policies and shall prepare and
841 submit a unified budget request for the school readiness system
842 in accordance with chapter 216.
843 2. All instructions to early learning coalitions for
844 administering this section shall emanate from the Office of
845 Early Learning in accordance with the policies of the
846 Legislature.
847 (c) The Office of Early Learning, subject to legislative
848 notice and review under s. 216.177, shall establish a formula
849 for the allocation of all state and federal school readiness
850 funds provided for children participating in the school
851 readiness program, whether served by a public or private
852 provider, based upon equity for each county. The allocation
853 formula must be submitted to the Governor, the chair of the
854 Senate Ways and Means Committee or its successor, and the chair
855 of the House of Representatives Fiscal Council or its successor
856 no later than January 1 of each year. If the Legislature
857 specifies changes to the allocation formula, the Office of Early
858 Learning shall allocate funds as specified in the General
859 Appropriations Act.
860 (d) All state, federal, and required local maintenance-of
861 effort or matching funds provided to an early learning coalition
862 for purposes of this section shall be used for implementation of
863 its approved school readiness plan, including the hiring of
864 staff to effectively operate the coalition’s school readiness
865 program. As part of plan approval and periodic plan review, the
866 Office of Early Learning shall require that administrative costs
867 be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and effective
868 administration of the school readiness plan, but no more than 18
869 percent may be used for administrative, nondirect, and quality
870 expenditures, of which the total administrative expenditures
871 must not exceed 4 5 percent unless specifically waived by the
872 Office of Early Learning. The Office of Early Learning may
873 provide a waiver of this limitation to an early learning
874 coalition during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years if the
875 early learning coalition provides adequate documentation
876 justifying why it could not meet this limitation. The Office of
877 Early Learning shall annually report to the Legislature any
878 problems relating to administrative costs.
879 (e) For each early learning coalition, the Office of Early
880 Learning shall adopt payment rates for school readiness
881 providers based on the prevailing market rate schedule
882 calculated under s. 411.01013. By July 1, 2015, the Office of
883 Early Learning shall ensure that the payment rates are uniform
884 statewide by care level and provider type. Each school readiness
885 provider payment shall be based on the uniform statewide rate
886 multiplied by the district cost differential as determined in s.
887 1011.62(2) for the county in which the school readiness provider
888 is located.
889 (f)(e) The Office of Early Learning shall annually
890 distribute, to a maximum extent practicable, all eligible funds
891 provided under this section as block grants to the early
892 learning coalitions in accordance with the terms and conditions
893 specified by the office.
894 (g)(f) State funds appropriated for the school readiness
895 program may not be used for the construction of new facilities
896 or the purchase of buses.
897 (h)(g) All cost savings and all revenues received through a
898 mandatory parent copayment sliding fee scale shall be used to
899 help fund each early learning coalition’s school readiness
900 program.
901 (10) CONFLICTING PROVISIONS.—If a conflict exists between
902 this section and federal requirements, the federal requirements
903 control.
904 (11) INVESTIGATIONS OF FRAUD OR OVERPAYMENT; PENALTIES.—
905 (a) The Office of Early Learning may investigate early
906 learning coalitions, recipients, and providers of the school
907 readiness program. While conducting such investigation, the
908 office may examine all records, including electronic benefits
909 transfer records and make inquiry of all persons who may have
910 knowledge as to any irregularity incidental to the disbursement
911 of public moneys or other items or benefits authorizations to
912 recipients. All school readiness recipients, as a condition
913 precedent to qualification for public assistance under this
914 chapter, must give in writing, on a form prescribed by rule of
915 the Office of Early Learning, to the early learning coalition
916 and to the Office of Early Learning, consent to make inquiry of
917 past or present employers and records, financial or otherwise.
918 (b) The Office of Early Learning may employ persons having
919 qualifications that are useful in conducting an investigation
920 authorized under this subsection.
921 (c) The results of the investigation shall be reported by
922 the Office of Early Learning to the appropriate legislative
923 committees, the Department of Education, the Department of
924 Financial Services, the Department of Children and Family
925 Services, and to such others as the office may determine
926 appropriate.
927 (d) The Department of Financial Services, the Department of
928 Education, and the Department of Children and Family Services
929 shall report to the Office of Early Learning the final
930 disposition of all cases wherein action has been taken, whether
931 criminal, civil, or administrative, based upon information
932 furnished by the Office of Early Learning.
933 (e) All lawful fees and expenses of officers and witnesses,
934 expenses incident to taking testimony and transcripts of
935 testimony, and proceedings are a proper charge to the Office of
936 Early Learning.
937 (f) This subsection shall be liberally construed in order
938 to effectively carry out the purposes of this subsection in the
939 interest of protecting public moneys and other public property.
940 (g) Based on the results of the investigation, in addition
941 to the reporting requirement in paragraph (c), the Office of
942 Early Learning may refer the investigation for criminal
943 prosecution, seek civil enforcement, or refer the matter to the
944 applicable early learning coalition.
945 (h) When the early learning coalition receives the referral
946 described in paragraph (g), the early learning coalition may
947 pursue reimbursement through the court system, suspend or deny
948 the provider or client from further participation in the school
949 readiness program, or create a repayment plan or other
950 appropriate civil or administrative remedies.
951 (i) If an early learning coalition or other subrecipient
952 reviews and determines that a school readiness provider has
953 fraudulently misrepresented enrollment or attendance in order to
954 receive funds related to the school readiness program, the early
955 learning coalition or other subrecipient may not contract or use
956 the services of that provider for a minimum of 3 years after
957 such determination.
958 (j) If a school readiness provider, after the investigation
959 and adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction, has been
960 convicted of fraudulently misrepresenting eligibility,
961 enrollment, or attendance related to the school readiness
962 program, the early learning coalition shall permanently refrain
963 from contracting with, or using the services of, that provider.
964 (k) As a condition of school readiness eligibility, subject
965 to federal approval, a school readiness recipient shall agree in
966 writing to forfeit all entitlements to any goods or services
967 provided through the school readiness program for 3 years if the
968 school readiness recipient has been found to have committed
969 public assistance fraud, through judicial or administrative
970 determination. This paragraph applies only to the school
971 readiness recipient found to have committed or participated in
972 public assistance fraud and does not apply to any family member
973 of the recipient who was not involved in the fraud.
974 (11) SUBSTITUTE INSTRUCTORS.—Each school district shall
975 make a list of all individuals currently eligible to act as a
976 substitute teacher within the county pursuant to the rules
977 adopted by the school district pursuant to s. 1012.35 available
978 to an early learning coalition serving students within the
979 school district. Child care facilities, as defined by s.
980 402.302, may employ individuals listed as substitute instructors
981 for the purpose of offering the school readiness program, the
982 Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, and all other
983 legally operating child care programs.
984 Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 411.0101, Florida
985 Statutes, is amended to read:
986 411.0101 Child care and early childhood resource and
987 referral.—
988 (1) As a part of the school readiness programs, the Office
989 of Early Learning shall establish a statewide child care
990 resource and referral network that is unbiased and provides
991 referrals to families for child care. Preference shall be given
992 to using the already established early learning coalitions as
993 the child care resource and referral agencies. If an early
994 learning coalition cannot comply with the requirements to offer
995 the resource information component or does not want to offer
996 that service, the early learning coalition shall select the
997 resource and referral agency for its county or multicounty
998 region based upon a request for proposal pursuant to s.
999 411.01(5)(e) 411.01(5)(e)1.
1000 Section 3. Section 411.01013, Florida Statutes, is amended
1001 to read:
1002 411.01013 Prevailing market rate schedule.—
1003 (1) As used in this section, the term:
1004 (a) “Market rate” means the price that a child care
1005 provider charges for daily, weekly, or monthly child care
1006 services.
1007 (b) “Prevailing market rate” means the annually determined
1008 75th percentile of a reasonable frequency distribution of the
1009 market rate in a predetermined geographic market at which child
1010 care providers charge a person for child care services.
1011 (1)(2) The Office of Early Learning shall establish
1012 procedures for the adoption of a prevailing market rate
1013 schedule. The schedule must include, at a minimum, county-by
1014 county rates:
1015 (a) At the prevailing market rate, plus the maximum rate,
1016 for child care providers that hold a Gold Seal Quality Care
1017 designation under s. 402.281.
1018 (b) At the prevailing market rate for child care providers
1019 that do not hold a Gold Seal Quality Care designation.
1020 (3) The prevailing market rate schedule, at a minimum,
1021 must:
1022 (a) Differentiate rates by type, including, but not limited
1023 to, a child care provider that holds a Gold Seal Quality Care
1024 designation under s. 402.281, a child care facility licensed
1025 under s. 402.305, a public or nonpublic school exempt from
1026 licensure under s. 402.3025, a faith-based child care facility
1027 exempt from licensure under s. 402.316 that does not hold a Gold
1028 Seal Quality Care designation, a large family child care home
1029 licensed under s. 402.3131, or a family day care home licensed
1030 or registered under s. 402.313.
1031 (b) Differentiate rates by the type of child care services
1032 provided for children with special needs or risk categories,
1033 infants, toddlers, preschool-age children, and school-age
1034 children.
1035 (c) Differentiate rates between full-time and part-time
1036 child care services.
1037 (d) Consider discounted rates for child care services for
1038 multiple children in a single family.
1039 (2)(4) The prevailing market rate schedule must be based
1040 exclusively on the prices charged for child care services. If a
1041 conflict exists between this subsection and federal
1042 requirements, the federal requirements shall control.
1043 (3)(5) Each child care and early childhood education
1044 provider that receives school readiness funds must submit its
1045 market rate by August 1 of each year to the Office of Early
1046 Learning for inclusion in the calculation of the prevailing
1047 market rate schedule. The prevailing market rate shall be
1048 considered by an early learning coalition in the adoption of a
1049 payment schedule in accordance with s. 411.01(5)(e)2.
1050 (4)(6) The office of Early Learning may contract with one
1051 or more qualified entities to administer this section and
1052 provide support and technical assistance for child care
1053 providers.
1054 (5)(7) The office of Early Learning may adopt rules
1055 pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 for establishing
1056 procedures for the collection of child care providers’ market
1057 rate, the calculation of a reasonable frequency distribution of
1058 the market rate, and the publication of a prevailing market rate
1059 schedule.
1060 Section 4. Section 411.0106, Florida Statutes, is amended
1061 to read:
1062 411.0106 Infants and toddlers in state-funded education and
1063 care programs; brain development activities.—Each state-funded
1064 education and care program for children from birth to 5 years of
1065 age must provide activities to foster brain development in
1066 infants and toddlers. A program must provide an environment that
1067 helps children attain the performance standards adopted by the
1068 Office of Early Learning under s. 411.01(4)(d)9. 411.01(4)(d)8.
1069 and must be rich in language and music and filled with objects
1070 of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to stimulate
1071 visual, tactile, auditory, and linguistic senses in the children
1072 and must include classical music and at least 30 minutes of
1073 reading to the children each day. A program may be offered
1074 through an existing early childhood program such as Healthy
1075 Start, the Title I program, the school readiness program, the
1076 Head Start program, or a private child care program. A program
1077 must provide training for the infants’ and toddlers’ parents
1078 including direct dialogue and interaction between teachers and
1079 parents demonstrating the urgency of brain development in the
1080 first year of a child’s life. Family day care centers are
1081 encouraged, but not required, to comply with this section.
1082 Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 1002.71, Florida
1083 Statutes, is amended to read:
1084 1002.71 Funding; financial and attendance reporting.—
1085 (4) Notwithstanding s. 1002.53(3) and subsection (2):
1086 (a) A child who, for any of the prekindergarten programs
1087 listed in s. 1002.53(3), has not completed more than 70 percent
1088 of the hours authorized to be reported for funding under
1089 subsection (2), or has not expended more than 70 percent of the
1090 funds authorized for the child under s. 1002.66, may withdraw
1091 from the program for good cause and reenroll in one of the
1092 programs. The total funding for a child who reenrolls in one of
1093 the programs for good cause may not exceed one full-time
1094 equivalent student. Funding for a child who withdraws and
1095 reenrolls in one of the programs for good cause shall be issued
1096 in accordance with the Office of Early Learning’s uniform
1097 attendance policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (6)(d).
1098 (b) A child who has not substantially completed any of the
1099 prekindergarten programs listed in s. 1002.53(3) may withdraw
1100 from the program due to an extreme hardship that is beyond the
1101 child’s or parent’s control, reenroll in one of the summer
1102 programs, and be reported for funding purposes as a full-time
1103 equivalent student in the summer program for which the child is
1104 reenrolled.
1105
1106 A child may reenroll only once in a prekindergarten program
1107 under this section. A child who reenrolls in a prekindergarten
1108 program under this subsection may not subsequently withdraw from
1109 the program and reenroll, unless the child is granted a good
1110 cause exemption under this subsection. The Office of Early
1111 Learning shall establish criteria specifying whether a good
1112 cause exists for a child to withdraw from a program under
1113 paragraph (a), whether a child has substantially completed a
1114 program under paragraph (b), and whether an extreme hardship
1115 exists which is beyond the child’s or parent’s control under
1116 paragraph (b). The Office of Early Learning shall also establish
1117 criteria for granting a good cause exemption under this
1118 subsection.
1119 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.