In a recent random survey, you have asked us for more legislative updates and information. We will be updating this page regularly. Please visit often for updated information. Below are a few actions we have been taking on behalf of your industry and businesses.
FACCM has been working on the proposed rules for the VPK Improvement Plans for low performing schools. We have been in dialogue with AWI and have noted the following concerns, thoughts and observations regarding the proposed rules.
- time frames for submitting improvement plans are not appropriate
- coalitions being able to withhold funds until improvement plans were approved are not in the best interest of providers
- some of the language concerning the needs assessment needs to be more concise
- the fact there was no provision for an appeals process needs to be addressed.
These points were all raised in a conference call with AWI. The agency staff took all these points on board and will alter and make additions to some of the language. We are waiting for new proposed rules to be published.
In a meeting with DOE Office of Early Learning a couple of weeks ago, FACCM suggested that DOE organize some statewide trainings on Dibels and ECHOS for preK teachers, on the lines of the material that has been going out in SEEDLINGS. We would do the CEUS and be named as partners in these trainings. DOE was very interested. We will keep you informed. FACCM is currently involved in discussions with various State agencies and early childhood advocates to identify inefficiencies in State run programs and to talk about funding priorities.
Below is the letter that has been sent to lead policy makers regarding potential cuts of budgets that affect our industry. There will be more information on this as we approach the upcoming special session later in September. This special session has just been postponed due to the House and Senate's different approaches to spreading the load of the cuts.
Your professional organization always appreciates input from members. Please call us at the FACCM Office to let us know any concerns or suggestions you may have.
All the very best.
Your Legislative Committee
Letter to the Governor and key policy makers
The following letter has been sent to the Governor and key policy makers throughout the State of Florida to express concern over proposed budget cuts.
View the letter here (pdf)
Florida State Statute Section 402 Child Care
Florida's licensed child care industry is governed under Section 402 of the Florida State Statutes. The Florida Department of Children and Families has the statutory responsibility to provide administration of the program in 60 of the 67 counties. Seven counties have designated a local licensing agency to provide regulation to the child care industry.
Those counties include Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Pinellas and Sarasota.
Use the following Department of Children and Families link to view the laws pertaining to child care in Florida. Please be advised this document
contains a total of 37 pages and could take time to download or print.
Florida State Statutes Sections 402.26 - 402.319 (pdf)
Chapter 65C-22, Florida Administrative Code Child Care Standards
Please use the following link to view the requirements needed to operate a
child care facility. This link will provide you with necessary information
for an application; staff training, minimum age of staff, staff to child
ratios, other personel requirements, requirements regarding the physical
child care enviroment, records needed for both staff and children as well as
requirements in regards to health, safety, transportation, food and
nutrition, the transportation of children and requirements needed for
evening care.
Please use the Department of Families and Children link to view what is
required per the Florida Administrative Code for Child Care Standards:
65C-22.pdf
VPK PROVIDER READINESS RATE
The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates have been released and can be viewed by going to the following link:
vpk.fldoe.org/Default.aspx
The State Board of Education is scheduled to set the minimum readiness rate at their next meeting in June. By Florida Statue no more than 15% of all VPK providers can fall below the 15% readiness rate. The following are a list of Frequesntly Asked Questions regarding the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate. This page also provides links to view the Florida Statue that governs the Readiness Rate.
VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate Provided by the Department of Education Office of Early Learning
1. What is the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate?
The Florida Department of Education/State Board of Education is required by law (Section 1002.69(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.)) to calculate a kindergarten readiness rate every year for each private or public school VPK Provider of either the School-Year (540-hour) or Summer (300-hour) program.
The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate measures how well a VPK provider prepares four-year-olds to be ready for kindergarten based upon Florida’s VPK Education Standards. The VPK Standards describe what four-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of the VPK experience.
2. What information is used to calculate the readiness rate?
The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate is based on the scores of children who attended VPK and who are screened upon entry into kindergarten. The screening is administered by the district public schools for all public school kindergarten students. Children who participated in VPK and attended a non-public school for kindergarten were also provided the opportunity to participate in the screening.
FLORIDA KINDERGARTEN READINESS SCREENER (FLKRS)
3. What screener is administered?
The Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) is made up of a subset of the Early Childhood Observation System (ECHOS), an observational instrument that is used to monitor the skills, knowledge, and behaviors a student demonstrates or needs to develop; and two probes of the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), Letter Naming Fluency (LNF) and Initial Sound Fluency (ISF).
4. How is a child’s readiness for kindergarten determined by the three FLKRS measures?
Readiness for Kindergarten has been determined to be the following:
- ECHOS scores: Consistently Demonstrating or Emerging/Progressing
- DIBELS LNF and ISF scores: Above Average or Low Risk.
5. How will these scores be used to calculate the VPK Providers Kindergarten Readiness Rate?
The percent of children ready for kindergarten on each of the three measures is calculated by dividing the number of children who score at or above the levels for readiness on each measure by the number of children screened on each measure.
For example, if, out of a total of 22 children served by a VPK provider, 22 children are screened on the ECHOS and 22 score "ready," 22 divided by 22 equals 100-percent. If 20 children are screened on DIBELS LNF, and 15 are "ready," 15 divided by 20 equals 75-percent; and if 20 are screened on DIBELS ISF, and 12 are "ready," 12 divided by 20 equals 60-percent.
The sum of the percent of children ready for kindergarten is the Readiness Rate. In the example above, the sum of the percent of children ready (100 + 75 + 60) equals a readiness rate of 235. The maximum rate is 300.
LOW PERFORMING PROVIDERS
6. How is the minimum readiness rate determined?
After the readiness rate has been calculated for all providers, the State Board of Education will set the minimum readiness rate so that no more than 15-percent of all VPK providers would fall below the minimum rate (see Section 1002.69(6), F.S.).
7. What is a Low Performing Provider?
A Low Performing Provider is a VPK provider whose readiness rate is at or below the bottom 15-percent of all providers' readiness rates.
8. How will a Low Performing Provider be notified?
Low Performing Providers be notified by mail and will be required to acknowledge receipt of this designation online.
9. Are all VPK Providers included in the readiness rate?
All providers who served at least four children who substantially completed either the School-Year or Summer program and participated in the kindergarten screening are included in the readiness rate calculation.
10. What about the VPK Providers who aren’t included in the VPK Readiness Rate?
All 2005-06 VPK Providers will be listed when the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates are released. If a provider did not receive a readiness rate because either fewer than four children were served or fewer than four children were screened on any of the three FLKRS measures, this will be displayed.
The VPK Provider Improvement Process shall include the provision of assistance to VPK Providers who did not receive a readiness rate.
IMPROVEMENT PROCESS
11. Who is required to submit and implement an improvement plan?
Low Performing Providers are required to submit and implement an improvement plan. The early learning coalition or school district, as applicable, shall require the provider or school to submit an improvement plan for approval by the coalition or school district and to implement the plan (See Section 1002.67(3)(c), F.S.).
12. How is an improvement plan created?
After the provider acknowledges the designation as a Low Performing Provider, an improvement plan template may be accessed online, which will be pre-populated with individual provider information. A "Provider Needs Assessment" must be completed to identify targeted areas for improvement.
13. What does an improvement plan include?
An improvement plan includes a list of targeted areas for improvement based upon a private provider’s or public school’s needs assessment of its VPK program; a list of specific actions already taken, or proposed to be taken, for improvement in one or more of the targeted areas; and a timeline to implement the proposed actions.
14. How will implementation of the improvement plan be monitored?
Progress reports must be submitted on a quarterly basis. Areas targeted for improvement will include the date of completion and provider comments. Approval of the progress report and date of approval, along with school district or coalition comments, will also be displayed.
FACCM QRS Response
View the The Florida Association for Child Care Management's
Response to a Quality Rating System here (PDF)
FACCM's Legislative Update
FACCM's 2007 Legislative Update (PDF)
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