Fla. Stat. § 1002.85 — Florida Code / Title XLVIII / Chapter 1002 / Part VI / Section 1002.85
1002.85 Early learning coalition plans.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall adopt rules prescribing the standardized format and required content of school readiness program plans as necessary for a coalition or other qualified entity to administer the school readiness program as provided in this part.

(2) Each early learning coalition must submit a school readiness program plan every 3 years to the department before the expenditure of funds. A coalition may not implement its school readiness program plan until it receives approval from the department. A coalition may not implement any revision to its school readiness program plan until the coalition submits the revised plan to and receives approval from the department. If the department rejects a plan or revision, the coalition must continue to operate under its previously approved plan. The plan must include, but is not limited to: (a) The coalition’s operations, including its membership and business organization, and the coalition’s articles of incorporation and bylaws if the coalition is organized as a corporation. If the coalition is not organized as a corporation or other business entity, the plan must include the contract with a fiscal agent. (b) The coalition’s procedures for implementing the requirements of this part, including: 1. Single point of entry. 2. Uniform waiting list that tracks children waiting for school readiness program services based on family household income and the priorities established under s. 1002.87. 3. Eligibility and enrollment processes and local eligibility priorities for children pursuant to s. 1002.87. 4. Parent access and choice. 5. Sliding fee scale and policies on applying the waiver or reduction of fees in accordance with s. 1002.84(9). 6. Use of preassessments and postassessments, as applicable. 7. Use of contracted slots, as applicable, based on the results of the assessment required under paragraph (i). (c) A detailed description of the coalition’s quality activities and services, including, but not limited to: 1. Resource and referral and school-age child care. 2. Infant and toddler early learning. 3. Inclusive early learning programs. 4. Quality improvement strategies that strengthen teaching practices and increase child outcomes. (d) A detailed budget that outlines estimated expenditures for state, federal, and local matching funds at the lowest level of detail available by other-cost-accumulator code number; all estimated sources of revenue with identifiable descriptions; a listing of full-time equivalent positions; contracted subcontractor costs with related annual compensation amount or hourly rate of compensation; and a capital improvements plan outlining existing fixed capital outlay projects and proposed capital outlay projects that will begin during the budget year. (e) A detailed accounting, in the format prescribed by the department, of all revenues and expenditures during the 2 previous state fiscal years. Revenue sources should be identifiable, and expenditures should be reported by two categories: state and federal funds and local matching funds. (f) Updated policies and procedures, including those governing procurement, maintenance of tangible personal property, maintenance of records, information technology security, and disbursement controls. (g) A description of the procedures for monitoring school readiness program providers, including in response to a parental complaint, to determine that the standards prescribed in ss. 1002.82 and 1002.88 are met using a standard monitoring tool adopted by the department. Providers determined to be high risk by the coalition as demonstrated by substantial findings of violations of law shall be monitored more frequently. (h) Documentation that the coalition has solicited and considered comments regarding the proposed school readiness program plan from the local community. (i) An assessment of local priorities within the county or multicounty region based on the needs of families and provider capacity using available community data.

(3) The coalition may periodically amend its plan as necessary. An amended plan must be submitted to and approved by the department before any expenditures are incurred on the new activities proposed in the amendment.

(4) The department shall publish a copy of the standardized format and required content of school readiness program plans on its website.

(5) The department shall collect and report data on coalition delivery of early learning programs. Elements shall include, but are not limited to, measures related to progress towards reducing the number of children on the waiting list, the percentage of children served by the program as compared to the number of administrative staff and overhead, the percentage of children served compared to total number of children under the age of 5 years below 55 percent of the state median income, provider payment processes, fraud intervention, child attendance and stability, use of child care resource and referral, and kindergarten readiness outcomes for children in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or the school readiness program upon entry into kindergarten. The department shall request input from the coalitions and school readiness program providers before finalizing the format and data to be used. The report shall be implemented beginning July 1, 2014, and results of the report must be included in the annual report under s. 1002.82.

History: s. 17, ch. 2013-252; s. 4, ch. 2018-136; s. 52, ch. 2021-10; s. 22, ch. 2022-154; s. 9, ch. 2024-160; s. 25, ch. 2025-110.