Title: School Readiness Program

Summary: Revising the definition of the term "economically disadvantaged" for purposes of the school readiness program, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to the school readiness program; amending s. 1002.81, F.S.; revising the definition of the term  economically disadvantaged  for purposes of the school readiness program; amending s. 1002.85, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (6) of section 1002.81, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1002.81 Definitions. Consistent with the requirements of C.F.R. parts and and as used in this part, the term: (6) Economically disadvantaged  means having a family income that does not exceed percent of the federal poverty level and includes being a child of a working migratory family as defined by C.F.R. s. 200.81(d) or (f) or an agricultural worker who is employed by more than one agricultural employer during the course of a year, and whose income varies according to weather conditions and market stability. Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 1002.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1002.85 Early learning coalition plans.  (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 years below percent of the federal poverty level, 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. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.