Align the rule with current language in Florida Statutes.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-6.0525Teenage Parent Programs

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: Align the rule with current language in Florida Statutes.

SUMMARY: This amendment removes procedures that are no longer applicable and aligns special diploma language with Florida Statutes.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Revisions to eliminate procedures no longer applicable, and removal of Florida Statutes and Rules that have been repealed will have no economic impact and will not require legislative ratification.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02, 1003.53, 1003.54, FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1003.53, 1003.54, FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: November 16, 2016, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate, 1500 Masters Blvd., Royal Dublin, Championsgate, Florida 33896

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Tameka Thomas, Bureau of Family & Community Outreach, 325 W. Gaines Street, Suite 1444, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone], or [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-6.0525 Teenage Parent Programs.

Pregnant and parenting students and their children shall be entitled to participate in Teenage Parent (TAP) Programs designed to provide comprehensive educational and ancillary services to facilitate the parents’ completion of high school. Students participating in teenage parent programs shall be eligible for all services afforded to students enrolled in programs pursuant to Section 1003.54, F.S. and Rules 6A-6.0525 6A-6.05221 and 6A-6.05291, F.A.C.

(1) Requirements.

(a) Credits. Students served in teenage parent programs shall retain the right to earn the number and type of credits required for a standard or special diploma pursuant to Sections 1003.54, F.S. The special diploma is not a diploma option beginning with students entering 9th grade for the first time in 2014-2015 school year and student cohorts thereafter.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) Parent notification. Parents shall be notified annually in writing as specified in Section 1003.53 230.2316(8), F.S., of their child’s enrollment in a teenage parent program and of their right to review any action relating to such enrollment.

(e) Student records. Records of students participating in a teenage parent program shall contain the following:

1. through 4. No change.

5. Annual written documentation of parent notification and involvement in the enrollment decision prior to the date of the student’s participation in this voluntary program. Notification shall be in the parent’s native language or in the language most understood.

6. Documentation of the academic assistance and support services provided students and teachers in student support and assistance components.

(f) Student eligibility for full-time equivalent (FTE). Eligible pregnant and parenting students shall be reported for teenage parent full-time equivalent student membership in the Florida Education Finance Program in the following settings:

1. Standard teenage parent program in which all students are teenage parent program participants.

2. Student support and assistance component.

(g) Certification. Any certification is appropriate for teachers in teenage parent programs. Teenage parent program teachers shall be instructional personnel staff members as defined in section 1012.01, F.S. Rule 6A-1.0501, F.A.C.

(h) Students served in teenage parent programs shall retain their right to have access to a school day as defined by Section 1011.60 228.041(13), F.S.

(2) No change.

(3) Instructional periods. The program shall consist of instruction to participants full-time, part-time or on a variable schedule as needed to deliver the pregnancy- or parenting-related curriculum as specified in Section 1003.54(3)(b), F.S. Children of teenage parent students enrolled in teenage parent programs shall be served during the time that the parent student is earning credit towards a standard or special diploma pursuant to Section 1003.429, 1003.43 or 1003.438, F.S. The special diploma is not a diploma option beginning with students entering 9th grade for the first time in 2014-2015 school year and student cohorts thereafter.

(4) No change.

(5) Ancillary services. School districts shall develop and implement procedures for the provision or coordination of the four ancillary services of child care, social services, health services and transportation for pregnant and parenting students who are currently enrolled or have completed a teenage parent program and their eligible children. Program completers are those students who have successfully completed a teenage parent program as described in the district’s approved teenage parent program plan. Ancillary services are described as:

(a) Child care. Child care includes developmentally appropriate learning activities for the children of teenage parent program participants and completers during the hours when the child’s teenage parent is earning credit pursuing a standard or special diploma as defined by Section 1003.429, 1003.43 or 1003.438, F.S. The special diploma is not a diploma option beginning with students entering 9th grade for the first time in 2014-2015 school year and student cohorts thereafter. Districts choosing to operate school-based child care for children birth through age three must be licensed by the Department of Health and Department of Children and Families Rehabilitative Services pursuant to Section 402.3025(1), F.S., or by the local licensing agent. Districts may report children of teenage parent program participants and completers for teenage parent full-time equivalent student membership in the Florida Education Finance Program when the district provides or contracts for child care for the child and the following criteria are met:

1. The child is assigned a student identification number and all appropriate data for reporting is collected;

2. The parent is currently enrolled in a teenage parent program or is a program completer and enrolled in courses that meet the graduation requirements pursuant to Section 1003.429, 1003.43 or 1003.438, F.S.;

3. through 5. No change.

(b) Health services. Health services include the coordination of health and nutrition education and routine prenatal and postnatal health checkups during the time that the teenage parent student is reported for FTE in the teenage parent program. Routine check-ups for the children of teenage parent program participants and completers, including immunizations, shall be provided or coordinated during the time those children are reported for FTE in a teenage parent program.

(c) through (d) No change.

(6) through (7) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02, 1003.54 FS. Law Implemented 1003.54 FS. History–New 10-30-90, Amended 1-2-95, 3-20-96,____.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Hershel Lyons, Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Pam Stewart, Commissioner, Department of Education

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: October 15, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 22, 2016