The Office issued an order denying the request made by Miami-Dade County Government, Community Action and Human Services Department, Head Start/Early Head Start Program for a variance from certain requirements of Rule 6M-8.620, F.A.C., Voluntary ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Florida’s Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6M-8.620Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Pre- and Post Assessments

The Office of Early Learning hereby gives notice:

The Office issued an order denying the request made by Miami-Dade County Government, Community Action and Human Services Department, Head Start/Early Head Start Program for a variance from certain requirements of Rule 6M-8.620, F.A.C., Voluntary Prekindergarten Pre- and Post-Assessments. The petition was filed with the Office of Early Learning on or around August 6, 2015. Notice of the petition was published on August 12, 2015 in Volume 41, Number 156 of the Florida Administrative Register. An amended order denying the request was filed on November 3, 2015. This order follows an order by the Department of Education denying the same petitioner its request to use an alternative assessment. By denial of the use of alternative assessment material, the request for variance under this rule, which sets forth procedural requirements only, is moot, as it hinged upon being able to utilize an alternative test. Even assuming the Department of Education had not denied that request, the Office would deny this request, set our more fully in the order, based upon the following: (1) the request is inconsistent with the purpose of the statute to create a uniform system of measurement for VPK providers, and (2) the petition fails to demonstrate a substantial hardship created by imposition of the rule as noticed and adopted.

A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting: Margaret O’Sullivan Parker, General Counsel, Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [e-mail].