The purpose of this rule is to describe the methodology used and the activities related to calculating the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate. The effect of the rule will be the adoption of the process and methodology for the Department of ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
State Board of Education

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
6A-1.099821: Kindergarten Readiness Rate
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this rule is to describe the methodology used and the activities related to calculating the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate. The effect of the rule will be the adoption of the process and methodology for the Department of Education’s calculation of the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.
SUMMARY: This rule sets forth the methodology used and activities related to calculating the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
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.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1002.73(2)(d) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.69(5),(6) FS.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Shan Goff, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 1524, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6A-1.099821 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.

(1) Statewide kindergarten screening. The Department shall adopt a statewide kindergarten screening that provides objective data concerning each student’s readiness for kindergarten and progress in attaining Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Performance Standards. School districts are required to administer the statewide screening to each kindergarten student in the school district within the first 30 school days of each school year.

(2) Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate. The Department of Education shall:

(a) Annually calculate each private prekindergarten provider’s and public school’s kindergarten readiness rate, which must be expressed as the percentage of the provider’s or school’s students who are assessed as ready for kindergarten; kindergarten readiness rates must be based exclusively on the results of the screening for students who completed the VPK program, and

(b) Periodically adopt a minimum kindergarten readiness rate that, if achieved by a private prekindergarten provider or public school, would demonstrate the provider’s or school’s satisfactory delivery of the VPK program. The minimum rate must not exceed the rate at which more than fifteen (15) percent of the kindergarten readiness rates of all private prekindergarten providers and public schools delivering the VPK Program would fall below the minimum rate.

(3) Accuracy of Data.

(a) Prior to the calculation of the VPK Provider Readiness Rate, as described in subsection (4) of this rule, private and public school VPK providers shall have the opportunity to review a list of all of the children served in their program and the total number of hours attended, including allowable absences.

(b) Documentation of any proposed changes shall be submitted by the private or public provider, within the timelines specified, shall be reviewed by the Department in collaboration with the Agency for Workforce Innovation and the respective Early Learning Coalition. The private or public provider shall be notified whether the information submitted was accepted by Department for the purpose of calculating the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.

(4) Criteria for Inclusion in the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.

(a) After the conclusion of the review of the data described in subsection (3) of this rule, the Department shall calculate the Kindergarten Readiness Rate for each private or public school VPK provider of either the school year (five hundred forty (540) hour) or summer (three hundred (300) hour) program that served at least four (4) children who:

1. Attended the VPK program for eighty-five (85) percent of more of the total number of instructional hours, including the allowable absences, and

2. Participated in the kindergarten screening as described in subsection (1) of this rule.

(b) If a private or public school provider does not meet the criteria described above, information as to why the provider was not included in the VPK Provider Readiness Rate calculation shall be displayed on the VPK Provider Profile required by Section 1002.53(5), Florida Statutes.

(5) Procedures for Calculating the VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate.

(a) The “Percent of Children Ready for Kindergarten” shall be calculated as the number “Children Ready for Kindergarten” on each screening measure divided by the total number of “Children Screened” on that measure.

(b) One point is assigned for each percent of “Children Ready for Kindergarten” on each screening measure.

(c) The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate shall be the sum of the “Percent of Ready for Kindergarten” on each screening measure with a maximum of three hundred (300) points.

(d) The Kindergarten Readiness Rate for private and public school VPK Providers will be displayed as follows:

ScreeningScreeningScreening

Measure #1Measure #2Measure #3

Children Ready for
Kindergarten221512

Children Screened222020

Percent of Children Ready

for Kindergarten1007560

VPK Provider Readiness Rate235

(e) All providers shall be ranked according to their final score.

(6) Appeal of VPK Provider Readiness Rate Calculation. After the initial issuance of VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates, private and public school providers may appeal the Department’s decision to accept or reject additional information submitted under subsection (3) of this rule.

(7) Minimum Readiness Rate. After the conclusion of the appeals process, described in subsection (6) of this rule, the State Board of Education shall adopt a minimum readiness rate.

(8) Low Performing VPK Providers. If the readiness rate of a private public VPK provider falls below the minimum rate adopted by the State Board, the provider shall be designated as a low performing VPK provider, acknowledge such designation in the manner prescribed by the Department, and submit and implement an improvement plan in accordance with the requirements of Rule 60BB-8.700, F.A.C.

Specific Authority 1002.73(2)(d) FS. Law Implemented 1002.69(5),(6) FS. History–New________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Shan Goff, Executive Director, Office of Early Learning, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 1524, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: John L. Winn, Commissioner, Department of Education
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: February 12, 2007
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: August 19, 2005