The purpose of the revised rule is to establish standardized procedures for maintenance of a uniform waiting list pursuant to statutory mandate.

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Florida's Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6M-4.300School Readiness Application and Waiting List Procedures

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the revised rule is to establish standardized procedures for maintenance of a uniform waiting list pursuant to statutory mandate.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule revises the standardized application and waiting list procedures for maintenance of a uniform waiting list pursuant to statutory mandate.

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: The office's economic analysis of the adverse impact or potential regulatory costs of the proposed rule does not exceed any of the criteria established in s. 120.541(2)(a), F.S.

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: 1001.213(2), 1002.82(2)(f)1.c., FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.81(14), 1002.82(2)(f)1.c., 1002.84(2), 1002.85(2)(c)2., 1002.87(3), FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, June 7, 2018, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET, or at the conclusion of business whichever is earlier

PLACE: via GoToWebinar only. To register for the webinar, please visit: http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/statewide_initiatives/laws_and_rules/proposed_rules.aspx

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Katerina Maroney [phone]; [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Katerina Maroney, School Readiness Policy Supervisor, Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Dr., Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone]; [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6M-4.300 School Readiness Application and Waiting List Procedures.

(1) Definitions.

(a) “Early learning coalition” or “coalition” refers to the entity charged with administering school readiness program services pursuant to Sections 1002.83 and 1002.84, F.S. “Early learning coalition” or “coalition” includes applicable OEL contractors.

(b) through (c) No change.

(d) “Parent” means individual defined in Rule paragraph 6M-4.200(1)(c), F.A.C.

(e) through (j) No change.

(2) Prequalifying Questions and School Readiness Application.

(a) In order to participate in the school readiness program, parents shall submit a prequalifying questionnaire, file an application if appropriate, certify the family’s total assets do not exceed the program requirements and provide requested documentation to an early learning coalition. For relative caregiver and TANF child only cases, the family’s income and assets shall be based on the child’s income only. If funds are available at the time of application the coalition shall conduct an eligibility determination. If funds are not available at the time of application, the coalition shall place the child or children on a waiting list as set forth herein.

(b) All parents requesting school readiness program services must first complete the prequalifying questions before completing the School Readiness Application, if applicable, and submit it through the single point of entry available at the following web address: https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com. Questions three and four of the prequalifying questions are based on the current Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the total number of family members reported in question two. Parents may complete the prequalifying questions and School Readiness Application at any time. If the results of the prequalifying questions indicate that the family may be potentially eligible, the family will then be directed to complete the School Readiness Application. Upon completion of the School Readiness Application, parents must submit at least one document per parent residing in the household to complete the application process. The document may be a current paystub, a verification of employment statement, written statement from employer, school enrollment or class registration, or documentation of a temporary or permanent disability.

1. Form OEL-SR 01-PQ, Prequalifying Questions, dated July, 2018, July, 2016, are hereby incorporated by reference and  may be obtained at the office website at www.floridaearlylearning.com or by contacting the Office of Early Learning, Department of Education, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The incorporated form is also available at: https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-_____ https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07233.

2. Form OEL-SR 01, School Readiness Application, dated July, 2018, July, 2016, are hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained at the office website at www.floridaearlylearning.com or by contacting the Office of Early Learning, Department of Education, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399. The incorporated form is also available at: https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-_____ https://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07234

(c) For at-risk families identified in Section 1002.871(1), F.S., who have a valid child care authorization, eligibility determination processing shall not be dependent on completion of the prequalifying questions and application, however, an application must be completed within 14 calendar days of eligibility determination.

(d) (c) If the prequalification screening results indicate that the family may not be potentially eligible, the family shall be directed to contact the early learning coalition which shall offer Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services pursuant to Rule 6M-9.300, F.A.C.

(3) Eligibility Screening.

(a) Early learning coalitions shall review each submitted application and required documentation within 20 calendar days of submission receipt to determine if the parent is potentially eligible pursuant to Section 1002.87(1), F.S. The early learning coalition shall notify the parent if the eligibility criteria have or have not been met.

(b) through (d) No change.

(4) Waiting List Management.

Each coalition shall utilize a waiting list as an enrollment management tool for the school readiness program on an ongoing basis. An early learning coalition shall not purge its waiting list by removing all children at one time. A coalition’s waiting list management shall consist of:

(a) Placement of Children on the Waiting List.

1. A family shall be placed on the waiting list on a first-come, first-serve basis, based on the date of the approved submitted application, the potential eligibility category and priority categories specified in Section 1002.87(1), F.S., and the age of the child. An early learning coalition may consider local service priorities within a priority category.

2. through 4. No change.

(b) through (d) No change.

(5) No change.

Rulemaking Authority 1002.213(2), 1002.82(2)(f)1.c., 1002.84(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.81(14), 1002.82(2)(f)1.c., 1002.84(2), 1002.85(2)(c)2., 1002.87(3) FS. History–New 4-21-03, Formerly 60BB-4.300, Amended 8-21-16, _______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Katerina Maroney, School Readiness Policy Supervisor

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Rodney J. MacKinnon, Executive Director

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 10, 2018

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 2, 2018