To remove Teaching Strategies Gold from the assessments that must be given to children who attend Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), to clarify the training requirements for persons who administer the VPK assessment, and to expand the VPK instructors ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

State Board of Education

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6A-1.09433Voluntary Prekindergarten Pre- and Post-Assessments

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To remove Teaching Strategies Gold from the assessments that must be given to children who attend Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), to clarify the training requirements for persons who administer the VPK assessment, and to expand the VPK instructors who may assess children in VPK.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule removes Teaching Strategies Gold, as a required assessment, leaving the progress monitoring tool known as the Florida VPK Assessment, as the approved assessment for VPK. The proposed rule also provides that documentation of training to administer the Florida VPK Assessment must be completed and maintained, and all VPK instructors, including summer providers, may assess children as long as they meet the qualifications for assessing children set forth in the rule.

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 proposed revisions remove the requirement that VPK providers implement the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment. While the use of the assessment resulted in only minimal costs to providers, the removal of the requirement to use the assessment is expected to result in decreased regulatory costs. Thus, neither the conditions triggering the need for a SERC nor legislative ratification, as found in Section 120.541, F.S. are present with this proposed rule.

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(2)(n), 1002.67(3), 1002.73(2)(d), FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.67(3), 1002.73(2)(d), FS.

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

DATE AND TIME: June 22, 2016, 8:30 a.m.

PLACE: Palm Beach State College, Palm Beach Gardens Campus, 3160 PGA Boulevard, SC 127, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Mary Jane Tappen, Executive Vice Chancellor, K-12 Public Schools, [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6A-1.09433 Voluntary Prekindergarten Pre- and Post-Assessments.

(1) Pre- and Post-Assessments.

(a) Every private or public Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Program provider must implement a the pre- and post-assessments approved by the State Board of Education.

(b) The pre- and post-assessments approved by the State Board of Education is include both a progress monitoring tool, known as the Florida VPK Assessment, and an observational instrument, known as Teaching Strategies Gold.

(c) Information explaining how to obtain access to the these assessments is set forth in Rule 6M-8.620, F.A.C.

(2) Qualified assessors. The pre- and post-assessments shall be administered by individuals, consistent with the assessment publisher’s instructions, who are employed by a private VPK provider or school district and meet the following requirements:

(a) Assessors must complete and maintain documentation of completion of participate in professional development training that is designed to ensure the proper administration of the approved pre- and post-assessments and that is:

1. Available through the Office of Early Learning (OEL) by OEL personnel or OEL trained individuals;

2. Online Web-based training, if available; or 

3. Training by means of a DVD, if available; and 

(b) Assessors must meet the minimum qualifications to be a VPK instructor during the school-year program, as set forth in Sections 1002.55, 1002.61, or 1002.63, 1002.73(2)(d), F.S., regardless of the program (summer or school-year).

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1002.67(3), 1002.73(2)(d) FS. Law Implemented 1002.67(3), 1002.73(2)(d) FS. History–New 4-1-15, Amended_____.

 

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: May 27, 2016

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 5, 2016