The proposed rule will include the processes that must be conducted by early learning coalitions, school districts, and VPK providers in order to be able to deliver and report the results of pre- and post-assessments of students enrolled in the ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Florida’s Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

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

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule will include the processes that must be conducted by early learning coalitions, school districts, and VPK providers in order to be able to deliver and report the results of pre- and post-assessments of students enrolled in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.

SUMMARY: Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Pre- and Post-Assessment Processes.

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 been prepared by the Agency.

This rule is required by statute to implement standardized, state-approved prekindergarten pre- and post- assessment screening. The costs associated with the purchase of the materials and operations of the online reporting systems are borne by the Office. The provider will incur some costs associated with requirements of the rule in that the provider must administer and report in the assessment process if they choose to participate as a provider authorized to offer the VPK Education program services.

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 prepared SERC.

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), 1002.79 FS.

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

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: Monday, September 22, 2014, 2:00 p.m. ‒ 3:00 p.m. or at the conclusion of business whichever is earlier

PLACE: Via GoToWebinar; to register for the webinar go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4200966009615237890 or information on the webinar is also available at:

http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/oel_resources/rules_guidance_technical_assistance/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 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [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: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone], [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

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

(1) Pre- and Post-Assessments.

(a) Each private or public Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program provider must implement the pre- and post-assessments as directed by the Office of Early Learning, in accordance with section 1002.67(3), Florida Statutes (F.S.).

(b) The pre- and post-assessments include both a progress monitoring tool and an observational instrument. The progress monitoring tool is identified as the Florida VPK Assessment and adopted by reference. The observational instrument will be selected through the state’s procurement process.

(2) Ordering Assessment Materials.

VPK Assessment Materials. Private VPK providers and school districts must register and request VPK Assessment pre- and post-assessment materials via the VPK Assessment Online Ordering System at https://marcomcentral.app.pti.com/graphiccommunicationscorp/earlylearning.

(3) Administration of Pre- and Post-Assessments.

(a) Assessment periods.

1. All VPK providers operating a 540-hour school-year program with a class schedule that begins in August or September and ends in April or May are required to administer the VPK Assessment Period 1 (AP1) during the month of September and Assessment Period 3 (AP3) during the last month of the VPK Program.

2. Programs for which class schedules differ from (3)(a)1., including summer programs, are required to administer the VPK assessment items for AP1 in the first 30 days of the program and AP3 in the 30 days prior to the end of the program.

(b) 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:

1. Participate in one of the following professional development opportunities to ensure the proper administration of the approved pre- and post-assessments:

a. Instructor-led training available through OEL VPK regional facilitators and other OEL-approved VPK trainers from early learning coalitions and school districts across the state. VPK providers on probation who chose the Staff Development Plan must have required staff participate in instructor-led training to receive credit on their Department of Children and Families transcript.

b. Web-based training, if available.

c. Training DVD, if available. A training DVD is included in each VPK assessment kit and contains the same information provided in the instructor-led training.

2. Meet the minimum qualifications to be a VPK instructor during the school-year program, regardless of the program (summer or school-year).

(c). Confirmation and attestation. Each private VPK provider and school district shall confirm and attest that every individual administering the pre- and post-assessments has met the criteria outlined in (3)2.(b).

(4) Requirement to Report Assessment Results Online.

(a) VPK providers and public schools must register their VPK programs, enter programmatic and demographic information, and enter data of the results of the assessments on Form OEL-VPK BBORS (August 2014) located by logging into the following website: https://www.brightbeginningsfl.org/login.aspx, which is hereby adopted by reference.

(b) Deadlines to enter results.

1. For VPK providers with classes on schedules aligned with subparagraph (3)(a)1., assessment data for AP1 shall be entered by October 31 and assessment data for AP3 shall be entered by June 15.

2. VPK providers with classes on schedules aligned with subparagraph (3)(a)2., are required to enter and submit assessment data no later than 15 days after the last day of the VPK Program.

(5) Early Learning Coalition and School District Responsibilities.

(a) Each coalition and school district shall register to access the VPK Assessment Online Ordering System.

(b) The coalition will be responsible for the review, approval or disapproval of orders for VPK assessment materials placed by VPK private providers. The coalition shall

1. Receive and monitor email notifications from the VPK Assessment Online Ordering System.

2. Review orders and verify that the quantity of materials ordered aligns with the number of VPK classrooms offered by the contracted VPK provider ordering the materials.

3. Approve orders that align with the contracted VPK provider’s classroom needs no later than seven (7) calendar days after receiving email notification of orders pending approval.

4. Disapprove orders determined to exceed VPK classroom alignment and notify the VPK provider of the disapproval including the reason for disapproval.

(c) The school district will be responsible for VPK assessment material orders placed by public school VPK providers. The school district shall

1. Order a sufficient quantity of assessment materials to ensure that each VPK classroom has the materials necessary to administer the VPK assessment; and,

2. Ensure that each person who will administer the VPK assessment receives the appropriate assessment materials.

(6) Verification of Compliance.

(a) Each coalition and school district shall designate a staff member to register and serve as the administrator and access the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System on behalf of the coalition or district.

1. The administrator shall receive and monitor email notifications from the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System regarding which providers or schools have entered and submitted assessment data for Assessment Period 1 (AP1) and Assessment Period 3 (AP3).

2. The administrator shall access the coalition or district VPK Assessment Data Status Report to verify which providers and schools have entered and submitted assessment data in the online reporting system.

(b) The coalition shall notify private VPK providers and the school district shall notify public schools that have not entered and submitted assessment data for AP1 and AP3 of their responsibility to do so.

(7) Non-Compliance. If a private prekindergarten provider or public school fails or refuses to comply with this rule, the office will direct the early learning coalition to remove the provider and require the school district to remove the school from eligibility to deliver the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program for a period of five (5) years, in accordance with s. 1002.67(4)(b), F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.213(2), 1002.67(3), 1002.79 FS. Law Implemented 1002.67(3), (4), 1002.73(2)(d) FS. History–New __________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Shan Goff, Executive Director

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 22, 2014

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 26, 2014