The rule is being amended to update information included in child care listings, provider profile updates, training and data reporting requirements and technical assistance provided to existing and potential providers and ....

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6M-9.300Child Care Resource and Referral and Consumer Education

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The rule is being amended to update information included in child care listings, provider profile updates, training and data reporting requirements and technical assistance provided to existing and potential providers and to guarantee compliance with federal and a new statutory mandate in s. 1002.92, F.S.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule establishes an early learning provider performance profile that identifies existing public and private child care programs and ongoing documentation requirements of profiles and requests for services via the single statewide information system.

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 division'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: 1002.92(2), F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.92, F.S

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

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, September 2, 2021 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 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, Deputy Director of Programs and Policy, Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Dr., Tallahassee, Florida 32399, [phone]; [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

6M-9.300 Child Care Resource and Referral and Consumer Education

(1) The DivisionOffice of Early Learning, Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) state network, shall ensure delivery of CCR&R services as defined in the Child Care Development Block Grant of 2014, Title 45 Part 98 Code of Federal Regulations, and section 1002.92, Florida Statutes (F.S.).

(2) Definitions

(a) through (c) No change.

(d) “Community resources” refers to social service and financial assistance programs that a family may be eligible for, such as the DCF Office on Homelessness, home visiting programs, mental health service, includingSchool Readiness, Voluntary Prekindergarten, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as any organization or service that a family may qualify for that will support the family’s financial independence, assist with developmental concerns and help fill an unmet need.

(e) “Community outreach” refers to activities in the CCR&R service area that increase awareness of CCR&R services., Tthis can include involvement in community events, establishing community partnerships, displaying program materials in public spaces and on social media platforms, and marketing activities.

(f) through (n) No change.

(3) No change.

(4) Accessibility of Information and Services.

(a) Each CCR&R organization shall provide the Division Office of Early Learning with an annual accessibility report no later than the last business day in August, identifying how CCR&R services are made accessible to families and providers within its service area, including families who have limited access to telephone services, internet services, or transportation. The report shall also outline the CCR&R organization’s plan for family engagement and community outreach. The CCR&R organization shall coordinate with other community entities in order to expand the accessibility of services and document such coordination in the accessibility report.

(b) Each CCR&R organization shall maintain a website and at least one other form of outreach and awareness within its service area that describes the services offered. The outreach and awareness must include a statement of CCR&R and services offered through the program. The home page of the website for the early learning coalition and the contracted CCR&R organization, if applicable, shall clearly display at a minimum, a brief description of CCR&R and family services and provider services contact information, the primary family and provider telephone number(s), as well as provider services contact information, including phone numbers, and hours of operation and a brief description of services available for families and providers.

(5) Location and Hours of Service.

(a) No change.

(b) No change.

(c) If the CCR&R organization is closed at any time during standard business hours, the CCR&R organization shall provide a message on their family services line and home page of its website, with its hours of operation and contact information for an alternative organization that can assist families during emergency situations, such as those outlined in paragraph (3)(d), above.

(d) No change.

(6) Customized Child Care Listings.

(a) No change.

(b) Child care listings shall be generated using the single statewide information system maintained by the DivisionOffice of Early Learning.

(c) through (f) No change.

(7) Consumer Education and Community Resources.

(a) No change.

(b) No change.

(c) Each CCR&R organization shall maintain a current directory or access to community resources, which shall include:

1. through 6. No change.

7. Resources provided by the DivisionOffice of Early Learning or identified through collaboration with other entities; and

8. No change.

(8) Provider Profile Updates.

(a) Each CCR&R organization shall ensure that contracted and non-contracted provider information for each legally operating child care early learning or school-age provider, and each provider receiving state or federal funds within the CCR&R organization’s service area, is updated and approved between January 1 and May 31 of each calendar year in the single statewide information system maintained by the DivisionOffice of Early Learning.

(b) No change.

(c) At a minimum, the CCR&R organization shall ensure that the following information, as applicable, is updated for each provider:

1. No change.

2. Gold Seal designation under s. 1002.945,F.S., and or accreditation status, if applicable;

3. Quality rating, if available;

4. through 11. No change.

12. Special services offered or information about what the provider offers, including but not limited to, arts and crafts, computer activities, family engagement, music lessons, therapeutic services, web cam on site with special education programs for prekindergarten children with disabilities, services for children with developmental disabilities, and vacation care programs;

13. No change.

14. Transportation; and,

15. Meal options;.

16. Family discounts;

17.  Legal operating status;

18. Participation in the Child Care Food Program, if applicable;

19. A link to licensing inspection reports, if applicable;

20.The components of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program performance metric calculated under s. 1002.68, F.S. which must consist of the program assessment composite score, learning gains score, achievement score, and the provider’s designations, if applicable;

21. The school readiness program assessment composite score and program assessment care level composite score results delineated by infant, toddler classrooms, and preschool classrooms results under s. 1002. 82, F.S., if applicable;

22. Provider implementation of a DOE-approved curriculum and the name of that curriculum, if applicable; and

23. Participation in school readiness child assessment under s. 1002.82, F.S..

(d) No changes.

(e) Legally operating providers shall be included in the provider update process upon request by the provider. The early learning coalition must review and approve the provider profile submitted within the single statewide information system.

(9) The CCR&R organization shall document each request for CCR&R services described in paragraph six (6) above in the single statewide information system. Monthly, the CCR&R organization shall review the Division of Early Learning specified data report(s) to monitor CCR&R customer intake data in the single statewide information system. If DEL determines through its quarterly review that the organization’s data is not representative of CCR&R services offered, the CCR&R organization shall review procedures to determine if revisions are needed to increase the number of CCR&R customer intakes in the single statewide information system.

(10) (9) Technical Assistance.

(a) No change.

(11)(10) Staff Training Requirements.

(a) The CCR&R organization shall ensure all CCR&R staff, including staff in blended positions who provide CCR&R services, are trained, by a CCR&R Coordinator or designated trainer, in customer service, consumer education, community resources, financial assistance programs for families, and available types of child care and early learning providers and programs, specific to their service area, and have successfully completed the CCR&R specialist evaluation within four (4) months of employment as a CCR&R specialist. Designated trainers for the CCR&R program, if not the coordinator, must comply with the coordinator training requirements.

(b) No change.

(c) Each CCR&R organization shall accurately complete and submit the staff list to the DEL-designated location by the established deadline. Staff lists shall not be changed nor removed from its designated location once submitted. The CCR&R organization shall provide email notification to the CCR&R state network office within five (5) business days of a change in the designated CCR&R coordinator position.

(d) Each CCR&R organization shall complete assessments on 50 percent of its CCR&R staff by December 31 and complete assessments on the remaining 50 percent of CCR&R staff by June 30. The organization shall deliver training to CCR&R staff based on assessment results for quality assurance. The organization shall retain records of completed assessments and trainings, and staff assessment data for each CCR&R staff member on the staff list. 

(12) Each CCR&R organization shall establish written procedures for training CCR&R staff on serving families and providers, monitoring CCR&R program data, completing provider updates and CCR&R customer intakes in the single statewide information system, and technical assistance provided in accordance with subparagraph (10) of this rule.

(13)(11) Early learning coalitions and CCR&R organizations are prohibited from charging a provider or other organization a fee for identifying the provider or other organization through the single statewide information system.

Rulemaking Authority 1002.92 FS. Law Implemented 1002.92 FS. History–New 8-10-09, Formerly 60BB-9.300, Amended 9-1-15, 10-21-18, DATE

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Katerina Maroney, Deputy Director of Programs and Policy

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

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: July 26, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 18, 2021