School Readiness Program Curricula

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Florida's Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6M-4.710: School Readiness Program Curricula

NOTICE OF CHANGE

Notice is hereby given that the following changes have been made to the proposed rule in accordance with subparagraph 120.54(3)(d)1., F.S., published in Vol. 38, No. 26, June 29, 2012 issue of the Florida Administrative Weekly.

The full text of the proposed rule, as revised, is:

6M-4.710 School Readiness Program Curricula.

(1) Beginning July 1, 2013, providers offering the School Readiness program shall be required to utilize a developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning which are codified in the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards: Birth to Five, Form OEL-SR 30, which is incorporated by reference in (the Office) pursuant to Rule 6M-4.700, F.A.C., and which may be obtained from Florida’s Office of Early Learning at the following address: 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone], TTY/Florida Relay 711, and at the internet website www.floridaearlylearning.com.

(a) A list of curricula which has been determined by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office to enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office is published at the website: www.floridaearlylearning.com.

(b) Each provider offering the School Readiness program shall select a curriculum or curricula from the list published by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office. The provider must select and implement ensure that it selects and implements a curriculum or combination of curricula which addresses each developmental domain established in the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office and includes a character development component designed to develop basic values.

(2) Curriculum reviews shall be conducted annually. Submissions for the review process must be received by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office no later than the last business day of July of each year.

(3) An individual or organization may obtain a curriculum review by sending a written request to Florida’s Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or to [e-mail]. More than one curriculum may be submitted to be reviewed at the same time. Once a curriculum has been approved, it remains approved until the performance standards are revised.

(a) Requests to review a curriculum shall include:

1. The name of the requestor;

2. An email or mailing address of the requestor;

3. A telephone number of the requestor;

4. The name of the curriculum to be reviewed;

5. Publisher information, if applicable;

6. The publication date of the curriculum to be reviewed; and

7. The version of the curriculum to be reviewed.; and

8. A description of whether the curriculum is to be used as a comprehensive curriculum or a supplemental curriculum.

i. “Comprehensive curriculum” means a curriculum intended for use as the sole or primary curriculum implemented in a classroom. A comprehensive curriculum must address each developmental domain established in the performance standards adopted by the Office and include a character development component designed to develop basic values.

ii. “Supplemental curriculum” means a curriculum intended for use only in conjunction with one or more curricula. A supplemental curriculum must address at least one developmental domain established in the performance standards adopted by the Office or include a character development component designed to develop basic values.

(b) Incomplete requests to review a curriculum shall not be considered.

(4) The process for reviewing curricula shall be conducted as follows:

(a) Florida’s Office of Early Learning shall convene a Curriculum Review Team comprised of qualified individuals selected in accordance with criteria defined in this rule and who shall serve as reviewers of up to three (3) curricula and all associated materials at a time.

(b) Florida’s Office of Early Learning The Office will designate an individual within Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office to serve as a point of contact for questions from reviewers and requestors.

(c) Florida’s Office of Early Learning The Office shall supply the requestor with the mailing address of where each reviewer would like the materials delivered.

(d) The requestor shall provide a complete copy of the curriculum or curricula to each of the three reviewers postmarked no later than the first business day of October along with a complete copy to Florida’s Office of Early Learning. Each reviewer shall maintain any documents generated under this rule in accordance with Florida’s public records laws as codified in Chapter 119, F.S.

1. A complete copy of a curriculum includes copies of all printed materials and any other materials that the requestor deems necessary to illustrate that the submitted curriculum addresses each of the developmental domains established in the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office.

2. Materials not originally submitted as part of the complete curriculum shall not be considered. Curriculum will be evaluated on the materials received.

3. If the requestor would like the reviewer to return the submitted materials, a pre-paid method for returning the materials, along with instructions for return, must be provided when the materials are originally submitted to the reviewer.

(e) Each reviewer shall independently analyze the curriculum using the School Readiness Curriculum Rubric, Form OEL-SR 31, dated August 2012, January 24, 2012, (hereinafter referred to as “Rubric”), which is hereby incorporated by reference and which may be obtained from Florida’s Office of Early Learning at the following address: 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone], TTY/Florida Relay 711, and at the internet website www.floridaearlylearning.com. Following review, each reviewer shall submit the completed Rubric to Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office no later than the first business day of January. Reviewers shall not discuss the curriculum review with any individual or organization other than the point of contact designated by the Director of Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office.

1. A comprehensive curriculum must earn a score of at least 80% as averaged across each of the reviewers for each individual developmental domain as well as the character development component, and be developmentally appropriate as measured by the Rubric an average Rubric score of at least 80% to receive approval as a comprehensive curriculum.

2. A supplemental curriculum must earn a score of at least 80% as averaged across each of the reviewers for each developmental domain or character development component addressed and be developmentally appropriate to receive approval as a supplemental curriculum.

(f) Florida’s Office of Early Learning The Office will send written notification of approval or disapproval of a curriculum for use in the School Readiness program, and a statement regarding whether the curriculum is designated as comprehensive or supplemental, to the requestor no later than the first business day of February.

1. “Comprehensive curriculum” means a curriculum intended for use as the sole or primary curriculum implemented in a classroom. A comprehensive curriculum must address each developmental domain established in the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning and include a character development component designed to develop basic values.

2. “Supplemental curriculum” means a curriculum intended for use only in conjunction with one or more curricula. A supplemental curriculum must address at least one developmental domain established in the performance standards adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning or include a character development component designed to develop basic values.

(g) If a curriculum is disapproved for use in the School Readiness program, a requestor may obtain a copy of the completed Rubrics and/or request a reassessment of the curriculum by submitting a request to Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office at 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399 or at the email address [e-mail] within twenty business days of the requestor’s receipt of the curriculum’s disapproval notification. Once the request for reassessment is received, Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office will acknowledge receipt of the request in writing, will render a decision within 15 business days, and notify the requestor of approval or disapproval by certified mail. If the requestor does not receive a response within this time period, the requestor should contact Florida’s Office of Early Learning to determine whether the determination stands. Upon contact by the requestor, Florida’s Office of Early Learning will again issue its determination in writing. The requestor may appeal a decision of disapproval from Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S.

(5) Curriculum Reviewers. Individuals who wish to participate in the curriculum review process established under this rule shall complete and submit a Curriculum Reviewer Application, Form OEL-SR 32, dated August 2012, January 24, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which may be obtained from Florida’s Office of Early Learning at the following address: 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone], TTY/Florida Relay 711, and at the internet website www.floridaearlylearning.com. The completed Form OEL-SR 32 must be submitted to Florida’s Office of Early Learning at 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or at the email address [e-mail]. Reviewers must:

(a) Hold a Bachelor’s or higher degree in the fields of early childhood education, child development, elementary education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, exceptional education, early childhood special education, or a related field;

(b) Have a minimum of five years of employment and experience in a field related to early childhood education, child development, elementary education, curriculum and instruction, or educational leadership, exceptional education, early childhood special education;

(c) Complete a Florida’s an Office of Early Learning sponsored training on the performance standards adopted by Florida’s the Office of Early Learning;

(d) Complete a Florida’s an Office of Early Learning sponsored training on the use of the Rubric;

(e) Not have a financial interest, as defined in Section 112.3143, F.S., in any curriculum he or she reviews;

(f) Not have any personal interest in any curriculum he or she reviews (such as employment of the individual or his or her relatives, as defined by Section 112.3143, F.S., by the publisher in any capacity, or certification of the individual or his or her relatives as a trainer in the use and/or application of the curriculum within the past three years);

(g) Submit documentation supporting any claim made on the Form OEL-SR 32, upon the request of Florida’s the Office of Early Learning;

(h) Contact Florida’s the Office of Early Learning to provide updated information when qualifications change or to request removal from consideration for selection when an individual no longer wishes to participate in the curriculum review process;

(i) Not receive compensation for participating under this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 411.01(4)(e) FS. Law Implemented 411.01(4)(d)3.f. FS. History–New_________.