Screening of Children in the School Readiness Program

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Florida's Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6M-4.720: Screening of Children in the School Readiness Program

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-4.720 Screening of Children in the School Readiness Program.

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule:,

(a) “Concerns” means a child’s scoring below established thresholds or age appropriate levels suggested by the authors of a screening instrument. The term “referral” refers to

(b) “Eligibility determination” means the initial process conducted by the early learning coalition to determine if a child meets minimum requirements to participate in the School Readiness program.

(c) “Enrollment” is the final step in the process of entering (or enrolling) a child in the School Readiness program. It means officially entering the child’s name in the statewide information system as a School Readiness student.

(d) “Exceptions”are circumstances in which School Readiness children aged six weeks to age of kindergarten eligibility are not required to be screened under this rule.

(e) “Individualized supports” means the action taken subsequent to a child demonstrating concerns based on screening results.

(f) “Redetermination” means the process conducted by the early learning coalition at least annually to determine if a child’s family continues to meet minimum requirements to participate in the School Readiness program pursuant to Rule 6M-4.209, F.A.C.

(g) “Referral” means the process of providing information and recommendations to parents regarding further evaluation for a child who shows concerns exhibits the potential for developmental delays based on the results of his or her screening results, and.

(h)(b) “Screening” means The term “screening” refers to activities to identify children who may have concerns and who may need individualized supports further evaluation in order to determine the existence of a delay in development or a particular disability.

(2) Screening Process.

(a) By July 1, 2013, each early learning coalition shall implement processes consistent with the text of this rule.

(b) Initial screening. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with parents or providers to complete initial screening for each ensure that any child, aged six weeks birth to age of kindergarten eligibility. Children shall be five, is screened no later than within 45 calendar days after: of

1.h. His or her first enrollment in the School Readiness (SR) program or

2. Subsequent enrollment after being terminated or withdrawn from the School Readiness program.

If a child, aged six weeks birth to age of kindergarten eligibility, is again five, is re-enrolled in the School Readiness program after prior termination or withdrawal, the coalition must determine if he or she has been screened in accordance with the re-screening schedule identified in (3). If the child has not been screened in accordance with the re-subsequent screening intervals schedule identified in (2)(f), no later than (3), the coalition shall ensure he or she is screened within 45 calendar days after subsequent enrollment of his or her reenrollment in.

(c) Screening alternatives.

1. Coordination with parents. If a coalition elects to coordinate with parents to implement screenings for children, the coalition shall request the parent screen the child on-site. Early learning coalitions shall make staff persons available to assist parents during the screening. SR program.

2. Coordination with child care providers.

a.(b) If a coalition elects to coordinate with child care providers to implement screenings for children, the coalition shall notify the child care provider serving each child, in writing, of the date by which the child must be screened. The coalition shall give this notification to the child care provider a minimum of 30 15 calendar days prior to the date by which the child must be screened. Within 15

b. No later than 30 calendar days after of completion of a child’s screening, the child care provider shall submit the child’s screening results to the coalition in writing.

(d)(c) The parent of a child enrolled in the School Readiness program may decline to have his or her child screened by submitting a written statement to the coalition. Such written notice shall include a statement indicating that the parent objects to the screening, the name of the parent, the parent’s signature, the date, and the child’s name. completing and submitting to the coalition or child care provider Form OEL-SR 24, dated August 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, Florida 32399, [phone], TTY/Florida Relay 711, and at the Internet website: http://www. floridaearlylearning.com. If a parent submits the form to the child care provider, the child care provider shall submit a copy of the form to the early learning coalition no later than 30 calendar days after receipt. A parent’s screening decision remains in effect if a child changes School Readiness providers within an early learning coalition’s service delivery area.

(e)(d) Each early learning coalition shall provide, in writing, or shall require a child care provider to provide in writing, ensure that the screening results for each child are presented, in writing, to the child’s parent. Early learning coalitions shall make staff persons available to explain screening results if requested by a parent.

(f)(3) Subsequent screenings. Re-screening. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with parents or providers for subsequent screenings: ensure that any child, under age three (infants and toddlers), who is enrolled in the SR program is screened at a minimum at least once by age 9 months, at least once between age 9 months and 18 months, and at least once between age 18 months and 30 months. Each early learning ensure that any child, ages three to five is screened at least once annually.

1. If a coalition coordinates with parents to implement subsequent screenings, each early learning coalition shall request a parent to screen, at a minimum, annually at redetermination, the parent’s child(ren), aged six weeks to age of kindergarten eligibility, enrolled in the School Readiness program.

2. If a coalition coordinates with child care providers to implement subsequent screenings, each child care provider shall screen, at a minimum, annually in the month of the child’s birthday, every child aged six weeks to age of kindergarten eligibility, who is enrolled in the provider’s School Readiness program.This rule is not intended to limit the number of screenings offered to a child; a school readiness provider may conduct additional screenings at its discretion.

(3)(4) Screening Instruments. Each early learning coalition shall select ensure screenings are conducted using a screening instrument or instruments for use under this rule which meet all of the following criteria:

(a) Covers an age range of at least six weeks to age of kindergarten eligibility sixty months;

(b) Addresses, at a minimum, each of the developmental domains established in the performance standards (Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards: Birth to Five, Form OEL-SR 30, dated August 2012) adopted by Florida’s Office of Early Learning (the Office) in Rule 6M-4.700, Florida Administrative Code Child Performance Standards;

(c) Takes 30 minutes or less on average to complete per child;

(d) Is supported by research-proven validity tests;

(e) Is supported by research-proven reliability tests;

(f) Is available, at a minimum, in English and Spanish versions;

(g) Is appropriate to be administered by a parent or guardian, child care provider or other professional; and

(h) Yields results, which can be entered into data fields into an electronic data tracking system.

(4) Exceptions. All children enrolled in the School Readiness program aged six weeks to age of kindergarten eligibility must be screened in accordance with the screening process identified in subsection (2) except children in the following situations:

(a) Children who have been screened in a program other than the School Readiness program within the preceding 12 month period and whose scores were shared with the early learning coalition by the due date established for initial screening in paragraph (2)(b) or subsequent screenings in paragraph (2)(f) and when the screening instrument used meets the criteria in subsection (3) above; or

(b) Children who are receiving services in accordance with an individualized family support plan (IFSP) or individual education plan (IEP), in which the plans have been:

1. Developed or reviewed in the last 12 months by a school district, early intervention program, or other state agency that provides special education and related services, and

2. Shared with the early learning coalition by the due date established for initial screening in paragraph (2)(b) or subsequent screenings in paragraph (2)(f).

(5) Individualized supports. Referrals.

(a) Each early learning coalition shall initiate individualized supports, no later than 60 calendar days after screening, for children who show concerns based on their screening results ensure that any child who is identified as having a potential developmental delay or disability based on his or her screening receives a referral for services to the the age appropriate Part C or Part B program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) within 30 days of screening.

(b) Individualized supports must include, at a minimum, one of the following:

1. Additional screening or assessment,

2. Individualized learning plans,

3. Suggested developmental activities for parents or providers,

4. Observations and accommodations in the early learning program,

5. Parent education,

6. Referrals to early intervention services or specialized care.

a. Each early learning coalition shall notify in writing, or require a child care provider to notify in writing, ensure the parent of a any child who receives must receive a referral under subparagraph (5)(b)6. (5)(a) is notified in writing. The notification must include, at a minimum, areas identified through the screening which are of concern and local contact information for the age appropriate referral agency Part C or Part B program under the IDEA.

b.(c) When providing a referral under subparagraph (5)(b)6.a., each early learning coalition must offer to contact an age the appropriate referral agency. Either the Part C or Part B program under the IDEA. The coalition or the child care provider must document the parent’s choice of “yes” or “no” in writing. Such documentation must include a statement indicating the choice regarding receipt of additional help, the name of the parent, the parent’s signature, the date, and the child’s name.

(6) Data. Tracking.

(a) The early learning coalition shall enter, or require the child care provider to enter, ensure that the child screening data and referral information be entered into an electronic system no later than 60 of tracking within 45 calendar days after of screening. The, and the early learning coalition shall enter the individualized supports data into an electronic system no later than 30 calendar days after initiating individualized supports ensure that.

(b) The early learning coalition shall make the electronic version of the screening and individualized supports data information be made available to Florida’s Office of Early Learning the Office upon request. The child screening and individualized supports data information included in the electronic tracking system must include, at a minimum, the following elements:

1.(a) Child name;

2.(b) Child date of birth;

3.(c) Child age;

4.(d) Child ID number, if available;

5.(e) Parent name;

6.(f) Parent contact information, to include: mailing address, email address, and phone number, if available;

7.(g) Date of enrollment in the School Readiness program;

8.(h) Date(s) of screening(s), if screened/re-screening or documentation of parental objection to the screening;

9. Reason for not being screened, if applicable, which may include:

i. Parental objection to the screening; or

ii. Exceptions to being screened in the School Readiness program as described in subsection (4);

10. Screening results, which include a A summary of areas in which the child shows concerns potential for developmental delays based on the screening;

11. Date individualized supports were initiated;

12. Type of individualized supports initiated;

13.(j) Date of referral, if applicable under sub-subparagraph (5)(b)6.(a); and

14.(k) Whether the parent elected to receive additional help from the coalition under sub-subparagraph (5)(b)6.b.(c).

Rulemaking Authority 411.01(4)(e) FS. Law Implemented 411.01(4)(d)3. FS. History–New __________.