School readiness program; funding.

(1) DETERMINATION OF EARLY LEARNING COALITION SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM FUNDING.—Funding for the school readiness program shall be used by the early learning coalitions in accordance with this part and the General Appropriations Act.

(a) School readiness program allocation.—If the annual allocation for the school readiness program is not determined in the General Appropriations Act or the substantive bill implementing the General Appropriations Act, it shall be determined as follows:

1. For each county in the early learning coalition, the total number of unweighted full-time equivalent school readiness children, as adopted by the Early Learning Programs Estimating Conference pursuant to s. 216.136(8), which shall consider the historical trend of children served and population changes for each county, shall be multiplied by the appropriate care level factor to calculate the weighted full-time equivalent school readiness children. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “care level factor” means the adjustment made based on the relative differences in reimbursement rates associated with the eligible school readiness children pursuant to s. 1002.87.

2. The total weighted full-time equivalent school readiness children shall be multiplied by the rate index to calculate the adjusted weighted full-time equivalent school readiness children. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “rate index” means the adjustment made based on the impact of geographic location on reimbursement rates.

3. The school readiness program funds shall be distributed based on each county’s proportionate share of the total adjusted weighted full-time equivalent school readiness children.

(b) Gold Seal Quality Care Program allocation.—There is created the Gold Seal Quality Care Program allocation to provide eligible school readiness program providers the rate differential established pursuant to s. 1002.945(6). Subject to legislative appropriation, all expenditures from the Gold Seal Quality Care Program allocation shall be used by the department to help meet federal targeted requirements for improving quality to the extent allowable in the state’s approved Child Care and Development Fund Plan.

(c) Differential payment program allocation.—There is created the differential payment program allocation to provide eligible school readiness program providers the differential pay established pursuant to s. 1002.82(2)(o). Subject to legislative appropriation, all expenditures from the differential payment program allocation shall be used by the department to help meet federal targeted requirements for improving quality to the extent allowable in the state’s approved Child Care and Development Fund Plan.

(d) Special needs differential allocation.—There is created the special needs differential allocation to assist eligible school readiness program providers to implement the special needs rate provisions defined in the state’s approved Child Care and Development Fund Plan. Subject to legislative appropriation, each early learning coalition shall be reimbursed based on actual expenditures. All expenditures from the special needs differential allocation shall be used by the department to help meet federal targeted requirements for improving quality to the extent allowable in the state’s approved plan. A school readiness program provider is eligible for funding through the allocation to implement the special needs differential rate upon meeting all of the following requirements beginning July 1, 2027:

1. The provider has met or exceeded the minimum program assessment composite score required for contracting as determined by the department, as applicable.

2. Instructional staff employed or contracted by the provider has completed training on early identification of social and communication delays as specified by the department.

3. The instructor assigned by the provider to the child in need of additional accommodations under s. 1002.87(1)(c)6. has completed 10 hours of training in inclusive early childhood or inclusive school-age education practices within the first 90 days after the child’s enrollment or within 90 days after the hiring of a new instructor assigned by the provider to a child in need of additional accommodations under s. 1002.87(1)(c)6.

After the initial determination of eligibility, the provider must maintain the required program composite score and the instructor assigned by the provider to a child who needs additional accommodations under s. 1002.87(1)(c)6. must complete a minimum of 2 hours of relevant training in each subsequent year after the initial determination of eligibility in order to remain eligible to implement the special needs differential rate.

(2) INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.—All instructions to early learning coalitions for administering this section shall emanate from the department in accordance with the policies of the Legislature.

(3) MATCHING FUND REQUIREMENTS.—All state, federal, and local matching funds provided to an early learning coalition for purposes of this section shall be used for implementation of its approved school readiness program plan, including the hiring of staff to effectively operate the school readiness program.

(4) COST REQUIREMENTS.—Costs shall be kept to the minimum necessary for the efficient and effective administration of the school readiness program with the highest priority of expenditure being direct services for eligible children. However, no more than 5 percent of the funds allocated in paragraph (1)(a) may be used for administrative costs and no more than 22 percent of the funds allocated in paragraph (1)(a) may be used in any fiscal year for any combination of administrative costs, quality activities, and nondirect services as follows:

(a) Administrative costs as described in 45 C.F.R. s. 98.54, which shall include monitoring providers using the standard methodology adopted under s. 1002.82 to improve compliance with state and federal regulations and law pursuant to the requirements of the statewide provider contract adopted under s. 1002.82(2)(m).

(b) Activities to improve the quality of child care as described in 45 C.F.R. s. 98.53, which shall be limited to the following:

1. Developing, establishing, expanding, operating, and coordinating resource and referral programs specifically related to the provision of comprehensive consumer education to parents and the public to promote informed child care choices specified in 45 C.F.R. s. 98.33.

2. Awarding grants and providing financial support to school readiness program providers and their staff to assist them in meeting applicable state requirements for the program assessment required under s. 1002.82(2)(n), child care performance standards, implementing developmentally appropriate curricula and related classroom resources that support curricula, providing literacy supports, and providing continued professional learning and training. Any grants awarded pursuant to this subparagraph shall comply with ss. 215.971 and 287.058.

3. Providing training, technical assistance, and financial support to school readiness program providers, staff, and parents on standards, child screenings, child assessments, child development research and best practices, developmentally appropriate curricula, character development, teacher-child interactions, age-appropriate discipline practices, health and safety, nutrition, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the recognition of communicable diseases, and child abuse detection, prevention, and reporting.

4. Providing, from among the funds provided for the activities described in subparagraphs 1.-3., adequate funding for infants and toddlers as necessary to meet federal requirements related to expenditures for quality activities for infant and toddler care.

5. Improving the monitoring of compliance with, and enforcement of, applicable state and local requirements as described in and limited by 45 C.F.R. s. 98.40.

6. Responding to Warm-Line requests by providers and parents, including providing developmental and health screenings to school readiness program children.

(c) Nondirect services as described in applicable Office of Management and Budget instructions are those services not defined as administrative, direct, or quality services that are required to administer the school readiness program. Such services include, but are not limited to:

1. Assisting families to complete the required application and eligibility documentation.

2. Determining child and family eligibility.

3. Recruiting eligible child care providers.

4. Processing and tracking attendance records.

5. Developing and maintaining a statewide child care information system.

As used in this paragraph, the term “nondirect services” does not include payments to school readiness program providers for direct services provided to children who are eligible under s. 1002.87, administrative costs as described in paragraph (a), or quality activities as described in paragraph (b).

(5) LIMITATION ON THE USE OF PROGRAM FUNDS.—Funds appropriated for the school readiness program may not be expended for the purchase or improvement of land; for the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement of any building or facility; or for the purchase of buses. However, funds may be expended for minor remodeling and upgrading of child care facilities which is necessary for the administration of the program and to ensure that providers meet state and local child care standards, including applicable health and safety requirements.