AB 1035 — Relating to: requiring the community approach to four-year-old kindergarten. (FE)

Bill Text

• Bill Text View text Current pdf

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill mandates a community approach for four-year-old kindergarten programs and establishes specific contracting requirements between school boards and community-based providers.

• 119.04 (1)

  118.07, 118.075, → 118.143,

  Adds the new section 118.143 to the list of applicable laws, making community approach requirements for four-year-old kindergarten part of the public instruction laws.

• 118.143 Four-year-old kindergarten; community approach contracts.

  Creates a new statute that outlines requirements for four-year-old kindergarten using a community approach.

• 118.143

  Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, if a school board provides a 4-year-old kindergarten program, the school board shall offer the 4-year-old kindergarten program using a community approach to early education, as defined by the department by rule.

  Requires school boards offering four-year-old kindergarten to adopt a community approach.

• 118.143

  A community-based provider is eligible for a contract under par. (c) if all of the following apply: 1. The community-based provider is licensed by the department of children and families. 2. The community-based provider is in good standing with the department of children and families. 3. The community-based provider is located within the boundaries of the school district. 4. The community-based provider notifies the school board of its intent to offer a 4-year-old kindergarten program by no later than February 1 of the preceding school year.

  Specifies eligibility criteria for community-based providers to enter contracts with school boards.

• 118.143

  A contract or agreement between a school board and an eligible community-based provider for the operation of a 4-year-old kindergarten program shall include... a per pupil payment for each pupil enrolled in a school district who is attending the 4-year-old kindergarten program at the community-based provider that is no less than 95 percent of the local per pupil funding amount.

  Mandates that contracts include a specified minimum payment amount for community-based providers.

• 118.143

  A contract or agreement between a school board and an eligible community-based provider may not require... the community-based provider to administer assessments that are not required by state or federal law.

  Prohibits unnecessary assessment requirements on community-based providers in their contracts.

• 118.143

  Notwithstanding ss. 118.19 (1) and 121.02 (1) (a), a teacher who teaches in a 4-year-old kindergarten program offered at a community-based provider under a contract or agreement is not required to hold a certificate, license, or permit to teach issued by the department.

  Exempts teachers at community-based providers from needing teaching licenses.

• 118.143

  A teacher who teaches in a 4-year-old kindergarten program offered at a community-based provider shall have a bachelor's degree or a degree or educational credential higher than a bachelor's degree.

  Establishes educational requirements for teachers at community-based provider programs.

• 118.143

  A teacher may teach in a 4-year-old kindergarten program offered at a community-based provider if the teacher has an associate degree in early childhood education and intends to obtain a bachelor's degree within four years.

  Allows teachers with an associate degree to teach if they are pursuing a bachelor's degree.

• 118.143

  Notwithstanding s. 121.54, a school board is not required to provide transportation to pupils enrolled in a school district who attend a 4-year-old kindergarten program offered at a community-based provider.

  Clarifies that school boards are not required to provide transportation for students attending community-based provider programs.

Action History

1. April 15, 2024

   Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1

2. February 07, 2024

   Public hearing held

3. February 06, 2024

   Fiscal estimate received

4. February 05, 2024

   Representative Hong withdrawn as a coauthor

5. February 01, 2024

   Read first time and referred to Committee on Children and Families

6. February 01, 2024

   Introduced by Representatives Goeben, Hurd, Armstrong, Behnke, Born, Dittrich, Hong, S. Johnson, Murphy, O'Connor and Summerfield

Sponsors

• Joy Goeben · Primary
• Karen Hurd · Primary
• David Armstrong · Primary
• Elijah Behnke · Primary
• Mark Born · Primary
• Barbara Dittrich · Primary
• Francesca Hong · Primary
• David Murphy · Primary
• Jerry O'Connor · Primary
• Rob Summerfield · Primary
• Tara Johnson · Primary

Subjects