SB 1382 — Access to School Readiness Programs for Economically Disadvantaged Households

Summary

Access to School Readiness Programs for Economically Disadvantaged Households; Revising the Department of Education’s duties for adopting specific program support services to coordinate a comprehensive early learning program; revising duties of early learning coalitions relating to the creation of a uniform waiting list; revising requirements for the school readiness program plan, etc.

Bill Text

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill revises various definitions, requirements, and duties related to school readiness programs in Florida, particularly for economically disadvantaged households.

• 1002.81

  "Economically disadvantaged" means having a family income that does not exceed 65 percent of the state median income 150 percent of the federal poverty level and includes being a child of a working migratory family as defined by 34 C.F.R. s. 200.81(d) or (f) or an agricultural worker who is employed by more than one agricultural employer during the course of a year, and whose income varies according to weather conditions and market stability. → "Economically disadvantaged" means having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level and includes being a child of a working migratory family as defined by 34 C.F.R. s. 200.81(d) or (f) or an agricultural worker who is employed by more than one agricultural employer during the course of a year, and whose income varies according to weather conditions and market stability.

  This change enhances the definition of 'economically disadvantaged' by removing the reference to 65 percent of the state median income.

• 1002.81

  "Single point of entry" means an integrated information system that allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school readiness program or the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at various locations throughout a county, that may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone or through a website, and that uses a uniform waiting list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the school readiness program based on family household income and by the priorities established pursuant to s. 1002.87. → "Single point of entry" means an integrated information system that allows a parent to enroll his or her child in the school readiness program or the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at various locations throughout a county, that may allow a parent to enroll his or her child by telephone or through a website, and that uses a uniform waiting list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the school readiness program based on family household income and by the priorities established pursuant to s. 1002.87.

  This change maintains the definition of 'single point of entry' but does not modify its content.

• 1002.82(2)

  Shall adopt specific program support services that address the state’s school readiness program, including: → Shall establish a unified approach to the state’s efforts to coordinate a comprehensive early learning program. In support of this effort, the department:

  This change emphasizes a unified approach to early learning program coordination.

• 1002.82(2)

  or through a website, and that uses a uniform waiting list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the school readiness program based on family household income and by the priorities established pursuant to s. 1002.87.

  This emphasizes the requirement for a uniform waiting list without changing details.

• 1002.84(2)

  Establish a uniform waiting list to track eligible children waiting for enrollment in the school readiness program based on family household income and the priorities established pursuant to s. 1002.87, and in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education.

  This maintains the requirement for a uniform waiting list in early learning coalitions.

• 1002.85(2)(b)

  The coalition’s procedures for implementing the requirements of this part, including:

  This clarifies that the procedures must include the single point of entry and waiting list.

• 1002.87(1)(c)

  A child from birth to the beginning of the school year for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. who is from a working family that is economically disadvantaged, with a household income at or less than 55 percent of the state median income, and may include such child’s eligible siblings, beginning with the school year in which the sibling is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. until the beginning of the school year in which the sibling is eligible to begin 6th grade, provided that the first priority for funding an eligible sibling is local revenues available to the coalition for funding direct services. → A child from birth to the beginning of the school year for which the child is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. who is from a working family that is economically disadvantaged, with a household income less than 65 percent of the state median income, and may include such child’s eligible siblings, beginning with the school year in which the sibling is eligible for admission to kindergarten in a public school under s. 1003.21(1)(a)2. until the beginning of the school year in which the sibling is eligible to begin 6th grade, provided that the first priority for funding an eligible sibling is local revenues available to the coalition for funding direct services.

  This adjusts the income threshold for prioritizing children in school readiness programs.

Action History

1. April 29, 2025

   Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1255 (Ch. 2025-110)

2. April 29, 2025

   Substituted CS/CS/HB 859 (Died in returning Messages)

3. April 29, 2025

   Read 2nd time

4. April 23, 2025

   Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/29/25

5. April 23, 2025

   Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

6. April 22, 2025

   Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0

7. April 17, 2025

   On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/22/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building

8. April 15, 2025

   CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education read 1st time

9. April 14, 2025

   Now in Fiscal Policy

10. April 14, 2025

    Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

11. April 10, 2025

    CS by Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

12. April 07, 2025

    On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education, 04/10/25, 8:30 am, 37 Senate Building

13. March 18, 2025

    Now in Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

14. March 17, 2025

    Favorable by Education Pre-K - 12; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

15. March 12, 2025

    On Committee agenda-- Education Pre-K - 12, 03/17/25, 4:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

16. March 10, 2025

    Introduced

17. March 06, 2025

    Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education; Fiscal Policy

18. February 26, 2025

    Filed

Sponsors

• Alexis Calatayud · Primary
• Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education · Primary

Votes

Subjects