1002.88 School readiness program provider standards; eligibility to deliver the school readiness program.—
(1) To be eligible to deliver the school readiness program, a school readiness program provider must:
(a) Be a child care facility licensed under s. 402.305, a family day care home licensed or registered under s. 402.313, a large family child care home licensed under s. 402.3131, a public school or nonpublic school exempt from licensure under s. 402.3025, a faith-based child care provider exempt from licensure under s. 402.316, a before-school or after-school program described in s. 402.305(1)(c), a child development program that is accredited by a national accrediting body and operates on a military installation that is certified by the United States Department of Defense, an informal child care provider to the extent authorized in the state’s Child Care and Development Fund Plan as approved by the United States Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to 45 C.F.R. s. 98.18, or a provider who has been issued a provisional license pursuant to s. 402.309. A provider may not deliver the program while holding a probation-status license under s. 402.310.
(b) Provide instruction and activities to enhance the age-appropriate progress of each child in attaining the child development standards adopted by the department pursuant to s. 1002.82(2)(j). A provider should include activities to foster brain development in infants and toddlers; provide an environment that is rich in language and music and filled with objects of various colors, shapes, textures, and sizes to stimulate visual, tactile, auditory, and linguistic senses; and include 30 minutes of reading to children each day.
(c) Provide basic health and safety of its premises and facilities and compliance with requirements for age-appropriate immunizations of children enrolled in the school readiness program.
1. For a provider that is licensed, compliance with s. 402.305, s. 402.3131, or s. 402.313 and this subsection, as verified pursuant to s. 402.311, satisfies this requirement.
2. For a provider that is a registered family day care home or is not subject to licensure or registration by the Department of Children and Families, compliance with this subsection, as verified pursuant to s. 402.311, satisfies this requirement. Upon verification pursuant to s. 402.311, the provider shall annually post the health and safety checklist adopted by the department prominently on its premises in plain sight for visitors and parents and shall annually submit the checklist to its local early learning coalition.
3. For a child development program that is accredited by a national accrediting body and operates on a military installation that is certified by the United States Department of Defense, the submission and verification of annual inspections pursuant to United States Department of Defense Instructions 6060.2 and 1402.05 satisfies this requirement.
(d) Provide an appropriate group size and staff-to-children ratio.
(e) Employ child care personnel, as defined in s. 402.302(3), who have satisfied the screening requirements of chapter 402 and fulfilled the training requirements of the department.
(f) Implement one of the curricula approved by the department that meets the child development standards.
(g) Implement a character development program to develop basic values.
(h) Participate in the program assessment under s. 1002.82(2)(n).
(i) Collaborate with the respective early learning coalition to complete initial screening for each child, aged 6 weeks to kindergarten eligibility, within 45 days after the child’s first or subsequent enrollment, to identify a child who may need individualized supports.
(j) Implement minimum standards for child discipline practices that are age-appropriate and consistent with the requirements in s. 402.305(12). Such standards must provide that children not be subjected to discipline that is severe, humiliating, or frightening or discipline that is associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited.
(k) Obtain and keep on file record of the child’s immunizations, physical development, and other health requirements as necessary, including appropriate vision and hearing screening and examination, within 30 days after enrollment.
(l) Implement before-school or after-school programs that meet or exceed the requirements of s. 402.305(5), (6), and (7).
(m) For a provider that is not an informal provider, maintain general liability insurance and provide the coalition with written evidence of general liability insurance coverage, including coverage for transportation of children if school readiness program children are transported by the provider. A provider must obtain and retain an insurance policy that provides a minimum of $100,000 of coverage per occurrence and a minimum of $300,000 general aggregate coverage. The department may authorize lower limits upon request, as appropriate. A provider must add the coalition as a named certificateholder and as an additional insured. A provider must provide the coalition with a minimum of 10 calendar days’ advance written notice of cancellation of or changes to coverage. The general liability insurance required by this paragraph must remain in full force and effect for the entire period of the provider contract with the coalition.
(n) For a provider that is an informal provider, comply with the provisions of paragraph (m) or maintain homeowner’s liability insurance and, if applicable, a business rider. If an informal provider chooses to maintain a homeowner’s policy, the provider must obtain and retain a homeowner’s insurance policy that provides a minimum of $100,000 of coverage per occurrence and a minimum of $300,000 general aggregate coverage. The department may authorize lower limits upon request, as appropriate. An informal provider must add the coalition as a named certificateholder and as an additional insured. An informal provider must provide the coalition with a minimum of 10 calendar days’ advance written notice of cancellation of or changes to coverage. The general liability insurance required by this paragraph must remain in full force and effect for the entire period of the provider’s contract with the coalition.
(o) Obtain and maintain any required workers’ compensation insurance under chapter 440 and any required reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation coverage under chapter 443.
(p) Notwithstanding paragraph (m), for a provider that is a state agency or a subdivision thereof, as defined in s. 768.28(2), agree to notify the coalition of any additional liability coverage maintained by the provider in addition to that otherwise established under s. 768.28. The provider shall indemnify the coalition to the extent permitted by s. 768.28. Notwithstanding paragraph (m), for a child development program that is accredited by a national accrediting body and operates on a military installation that is certified by the United States Department of Defense, the provider may demonstrate liability coverage by affirming that it is subject to the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. ss. 2671 et seq.
(q) Execute the standard statewide provider contract adopted by the department.
(r) Operate on a full-time and part-time basis and provide extended-day and extended-year services to the maximum extent possible without compromising the quality of the program to meet the needs of parents who work.
(s) Collect all parent copayment fees unless a waiver has been granted under s. 1002.84(9).
(2)(a) If a school readiness program provider fails or refuses to comply with this part or any contractual obligation of the statewide provider contract under s. 1002.82(2)(m), the coalition may revoke the provider’s eligibility to deliver the school readiness program or receive state or federal funds under this chapter for a period of 5 years.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a school readiness program provider has been cited for a class I violation, as defined by rule, the coalition may refuse to contract with the provider or revoke the provider’s eligibility to deliver the school readiness program.
(3) The department and the coalitions may not:
(a) Impose any requirement on a child care provider or early childhood education provider that does not deliver services under the school readiness program or receive state or federal funds under this part;
(b) Impose any requirement on a school readiness program provider that exceeds the authority provided under this part or part V of this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this part or part V of this chapter; or
(c) Require a provider to administer a preassessment or postassessment.
History.—s. 17, ch. 2013-252; s. 19, ch. 2016-238; s. 21, ch. 2018-6; s. 6, ch. 2018-136; s. 53, ch. 2021-10.
