Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Definitions.
(a) "Customer service satisfaction survey" is
a questionnaire of performance that measures customers' or related
stakeholders' level of satisfaction with services.
(b) "Early learning programs" means the local
administration of the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Network,
School Readiness (SR) and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs.
(c) "Needs Improvement" means there is
moderate evidence that performance standards are satisfactorily met.
(d) "Not Substantially Met" means there is
little to no evidence that performance standards are satisfactorily
met.
(e) "Performance level" is a
description of how high or low a performance rating is within a performance
standard.
(f) "Performance rating"
means the final performance level resulting from an evaluation of performance
standards.
(g) "Performance
standards" are the criteria that will establish how well an early learning
coalition implements the service delivery and local administration of the
CCR&R Network, SR, and VPK programs.
(h) "Substantially Met" means there is
evidence that most or all performance standards are satisfactorily
met.
(2) Early Learning
Coalition Performance Standards. The Division of Early Learning (DEL) shall
measure the ability of each early learning coalition to meet performance
standards using data from requirements in the DEL Grant Agreement, review of
school readiness plans, compliance with the customer service satisfaction
survey requirements, and CCR&R, SR, and VPK programmatic and fiscal
monitoring, at a minimum.
(a) DEL shall
evaluate the coalitions on the following performance standards:
1. Coalition submits early learning program
grant agreement deliverables and reports on or before the due date;
2. Coalition maintains and provides CCR&R
services in accordance with Rule
6M-9.300, F.A.C.;
3. Coalition implements the school readiness
program according to its DEL approved SR coalition plan pursuant to Rule
6M-9.115, F.A.C.;
4. Coalition maintains compliance with
financial management requirements for early learning programs (i.e., fiscal
reports, revenue, and expenditures); and
5. Coalition completes corrective action
plans within required timeframe, if applicable.
(b) Coalitions will receive a performance
rating, as outlined in paragraph (4)(a) below, based on the outcome of the
evaluation.
(3) Customer
Service Satisfaction Survey. The customer service satisfaction survey will be
completed by parents, child care providers, CCR&R customers, and early
learning coalition board members required under Section
1002.83, F.S.
(a) Beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023, the
customer satisfaction survey shall be disseminated to:
1. Customers upon completion of a CCR&R
inquiry in accordance with Rule
6M-9.300, F.A.C.;
2. Parents upon an initial eligibility
determination, and annually thereafter at redetermination, for the SR or VPK
programs, as applicable;
3. Child
care providers upon execution of the statewide provider contract for
participation in SR or VPK programs; and,
4. Early learning coalition board members
annually.
(b) An early
learning coalition with survey results below sixty (60) percent will be placed
on a corrective action plan for a period of one (1) year.
(4) Early Learning Coalition Performance
Outcomes and Evaluations. The outcome measures from evaluations of performance
standards identified in paragraph (2)(a) of this rule will determine the
coalition's performance rating.
(a) A
summative performance rating. DEL shall determine each coalition's performance
rating using these performance levels: substantially met, needs improvement, or
not substantially met. Performance levels measure compliance with performance
standard criterions that indicate the coalition's effectiveness in the
implementation and financial management of early learning programs.
(b) Needs Improvement Performance Ratings.
The DEL will provide an early learning coalition with recommendations for
improving performance in identified criteria. An early learning coalition may
request technical assistance from the DEL for implementing
recommendations.
(c) Not
Substantially Met Performance Ratings. The DEL shall issue a corrective action
plan to an early learning coalition with a performance rating of "not
substantially met" or a customer service satisfaction survey result below sixty
(60) percent. Corrective action plans shall include technical assistance, staff
professional development, or coaching. If a coalition fails to receive a
customer service satisfaction survey result at or above the sixty (60) percent
threshold after the one (1) year corrective action period or does not receive a
performance rating above "not substantially met" at the next evaluation, the
DEL may opt to contract with a qualified entity to continue the delivery of
CCR&R, SR, and VPK services in the coalition's service area until the DEL
reestablishes the coalition's eligibility or merges the coalition with an
existing early learning coalition that has substantially met the performance
standards.
(5) Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) or Executive Director Evaluation. The Early Learning
Coalition Board Chair or other delegated member(s) shall annually complete the
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Annual Performance Evaluation, Form
DEL-SR 120, August 2022, for the ELC's CEO or executive director. The
evaluation must be completed and submitted to DEL by August 30 of each year.
The Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director Annual Performance Evaluation,
Form DEL-SR 120, August 2022, is incorporated by reference and a copy may be
obtained from the DEL's website at www.floridaearlylearning.com or from
the following link: (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14589).
(6) Early Learning Coalition Mergers.
Coalitions that fail to satisfactorily meet the requirements in subsections (3)
and (4) above, may be required to merge their services with another coalition.
(a) Coalitions required to merge must submit
the following documentation to DEL within thirty (30) calendar days of
receiving written notification:
1. Statement
of coalition's current service area by county;
2. A description of proposed allocation of
personnel services;
3. The current
financial situation and the anticipated financial situation for two grant
program years;
4. Active contracts
related to service providers or material service organizations that will remain
part of the coalition's service delivery model;
5. The process by which continuity of
services, programs, and operations will be ensured;
6. Identification of the method proposed to
reallocate board membership positions among the counties in the newly proposed
service area;
7. A description of
any proposed improvements or changes to coordinate and reduce the wait list for
the newly merged or changed service area;
8. A description of any proposed changes to
the service delivery model (i.e., use of a material service organization,
contracted service provider, outsourced fiscal management or program services,
etc.); and,
9. A description of any
record management systems not captured in the Statewide Single Information
System.
(b) DEL will
notify the impacted adjacent coalitions of an intent to merge within fifteen
(15) calendar days of receiving the documentation in paragraph (6)(a) above.
1. The impacted coalition(s) must submit a
response to DEL within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving the intent,
which may include the following:
a. A
statement of support for merging with the coalition;
b. A statement identifying any additional
information the coalition requires to be able to continue the operations of the
merging coalition;
c. A statement
of interest in alternate arrangements for merging specific portions of the
coalition's service area.
2. An impacted adjacent coalition may review
the intent to merge with the board's Executive Committee in the event the full
governing board meeting will not be held within the required response time
deadline.
(c) The DEL
will review documentation submitted, applicable coalition corrective action
plan results and performance standard outcome measures within the previous two
consecutive years to approve a coalition merger. Approved coalition mergers
require a coalition to develop a merger plan that includes procedures for
consolidation that minimize duplication of programs and services and for the
early termination of the terms of the coalition members required to accomplish
the merger. This plan must be submitted to DEL for review within thirty (30)
calendar days from the DEL approval date.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1),
(2)(n),
1002.82(3),
(5),
1002.83(14) FS.
Law Implemented 1002.82(3), (5), 1002. 83(14)
FS.
New 8-16-22.
