We know that high quality early learning programs can change a child's life. This is especially true for our children in the School Readiness program. Research shows that positive teacher-child interactions improve child outcomes starting in preschool. It's no wonder that early learning has caught the attention of our state leaders.

During the 2018 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill (HB 1091) that increases quality and accountability in the School Readiness Program. The Office of Early Learning will lead the implementation of this legislation in partnership with your local early learning coalition. There will be opportunities for your input in the Office of Early Learning's rule-making process. The ELC of Pinellas will be holding local "town halls" to further explain what the new 1091 law means for SR providers--click here to be directed to the registration links at the bottom of this page.  In the meantime, here's an outline of what you can expect.

Effective July 1, 2018

• Program Assessment (CLASS®)
  School Readiness providers serving children birth-5 will be required to participate in a program assessment observation, specifically the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). This assessment measures the quality of interactions between the teachers and children. Many of you have already experienced this through Florida's Early Learning Performance Funding Project (ELPFP) or other quality programs. There will be no cost to providers for this annual assessment.

Effective July 1, 2019

• School Readiness Quality Performance Incentive
  Qualifying providers may receive a payment differential based on their CLASS scores. Also, providers implementing an approved child assessment may be eligible for an additional payment differential up to 5 percent. The total available payment differential for both CLASS scores and implementation of child assessments will not exceed 15 percent.
• Minimum Thresholds
  School Readiness providers must meet a minimum score on the CLASS tool to be eligible for a School Readiness contract.
• Quality Improvement Plans
  School Readiness providers who meet the minimum quality score, but are still emerging in quality (to be defined in rule), will be placed on a mandatory Quality Improvement Plan. Coalitions will identify performance goals and quality improvement strategies to help these providers meet quality scores.

What is the program assessment?
The program assessment is the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS). The CLASS assessment is recognized internationally for capturing the elements within a classroom that improve child outcomes. This assessment primarily measures the quality of the classroom interactions between the teachers and children. Providers who have not participated in CLASS will have an opportunity to learn more about CLASS in the months to come. For more information about CLASS, visit  teachstone.com/class/ .

 

How can I prepare for the CLASS observation?

Apply for the Early Learning Performance Funding Project . Why wait until 2019 to get started? You can get a jump-start on professional development and improving your score. Let us help you now, before it is mandatory. Applications for PFP are open May 30, 2018!

Get Familiar with the CLASS tool. The Office of Early Learning will be offering several opportunities to learn more about the CLASS tool. We strongly encourage providers to take advantage of these opportunities as they become available. These resources will help practitioners become familiar with the CLASS tool and learn more about the impact of quality teacher-child interactions on children's cognitive and social outcomes.

Attend Making the Most of Classroom Interactions (MMCI). MMCI is an interactive course for teachers led by Teachstone®-trained coaches in your coalition's service area. Over the course of 10 sessions, your coach provides in-person training to teachers, preparing them to identify, understand and apply stronger CLASS interactions in their classrooms. For more information on MMCI course offerings, please contact Angela Loring at [email protected]

We will be holding multiple "Town Hall" meetings to help providers navigate through HB1091, and answer any questions that may arise. Please choose an option from the list below that is most convenient.

Tuesday, May 22nd

1:00pm-3:00pm	PTC 904 34th St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33711	REGISTER
6:30pm-8:30pm	PTC 904 34th St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33711	REGISTER

 

Wednesday, May 23rd

1:00pm-2:00pm

*Online Video Conference Call

REGISTER

*must have access to computer, internet and phone

Wednesday, May 30th

1:00pm-3:00pm	ELC Office 2536 Countryside Blvd. #500 Clearwater, FL 33763	REGISTER
6:30pm-8:30pm	ELC Office 2536 Countryside Blvd. #500 Clearwater, FL 33763	REGISTER

Thursday, May 31st

5:00pm-6:00pm

*Online Video Conference Call

REGISTER

*must have access to computer, internet and phone