What Is? - School Readiness
The School Readiness Act was passed into law by the Florida Legislature in May of 1999. The intent of the School Readiness Act was to create a locally designed, operated, and managed system of fully integrated and coordinated school readiness programs with a state-level partnership providing overall leadership for coordinating programmatic, administrative, and fiscal policies and standards. Local coalitions are responsible for examining local programs and delivery systems, establishing concrete steps to improve service integration, efficiency, and quality, and developing an evaluation plan to measure progress in meeting the goals it establishes. In order to accomplish these requirements, coalitions must understand the strengths and needs in their communities and develop multiple community partnerships and action steps for service continuation, service improvements, and to address gaps in service. Service delivery, as defined by the Act, includes early education and care, screening and assessment, and parenting supports. Local coalitions are required to develop strategies to bring school readiness partners together, develop concrete steps to integrate services, identify mechanisms to increase efficiencies, and implement quality improvement activities.
School Readiness Goals:
The School Readiness Act requires a community plan to address the needs of all eligible children. In order for children to be ready for school, the following goals (as identified in F.S. 411.01) must be addressed in the community plan:- School readiness programs shall prepare children for success in school.
- School readiness programs shall involve parents as their child’s first teacher and support family skill building.
- School readiness programs shall be an integrated and seamless system of services and shall be implemented through local coalitions.
- School readiness programs shall be coordinated and public funding integrated to achieve effectiveness and efficiency.
Links
Early Learning Coalition of Manatee CountyFlorida School Readiness Act
Florida Office of Early Learning - Agency for Workforce Innovation (OEL-AWI)
