The School Readiness Act of 1999, as amended, Florida Statute 411.01 requires that the school readiness program must meet certain expectations:

One of these expectations is the following:

The early learning coalition must implement a comprehensive program of school readiness services that enhance the cognitive, social, and physical development of children to achieve the performance standards and outcome measures adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. At a minimum, these programs must contain the following elements:

a. Developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to enhance the age-appropriate progress of children in attaining the performance standards adopted by the Agency for Workforce Innovation. (for additional information on these standards see F.S. 411.01 (4(d)8).

b. A character development program to develop basic values.

To view a list of Pre-Approved Curricula for use in Palm Beach County, please click here.

Goals for Curriculum Use

1. Ensure that a developmentally appropriate curriculum approved by the Early Learning Coalition is being used by all school readiness providers. 
   
2. Ensure that the school readiness provider is using a character education program or that character education is embedded in their approved curriculum.
   
3. By July 2010:  Ensure that the school readiness provider’s lesson plans and/or activities are aligned with the identified curriculum.
   
4. Ensure that lesson plans/schedules accommodates for reading to all children birth to five years for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.

Schedule for the Process

January 2009 – June 2009:  

1. All school readiness providers will identify a Coalition approved curriculum or submit their curriculum for review and approval.
   
2. Monitoring staff will assist in providing referrals for assistance in areas of deficits.
   
3. If a curriculum is in place the monitoring staff will share information with the school readiness provider regarding training plan requirements.

July 2009 – June 2010:       

1. School readiness Providers will be required to have a training plan that assists in the full implementation of the approved curriculum chosen.
   
2. For the July 2009 – June 2010 year the rate agreement will have a modification to add the phase 2 and Phase 3 expectations.
   
3. Providers will be given the curriculum implementation checklist with their rate agreements. The checklist will be completed as a self assessment and returned to FCI.  The information gathered will be used to determine training and TA needs.
   
4. Referrals will be provided for any area of deficit.

July 2010 – June 2011:

1. Providers will be monitored against a curriculum implementation checklist