FL H0153

Establishes a 5-year Literacy Jump Start Pilot Project in St. Lucie County administered by the Office of Early Learning to provide emergent literacy instruction to low-income, at-risk children ages 2-3.

Requires the Office of Early Learning to select a not-for-profit organization (such as the Parent Academy of St. Lucie County) to implement the program, with instruction delivered in subsidized housing units within eligible municipalities.

Limits child eligibility to children ages 2-3 who are eligible for federally subsidized child care and whose family income does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

Requires all child care personnel to complete background screening, instructors to complete approved emergent literacy training, and annual accountability reports detailing expenditures and outcomes to be submitted to state officials and the Early Learning Coalition.

Authorizes the Office of Early Learning to allocate funds for pilot implementation and encourages coordination with the St. Lucie County Health Department for health screening and immunization services; effective July 1, 2015.