FL H1229

Creates the Committee on Early Grade Success within the Department of Education to develop a proposal for establishing a coordinated child assessment system for School Readiness Program, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, and Kindergarten Readiness Assessment.

Committee proposal must include legislative recommendations addressing assessment purpose, tool selection attributes, implementation schedule and protocols, data collection and analysis methodology, budget and cost analyses, and student privacy considerations.

Committee consists of 17 members: 3 appointed by the Governor (including representatives from Office of Early Learning, Department of Education, and a parent of a 3-6 year old child) and 14 jointly appointed by the Senate President and House Speaker (including school and early learning representatives, educators, subject matter experts, and legislative members).

Committee chair must be selected from the four subject matter experts in early learning, early grade success, or child assessments; vice chair must be a legislatively-appointed member who is not a subject matter expert; committee members serve without compensation but receive per diem and travel reimbursement.

Committee must meet at least three times, with majority of members constituting a quorum; University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning provides necessary staff; committee expires upon submitting report to Governor and legislature by December 1, 2017.