FL H1091

Revises the definition of "at-risk child" to include children in the custody of a parent who is considered a victim of domestic violence and is receiving services through a certified domestic violence center.

Requires the Office of Early Learning to identify observation-based child assessments that are valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate for use at least three times a year to measure progress in early childhood development domains.

Establishes a program assessment for school readiness providers that measures teacher-child interactions and includes quality measures with minimum thresholds, and requires a differential payment program (up to 15 percent) based on quality measures, with implementation by July 1, 2019.

Allows providers failing to meet minimum quality measures established under the program assessment to be terminated after up to 5 years, unless the coalition determines the provider is essential to meeting capacity needs and has an active improvement plan.

Appropriates $6 million in nonrecurring funds from the Child Care and Development Block Grant Trust Fund for fiscal year 2018-2019 to implement the program assessment, with the bill taking effect July 1, 2018.