FL S1688

Reorganizes Florida's early learning governance by transferring the Office of Early Learning from an independent office to a Division of Early Learning within the Department of Education, eliminating the Office of Early Learning and the Florida Early Learning Advisory Council

Creates a coordinated screening and progress-monitoring program for students from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program through grade 3, requiring assessments within 30 days of enrollment, midyear, and within 30 days of year end beginning in the 2021-2022 school year

Establishes a new grading system (A through F) for VPK providers based on program assessments weighted at approximately 50% and learning gains, with differential payments up to 15% above base rates for high-performing providers and removal of providers scoring below minimum thresholds

Creates the Council for Early Grade Success, a 15-member body to oversee the screening and progress-monitoring program and provide recommendations to support grade 3 students reading at or above grade level

Moves the Gold Seal Quality Care Program from the Department of Children and Families to the Department of Education, requiring participating providers to receive a minimum 20% rate differential for school readiness children, with potential increases up to 40% for maintaining accrediting body standards