Today's Law As Amended


Bill PDF |Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-2001 Family child care home education networks.(2017-2018)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 8245 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8245.
 (a) For each fiscal year, for the purposes of this chapter, reimbursement rates for full-day California state preschool shall be adjusted by the following reimbursement factors: The Superintendent, with funds appropriated for this purpose, shall contract with authorized entities to operate family child care home education networks that support educational objectives for children in licensed family child care homes that serve families eligible for subsidized child care. 
(b) Family child care home education network programs shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Prior to January 1, 2022, California state preschool program providers serving children for not less than four hours per day, and less than six and one-half hours per day, the reimbursement factor is 75 percent of the standard reimbursement rate.  Age- and developmentally-appropriate activities for children. 
(2) Prior to January 1, 2022, California state preschool program providers serving children for not less than six and one-half hours per day, and less than 10 and one-half hours per day, the reimbursement factor is 100 percent of the standard reimbursement rate. Care and supervision of children. 
(3) Parenting education.
(3) (4)  For California state preschool program providers serving children for 10 and one-half hours or more per day, the reimbursement factor is 118 percent of the standard reimbursement rate. Identification of child and family social or health needs and referral of the child or the family to the appropriate social or health services. 
(5)  Nutrition education and training.
(b) (6)  It is the intent of the Legislature, notwithstanding the difference between the standard reimbursement rate and the regional market rate, to support serving children for the length of day that is appropriate under a provider’s contract. Training and support for the network’s family child care home providers and staff. 
(7) Assessment of each family child care home provider to ensure that services are of high quality and are educationally and developmentally appropriate. Tools used to make an assessment shall be appropriate to family child care home settings.
(8) Developmental profiles for children enrolled in the program.
(9)  Maintenance of a folder, known as a developmental portfolio, for each child that includes, among other items, a child’s work product and observations of the child.
(10) Opportunities for parent involvement.

SEC. 2.

 Section 8246 of the Education Code is amended to read:

8246.
 (a)  A family child care home education network contractor, in addition to the requirements set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 8245, shall do all of the following:
(1) Recruit, enroll, and certify eligible families.
(2) Recruit, train, support, and reimburse licensed family child care home providers.
(3)  Ensure collection of family fees in accordance with contract requirements.
(4) Develop and implement a plan for timely payment to providers.
(5) Assess, according to standards set by the department, the educational quality of the program offered in each family child care home in the network using assessment tools that are appropriate to family child care home settings.
(6)  Complete a developmental profile for each child based upon observations of network staff, and in accordance with the provider’s observations, by doing at least both of the following:
(A) In consultation with the provider, completing the developmental child assessment profile selected by the department. The contractor’s child development specialist shall sign the developmental profile.
(B) Utilizing the developmental portfolio, as described in paragraph (9) of subdivision (b) of Section 8245, maintained by the provider, including provider observations of each child.
(7) Conduct a parent survey as directed by the department.
(8) Ensure that parent conferences are offered to the parent of each enrolled child. The parent may decline a parent conference.
(9) Monitor each family child care home affiliated with the network to ensure that requirements are met, including, but not limited to, basic health, nutrition, and quality standards.
(10) Provide data and reporting in accordance with contract requirements.
(11) Conduct no less than six site visits to each affiliated provider in a program year for purposes of conducting assessments and providing technical assistance, training, and support.
(12) Support the affiliated providers in meeting the standards for program quality by reviewing, observing, and assessing the providers’ program components, and providing technical assistance, training, and coaching.
(13) Offer providers at least 12 hours annually of training and technical assistance in group or individual settings. Training may include, but is not limited to, the following:
(A) Age- and developmentally-appropriate educational practices and activities for children.
(B) Appropriate care and supervision of children.
(C) Engaging parents in the program and providing parenting information on age-appropriate child development and activities.
(D) Menu planning and nutrition information.
(E) Provider and family communication.
(F) Understanding the developmental measures of the developmental profile child assessment instrument.
(G) Individualizing the provider’s program to meet the needs of each child in the provider’s care by using the results of the developmental profile.
(14) Employ at least one child development specialist who has educational qualifications equivalent to a child development teacher permit, to provide training, technical assistance, and coaching to providers. Notwithstanding any other law, family child care home education network providers shall not be required to employ individuals with child development teacher permits.
(15) Maintain a signed, written agreement with each affiliated provider and an authorized representative of the family child care home education network. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(A) The provider’s status as an independent contractor with the family child care home education network.
(B) The provider’s nondiscrimination policy.
(C) The established reimbursement rates.
The (b)   Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Controller shall establish the necessary plans to advance preschool funds to contracting agencies. A family child care home education network contractor is not required to maintain a parent advisory committee. 

SEC. 3.

 Section 8248 is added to the Education Code, to read:

8248.
 (a) A provider in a family child care home education network shall adopt and use a curriculum or curricula, of the provider’s choosing, appropriate for the age range of children in the home.
(b) In order to ensure educational quality for children, the contractor may adopt a policy limiting the curricula acceptable within its network. The policy shall include not less than three curricula, and the contractor may approve provider-developed curricula if they are educational and appropriate for the age ranges of children in the homes.

SEC. 4.

 Section 8249 is added to the Education Code, to read:

8249.
 (a) A provider in a family child care home education network shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide age- and developmentally-appropriate educational activities for children.
(2) Provide care and supervision of children.
(3) Provide parenting education to parents. Parenting education may include, but is not limited to, general program information and formal or informal parent conferences and exchange of information about the development, needs, and skills of the parents’ child or children.
(4) Identify child and family social service or health needs, and share those needs with the contractor.
(5) Provide nutrition that is consistent with standards of the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program of the United States Department of Agriculture.
(6) Work in consultation with the contractor to complete the developmental profile for each child, including doing all of the following:
(A) In consultation with the contractor, complete the developmental profile child assessment instrument.
(B) Maintain a developmental portfolio, as described in paragraph (9) of subdivision (b) of Section 8245, for each child that includes items produced by the child. A copy of this portfolio shall be shared with the family child care home education network contractor for purposes of department review.
(C) Maintain observations and other documentation of the child’s skills.
(D) Conduct or participate in parent conferences per contractor policies.
(7) Provide the contractor with copies of all citations issued to the provider by the Community Care Licensing Division of the State Department of Social Services within five calendar days of the issuing date of the citation.
(8) Obtain no less than 12 hours of professional training per year, and maintain documentation of the training for three years. Training may include group or individual training provided by the contractor, or training provided by other qualified individuals or organizations.
(b) A provider may, but is not required to, encourage parent involvement in the provider’s family child care home education network program.
(c) A provider is not required to maintain a parent advisory committee.