Resolution 055-2023 h
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION NO. 055 - 2023
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS URGING THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE TO (1)AMEND THE SCHOOL READINESS
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO INCREASE
ACCESS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND; (2) INCREASE CHILD
CARE PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENT RATES
STATEWIDE TO OFFSET HIGHER OPERATIONAL
COSTS INCURRED BY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS
WHILE ENSURING THAT COUNTIES RECEIVE AT
LEAST AS MUCH FUNDING AS RECEIVED IN THE
PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.
WHEREAS, Florida's School Readiness Program provides subsidies for child care
services and early childhood education for children who are (1) from low-income families; (2) in
protective services and victims or at risk of abuse, neglect, abandonment, or homelessness; (3)
foster children; and(4) children with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the program not only helps young children prepare for school, but also
provides child care so a parent can work or attend a training or education program; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Education's Division of Early Learning
administers the program at the state level and early learning coalitions administer the program at
the county and regional levels; and
WHEREAS, the program's two main goals are to help families become financially self-
sufficient and to help each child develop school readiness skills; and
WHEREAS, many working parents across Monroe County in retail, hospitality,
restaurants, and"essential"jobs—are beneficiaries of Florida's School Readiness Program; and
WHEREAS, under section 1002.87(1), Florida Statutes, children eligible for the program
include children of a certain age who are from "economically disadvantaged" working families;
and
WHEREAS, under section 1002.81(6), Florida Statutes, "economically disadvantaged" is
defined as "having a family income that does not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level
and includes being a child of a working migratory family as defined by 34 C.F.R. s. 200.81(d) or
(f) or an agricultural worker who is employed by more than one agricultural employer during the
course of a year, and whose income varies according to weather conditions and market stability";
and
WHEREAS, given the impact of inflation in this community,the rising cost of living, and
an increasing minimum wage across the state, many children previously eligible for the program
no longer qualify as their family income now exceeds 150 percent of the federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS, this phenomenon has created a "benefits cliff' where low-income families
find themselves with an income just above 150 percent of the federal poverty level and unable to
afford child care while attempting to shift to self-sufficiency; and
WHEREAS, early learning coalitions administering the program at the county and
regional levels are unable, on their own, to provide subsidies for families falling off the benefits
cliff, and
WHEREAS, determining income eligibility based on a percentage of the state median
income instead of the federal poverty level would increase access to the School Readiness Program
by creating a more flexible eligibility requirement that: (1) ensures the program works as intended
by allowing low-income families to work while their children are learning; (2) allows the County
to use designated funds for services for more children; and
WHEREAS,to address the above issues,this Board wishes to urge the Florida Legislature
to increase access to the School Readiness Program by amending the eligibility criteria; and
WHEREAS, funding for the School Readiness Program is comprised primarily of federal
block grant funding and allocated annually through a funding formula, which the Florida
Legislature is currently reviewing; and
WHEREAS, due to the increased operational costs of child care services, challenges with
recruitment and retention of qualified instructional staff, and additional program requirements,the
Division of Early Learning and early learning coalitions would greatly benefit from increases to
child care provider reimbursement rates statewide in order to continue to provide adequate services
to children; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, the Florida Legislature, in the State's General Appropriations Act,
passed language which ensured that certain counties, including Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties,
received at least as much funding as the previous year to serve the children in the community; and
WHEREAS, this Board would like to urge the Florida Legislature to, in addition to
amending the eligibility criteria for the School Readiness Program, raise the program's provider
reimbursement rates statewide and ensure that the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and
Monroe receives at least as much funding as in FY 2022-2023, all of which would help guarantee
that children of low-income working families will be able to participate in an early learning
program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to amend the School Readiness Program
eligibility criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education.
Section 2. Urges the Florida Legislature to provide increased funds to increase child
care provider reimbursement rates statewide,which would offset higher operational costs incurred
by those providers while ensuring that Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties receive at least as much
funding as in FY 2022-2023.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to send certified copies of this Resolution to
the Governor,the Senate President,the House Speaker,and the Chair and Members of the Miami-
Dade &Monroe Counties State Legislative Delegation.
Governor Ron DeSantis The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo
The Capitol Florida Senate President
400 S. Monroe Street 404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez The Honorable Jim Mooney
314 Senate Building 212 The Capitol
404 S. Monroe Street 402 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300
The Honorable Paul Renner PK Jameson, Coordinator
Florida House Speaker Office of Program Policy Analysis
402 South Monroe Street & Government Accountability
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 111 West Madison Street,Room 312
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, at
a regular meeting held on a regular meeting held on the_ 15th day of February 2023.
F , ., 7"`r7''a- Mayor Craig Cates Yes
,'`?�n ,� \:,, Mayor Pro Tern Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
,' rA \,c . Commissioner Michelle Lincoln Yes
,- . 't, t, Commissioner James K. Scholl Yes
a 4 ," Commissioner David Rice Yes
B ' Y 1, 1��':.. r.'
';(SFAL ,;�"v/.< BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AT�FE-8i14-kEVIN MADOK,CLERK OF MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
A Ai-
By: 60d0 JJ/)'Y13/ BY: :•ter'
As eputy Clerk ay.r raig ' at-s
Robert
Obert B ,I.Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
B. !•DN:cn=Robert B.Shillinger,o=Monroe County
BOCC,ou=Monroe County Attorney,
.-eaileshillinger-bob@monroecounty-.gov,c=US --
Shillinger m Fl
Date:2023.02.08 17:05.07-05'00' ,Q
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency Vic-) 3 c
Robert B. Shillinger,Monroe County Attorney ` , .. 'Tq
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GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
Governor Ron DeSantis
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001
Honorable Governor DeSantis,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness Program
Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education and; (2)
increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher operational costs
incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at least as much
funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
Senator Kathleen Passidomo
Florida Senate President
404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
Honorable Senator Passidomo,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness
Program Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education
and; (2) increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher
operational costs incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at
least as much funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez
314 Senate Building
404 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
Honorable Senator Rodriguez,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness
Program Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education
and; (2) increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher
operational costs incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at
least as much funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
Representative Jim Mooney
212 The Capitol
402 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100
Honorable Representative Mooney,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness
Program Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education
and; (2) increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher
operational costs incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at
least as much funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
Representative Paul Renner
Florida House Speaker
402 S. Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300
Honorable Representative Renner,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness
Program Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education
and; (2) increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher
operational costs incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at
least as much funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
March 10, 2023
PK Jameson, Coordinator
Office of Program Policy Analysis
& Government Accountability
111 West Madison Street, Room 312
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1475
Dear Ms. Jameson,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 055-2023 by the Monroe County Board of
County Commissioners' urging the Florida Legislature to (1) amend the School Readiness
Program Eligibility Criteria to increase access for children in need of early childhood education
and; (2) increase Child Care Provider Reimbursement Rates statewide to offset higher
operational costs incurred by Early Learning Programs while ensuring that counties receive at
least as much funding as received in the previous fiscal year.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on February 15, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070