(1) The individual records of children enrolled in the school readiness program provided under this part, held by an early learning coalition or the department, are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. For purposes of this section, records include assessment data, health data, records of teacher observations, and personal identifying information.
(2) A parent has the right to inspect and review the individual school readiness program record of his or her child and to obtain a copy of the record.
(3) School readiness program records may be released to:

(a) The United States Secretary of Education, the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Comptroller General of the United States for the purpose of federal audits and investigations.

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 1002.97

  • Department: means the Department of Education. See Florida Statutes 1002.81
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability: means an entity designated by joint rule of the Legislature or by agreement between the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
(b) Individuals or organizations conducting studies for institutions to develop, validate, or administer assessments or improve instruction.
(c) Accrediting organizations in order to carry out their accrediting functions.
(d) Appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the child enrollee or other individuals.
(e) The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability and the Auditor General in connection with their official functions.
(f) A court of competent jurisdiction in compliance with an order of that court in accordance with a lawfully issued subpoena.
(g) Parties to an interagency agreement among early learning coalitions, local governmental agencies, providers of the school readiness program, state agencies, and the department for the purpose of implementing the school readiness program.

Agencies, organizations, or individuals that receive school readiness program records in order to carry out their official functions must protect the data in a manner that does not permit the personal identification of a child enrolled in a school readiness program and his or her parent by persons other than those authorized to receive the records.