Florida Administrative Code
6 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
6M - Division of Early Learning
Chapter 6M-10 - GOLD SEAL QUALITY CARE PROGRAM
Section 6M-10.001 - Gold Seal Quality Care Program

(a) "Child care" means the care, protection, and supervision of a child, for a period of less than twenty-four (24) hours a day on a regular basis, which supplements parental care, enrichment, and health supervision for the child, in accordance with his or her individual needs, and for which a payment, fee, or grant is made for care.

(b) "Class I Violation" is an incident of noncompliance with a Class I standard as described by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) on CF-FSP Form 5316 and CF-FSP Form 5427 in Rule 65C-22.010, F.A.C., and CF-FSP Form 5318, and CF-FSP Form 5317 in Rule 65C-20-012, F.A.C. Class I violations are the most serious in nature.

(c) "Class II Violation" is an incident of noncompliance with an individual Class II standard as described by the DCF on CF-FSP Form 5316 and CF-FSP Form 5427 in Rule 65C-22.010, F.A.C., CF-FSP Form 5318, and CF-FSP Form 5317 in Rule 65C-20.012, F.A.C. Class II violations are less serious in nature than Class I violations. A Class II standard violation resulting in death or serious harm to a child shall escalate to a Class I violation.

(d) "Class III Violation" is an incident of noncompliance with an individual Class III standard as described by the DCF on CF-FSP Form 5316 and CF-FSP Form 5427 in Rule 65C-22.010, F.A.C., CF-FSP Form 5318, and CF-FSP Form 5317 in Rule 65C-20.012, F.A.C. Class III violations are less serious in nature than Class I or Class II violations.

(e) "Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Association" means an accrediting association that has applied to and been approved by the Division of Early Learning (DEL) as an accrediting association for the purpose of Gold Seal Quality Care designation pursuant to Section 1002.945(3), F.S.

(f) "Gold Seal Quality Care Provider" means a child care facility, family day care home, or large family child care home regulated by the DCF, local licensing agency, or the United States Department of Defense, that meets the accreditation compliance requirements in Section 1002.945(1), F.S.

(g) "Violation" means noncompliance with a licensing standard as described in an inspection report resulting from an inspection under Section 402.311, F.S.

(a) Gold Seal Quality Care Provider Designation. A child care facility, licensed family day care home, or large family child care home seeking designation as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider must apply to the DEL on Form DEL-GS05, Gold Seal Quality Care Provider Application, February 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference, and provide all supporting documentation required by the form. This form may be obtained from the DEL's website at www.floridaearlylearning.com or from the following link: http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15171. Once reviewed and approved by the DEL, the designation will be issued in the legal name of the provider. The designation will be effective on the date approved by the DEL through the duration of the provider's accreditation certification, up to a maximum of five (5) years, unless terminated by the DEL or voluntarily surrendered by the provider, or if accreditation is revoked by the accrediting association.

(b) A child care facility, licensed family day care home, or large family child care home operating on a military installation must submit to the DEL copies of any inspection reports conducted by the United States Department of Defense within fifteen (15) business days from the date of the inspection. The DEL will review the inspection to determine compliance with criteria for the issuance and maintenance of an active Gold Seal Quality Care Provider designation.

(c) In order to obtain and maintain Gold Seal Quality Care designation, the provider must:

(d) To renew a Gold Seal Quality Care designation, the provider must submit Form DEL-GS05 at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to expiration of the current designation. The DEL cannot guarantee that late-filed renewal forms will be processed in time to avoid a lapse in the designation. Designations are effective on the date the application is approved.

(a) Gold Seal Quality Care providers must maintain accreditation and continuously meet the standards established by their Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Association in order to retain their designation. A provider's Gold Seal Quality Care designation will be terminated upon expiration of its accreditation or when its accreditation is surrendered or lost. The Gold Seal Quality Care designation termination will be effective on the expiration date or on the date the accrediting association no longer acknowledges the provider's accreditation.

(b) A provider's Gold Seal Quality Care designation will be terminated if the Department of Children and Families, local licensing agency, or the United States Department of Defense determines the provider has committed a disqualifying minimum standards violation as defined in Section 1002.945(4), F.S. The termination will be effective as of the date of final agency action on the termination. Providers are eligible to reapply for the Gold Seal Quality Care Program in accordance with the timeframes specified in Section 1002.945(4), F.S.

(c) Providers that are accredited by a Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Association that has lost its status as an approved accrediting association will be notified by the DEL and be afforded one year from the date of notification to obtain a new accreditation certificate from an approved Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Association. The DEL will thereafter terminate the Gold Seal Quality Care designation of any provider that is not accredited by an approved accrediting association at the conclusion of the one (1) year period.