Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Child
Registration. A parent wishing to register a child in the Voluntary
Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program must complete and submit Form DEL-VPK
01A (September 2023), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Child
Application, through the single point of entry (known as the Family Portal)
established under Section
1002.82, F.S., and available at
the following web address:
https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com.
Form DEL-VPK 01A, is hereby incorporated by reference and a copy may be
obtained at: (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15923).
(2) Documenting Eligibility. A parent will
upload documentation to the Family Portal to prove each child's eligibility. A
child who resides in Florida and attains the age of 4 years old on or before
September 1 of the program year is eligible to attend the VPK Program that
program year. Additionally, a child who resides in Florida and attains the age
of 4 between February 2 and September 1 may attend the VPK Program either that
program year or the subsequent program year. A child cannot attend the VPK
Program more than one program year unless granted a reenrollment under Rule
6M-8.210, F.A.C. A child is not
eligible for the VPK Program once he or she has been admitted to kindergarten.
(a) Age Eligibility. The early learning
coalition must determine if a child is eligible based on the age requirement in
Section 1002.53, F.S., by accepting the
following documents showing the child's name and date of birth:
1. An original or certified copy of the
child's birth record filed according to law with the appropriate public
officer;
2. An original or
certified copy of the child's certificate of baptism or other religious record
of the child's birth, accompanied by a notarized affidavit stating that the
certificate is true and correct, sworn to or affirmed by the child's
parent;
3. An insurance policy on
the child's life which has been in force for at least two years;
4. A passport or certificate of the child's
arrival in the United States;
5. An
immunization record signed by a public health officer or licensed practicing
physician; or
6. A valid military
dependent identification card or a federal or state government issued
identification card.
7. If no
supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(a)1.-6. above are available, a
coalition may accept a parent's notarized affidavit of the child's age
accompanied by a letter on official letterhead signed by a public health
officer or physician stating that the child's age shown in the affidavit is
true and correct.
(b)
Residential Eligibility. To be eligible for the VPK Program, a child must
reside in Florida. The early learning coalition must keep a record of at least
one of the following supporting documents that shows the name and residential
address of a parent with whom the child resides:
1. Utility (electric, gas, water), cable,
internet, home or cellular phone bill dated within 12 months of the date the
child application is submitted;
2.
Pay stub dated within 12 months of the date the child application is
submitted;
3. Residential rental
agreement or receipt from rental payment dated within 12 months of the date the
child application is submitted;
4.
Government-issued document (for example, Florida driver's license, Florida
identification card, property tax assessment showing a homestead
exemption);
5. Military order
showing that the child's parent is a service member in the United States Armed
Forces and is assigned to duty in Florida when the child attends the VPK
Program;
6. Federal government
order showing that the child's parent is a federal employee assigned to work in
Florida when the child attends the VPK Program;
7. A Florida Migrant Education Program
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Form from the Florida Department of
Education;
8. If no supporting
documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-7. above are available, a coalition
may accept a notarized affidavit from the child's parent accompanied by a
letter from a landlord, property owner, or property leasee which confirms that
the child resides at the address shown in the affidavit;
9. If no supporting documents listed in
subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-8. above are available for a child who is experiencing
homelessness as defined in Section
1003.01(12),
F.S., a coalition must document residency based on other supporting documents
showing that the child who is experiencing homelessness resides in Florida (for
example, but not limited to, letter from a homeless shelter, homeless referral,
student residency questionaire issued by the local school district or notarized
statement from the child's parent).
(c) Eligibility for VPK Specialized
Instructional Services. Eligibility for VPK Specialized Instructional Services
(VPK SIS) in lieu of a school-year or summer VPK program, requires that the
child have a disability and a current individual educational plan (IEP)
developed by the local school board or local education agency. The early
learning coalition must keep a record of the child's IEP, and ensure that the
VPK Specialized Instructional Services sought are consistent with the child's
IEP. Rule 6M-8.500, F.A.C., sets forth the
requirements for participation in VPK SIS.
(3) Early Learning Coalition
Responsibilities.
(a) The coalition will
review documentation submitted by the parent via the Family Portal to determine
the eligibility of each child for the VPK Program and manage the eligibility
process through the Family Portal.
(b) When the coalition has verified the
eligibility of a child for the VPK Program, and the provider has enrolled the
child in its VPK program, the coalition must complete the child's enrollment in
the statewide information system by recording an association between the child
and the child's VPK provider.
(c)
The coalition must provide all parents enrolling a child in the VPK Program who
contact the coalition with available information to help the parent make
informed child care decisions. This information may be provided in person, by
telephone or electronically and must include:
1. Information about the VPK Program and the
different program types.
2. An
early learning provider performance profile as described in Section
1002.92(3),
F.S., for every VPK provider within the county where the child is being
enrolled in accordance with Section
1002.53(5),
F.S.
(d) The coalition
must make available the use of technology at the coalition or contracted
service provider to all parents who present themselves requesting assistance
with completing the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Child
Application on the Family Portal.
(4) Enrollment. A VPK provider may only
enroll a child in the VPK Provider or VPK SIS after the early learning
coalition determines that the child is eligible for the program. A VPK provider
must collect Form DEL-VPK 02, Child Certificate of Eligibility (September
2023), or Form DEL-VPK 04, Certificate of Eligibility for Reenrollment
(September 2023), incorporated by Rule
6M-8.210, F.A.C., from the
child's parent. Both forms are generated by the Family Portal after the
coalition determines the child is eligible. A VPK provider will complete
enrollment by entering the child's enrollment information, including the VPK
certificate number, in the Provider Portal for coalition review and approval.
Upon request, the VPK provider shall complete the remainder of Form DEL-VPK 02,
Child Certificate of Eligibility (September 2023) or Form DEL-VPK 04,
Certificate of Eligibility for Reenrollment (September 2023) with the child's
parent, maintain a completed copy of the form, and submit verification of the
completed form to the coalition to finalize the child's enrollment with that
VPK provider. Form DEL-VPK 02, is hereby incorporated by reference and a copy
may be obtained at (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15924).
(a) For children enrolling in VPK SIS,
parents, coalitions, and VPK SIS providers must adhere to the requirements in
Rule 6M-8.500, F.A.C.
(b) A coalition must allow a VPK provider to
enroll a child who resides in a Florida county other than the county where the
provider's VPK site is located. If the county listed on Form DEL-VPK 02 or Form
DEL-VPK 04 is different than the county where services will be provided, the
coalitions must coordinate to change the county of services on the child's
application in the Family Portal to the correct county (if the child has not
yet attended the VPK Program). After eligibility for the VPK Program is
determined by a coalition, no further resubmission or reverification of age and
residential eligibility documentation is required.
(c) A VPK provider may only enroll a child
with the coalition of the county where the provider's VPK site is located,
regardless of the county in which the child resides.
(d) A coalition, upon receipt of a completed
Form DEL-VPK 02 or Form DEL-VPK 04, must complete a child's enrollment in the
statewide information system by recording an association between the child and
the child's selected VPK provider.
(e) For parents requesting to reenroll his or
her child in the VPK Program parents, coalitions, and VPK providers must adhere
to the requirements in Rule
6M-8.210,
F.A.C.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1)(n),
1002.79 FS. Law Implemented
1002.53(4), (5), 1002.73(2)(d)1. FS.
New 1-19-06, Amended 5-24-07, Formerly 60BB-8.201, Amended
1-1-15, 7-28-16, 3-20-17, 11-23-21,
9-26-23.
