60BB-8.2015. VPK Child Registration Pilot Project (Transferred)

(1) Pilot Project. There is created a VPK child registration pilot project for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 program years in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Collier, Gadsden, Glades, Hendry, Jefferson, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Wakulla, Walton, St. Lucie, and Taylor counties.

(2) Eligibility. A private VPK provider must meet the following requirements for initial eligibility to participate in the pilot project and must continue to meet the requirements to maintain its eligibility:

(a) The private provider must apply to participate in the pilot project on forms adopted by the early learning coalition. The following information must be included on the form: the name of the private provider, the address and telephone number of the provider’s VPK site, the name of the provider’s prekindergarten director or designee, the date that the director or designee attends the training session required under paragraph (c). Additional information demonstrating that the provider is eligible under this rule to participate in the pilot project may be required by the coalition.

(b) The private provider must have delivered instruction in the VPK program for at least two program years.

(c) The private provider’s prekindergarten director or designee must attend a training session conducted by the coalition which instructs the provider on procedures for registering a child in the VPK program, accepting a child application and supporting documents on behalf of the coalition, and conducting a parent‑orientation session or exhibiting a parent-orientation video.

(d) The private provider must comply with this rule.

(e) The private provider’s VPK site must be located in one of the pilot counties listed in subsection (1).

(f) The private provider, while participating in the pilot project, must annually sign and submit to the coalition Form AWI-VPK 21 (Addendum to Statewide Provider Agreement), dated February 14, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in and may be obtained as described in Rule 60BB-8.900, F.A.C.

(g) The private provider must record daily child attendance using a paper sign-in or sign-out log or electronic attendance‑tracking system described in paragraph 60BB-8.305(2)(a), F.A.C.

(h) The private provider must submit accurate and timely monthly attendance rosters for the VPK program in accordance with subsection 60BB-8.305(3), F.A.C. If a private provider is a school readiness provider, the provider must also submit accurate and timely monthly attendance rosters for the school readiness. A private provider is not eligible for the pilot project if, during previous 24 months, the provider:

1. Submitted two or more consecutive, or a combined total of four or more, monthly attendance rosters 10 or more calendar days after the required submission date;

2. Submitted two or more consecutive, or a combined total of four or more, monthly attendance rosters containing inaccurate reporting of a child’s attendance;

3. Failed to repay an overpayment by the required repayment date after the coalition discovered the overpayment and requested repayment;

4. Submitted a monthly attendance roster resulting in an overpayment that exceeded 20 percent of the payment for a calendar month due to the provider’s inaccurate reporting of a child’s attendance; or

5. Submitted a monthly attendance roster containing fraudulent or other intentional misreporting of a child’s attendance.

(i) A private provider licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services or a local licensing agency is not eligible for the pilot project if the provider’s license status, as recorded in the department’s Child Care Information System, is “Revocation Action Pending,” “Suspension Action Pending/Suspended,” or “Closed.”

(3) Child Registration Procedures. A coalition shall allow a private provider eligible for the pilot project, to register a child for the VPK program on behalf of the coalition. A private provider may only register a child under this rule whom the provider admits in one of its VPK classes and must comply with the following registration procedures:

(a) Notwithstanding subsection 60BB-8.201(1), F.A.C., a parent registering his or her child for the VPK program under this rule must complete, sign, and submit to the private provider Form AWI-VPK 01P (Child Application and Provider Admission), dated February 14, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference and may be obtained as described in Rule 60BB-8.900, F.A.C. A parent must submit Form AWI-VPK 01P to the private provider with supporting documents of the child’s age and residential address required under Rule 60BB-8.200, F.A.C.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph 60BB-8.201(3)(a), F.A.C., a private provider participating in the pilot project shall conduct the parent-orientation session or exhibit the parent-orientation video in accordance with subsection 60BB-8.201(3), F.A.C.

(c) Within 5 working days after a child’s parent registers the child with a private provider, the provider shall review the child’s Form AWI‑VPK 01P and supporting documents, as follows:

1. The private provider shall submit a child’s Form AWI‑VPK 01P and supporting documents to the coalition if the child’s Form AWI-VPK 01P is complete, signed, and submitted with the required supporting documents; the provider predetermines that the child appears to be eligible for the VPK program; and the provider admits the child in one of the provider’s VPK classes.

2. The private provider shall return a child’s Form AWI‑VPK 01P and supporting documents to the child’s parent if the child’s Form AWI-VPK 01P is not complete, not signed, or not submitted with the required supporting documents.

3. If a child does not appear to be eligible, the provider shall return the child’s Form AWI-VPK 01P and supporting documents to the child’s parent and, on the blank spaces included on Form AWI-VPK 01P, notify the parent of the reasons that the child does not appear to be eligible and that the provider’s predetermination is not the coalition’s official determination of the child’s eligibility. The parent may then apply directly with the coalition.

(d) In accordance with Rule 60BB-8.202, F.A.C., a coalition shall determine the eligibility of a child registering for the VPK program under this rule. Notwithstanding paragraph 60BB-8.202(1)(c), F.A.C., a coalition is not required to issue a certificate of eligibility for a child registering under this rule.

(e) If a coalition determines that a child is not eligible for the VPK program, the coalition shall inform the private provider and the child’s parent in writing why the child is not eligible and return the child’s Form AWI-VPK 01P and supporting documentation to the parent.

(4) Payment for Pilot Project Prohibited. A coalition, qualified contractor, or subcontractor may not pay or otherwise compensate a private provider for participating in the pilot project, registering a child in the VPK program under this rule, accepting a child application or supporting documents on behalf of the coalition, conducting a parent-orientation session, or exhibiting a parent-orientation video.

(5) School District. Notwithstanding Rules 60BB-8.201 and 60BB-8.202, F.A.C., a school district, if allowed under a contract with the coalition, may use the child registration procedures in subsection (3) to register a child for the district’s VPK programs in the district’s public schools, regardless of whether the district is a pilot county listed in subsection (1).

Specific Authority 1002.79(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.53(2), (4), (5), 1002.75(2)(a), (b) FS. History–New 5-24-07.