6M-8.201. Child Enrollment Procedure for the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program

(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. History–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.