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


Effective on Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  • 1(1) Child Registration. 4A 5parent wishing to register a 10child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program must complete 20and submit Form DEL-VPK 01A (September 2023), Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Child Application, 34through the single point of entry 40(known as the Family Portal) 45established under Section 481002.82, F.S., 50and available at the following web address: 57https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com. 58Form DEL-VPK 01A, is hereby incorporated by reference and a copy may be obtained at: (74http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-1592376).

    77(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 129child 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 1786M-8.210, 179F.A.C. A child is not eligible for the VPK Program once he or she has been admitted to kindergarten.

    198(a) Age Eligibility. The early learning coalition must determine if a child is eligible based on the age requirement in Section 2191002.53, F.S., 221by accepting the following documents showing the child’s name and date of birth:

    2341. An original or certified copy of the child’s birth record filed according to law with the appropriate public officer;

    2542. 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;

    2953. An insurance policy on the child’s life which has been in force for at least two years;

    3134. A passport or certificate of the child’s arrival in the United States;

    3265. An immunization record signed by a public health officer or licensed practicing physician; or

    3416. A valid military dependent identification card 348or a federal or state government issued identification card357.

    3587. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(a)1.-6. above are available, a coalition may accept a parent’s 376notarized 377affidavit of the child’s age accompanied by a 385letter on official letterhead 389signed by a public health officer or physician stating that the child’s age shown in the affidavit is true and correct.

    410(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:

    4581. Utility (electric, gas, water), cable, internet, home or cellular phone bill 470dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted;

    4822. Pay stub 485dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted;

    4973. Residential rental agreement or receipt from rental payment 506dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted;

    5184. Government-issued document (for example, Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, property tax assessment showing a homestead exemption);

    5365. 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;

    5686. 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;

    5937. A Florida Migrant Education Program Certificate of Eligibility (COE) Form from the Florida Department of Education;

    6108. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-7. above are available, a coalition may accept a 627notarized 628affidavit from the child’s parent accompanied by a letter from a landlord, property owner, 642or property leasee 645which confirms that the child resides at the address shown in the affidavit;

    6589. 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 6811003.01(12), F.S., 683a 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, 715homeless referral, 717student residency questionaire issued by the local school district or 727notarized statement from 730the child’s parent).

    733(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 8096M-8.500, 810F.A.C., sets forth the requirements for participation in VPK SIS.

    820(3) Early Learning Coalition Responsibilities.

    825(a) The coalition will review documentation submitted by the parent via the 837Family Portal to 840determine the eligibility of each child for the VPK Program and manage the eligibility process through the 857Family Portal859.

    860(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.

    910(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. 940This information may be provided in person, by telephone or electronically and must include954:

    9551. Information about the VPK Program and the different program types.

    9662. 967An early learning provider performance profile as described in Section 9771002.92(3), F.S., 979for every VPK provider within the county where the child is being enrolled in accordance with Section 9961002.53(5), F.S.

    998(d) 999The 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.

    1037(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. 1068A VPK provider must collect Form DEL-VPK 02, Child Certificate of Eligibility (September 2023), or Form DEL-VPK 04, 1086Certificate of Eligibility for Reenrollment (September 2023), incorporated by Rule 10966M-8.210, 1097F.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 1187verification of 1189the 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 (1220http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-159241222).

    1223(a) For children enrolling in VPK SIS, parents, coalitions, and VPK SIS providers must adhere to the requirements in Rule 12436M-8.500, 1244F.A.C.

    1245(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. 1274If 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.

    1352(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.

    1383(d) A coalition, upon receipt of a completed Form DEL-VPK 02 1394or Form DEL-VPK 04, 1398must complete a child’s enrollment in the statewide information system by recording an association between the child and the child’s selected VPK provider.

    1421(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 14476M-8.210, 1448F.A.C.

    1449Rulemaking Authority 14511001.02(1)(n), 14521002.79 FS. 1454Law Implemented 14561002.53(4), 1457(5), 14581002.73(2)(d)1. FS. 1460History–New 1-19-06, Amended 5-24-07, 1464Formerly 146560BB-8.201, 1466Amended 1-1-15, 7-28-16, 3-20-17, 11-23-21, 9-26-23.