The purpose of the proposed rule is to implement the Florida’s Office of Early Learning’s (OEL’s) authority to administer the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Program by adopting forms by which parents enroll their children in the VPK ...

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Florida's Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
6M-8.2011: Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule is to implement the Florida’s Office of Early Learning’s (OEL’s) authority to administer the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Program by adopting forms by which parents enroll their children in the VPK Program.
SUMMARY: This rule incorporates the Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide by reference. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide describes the rights and responsibilities of parents of students enrolled in the VPK program.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:
The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has been prepared by the agency.
It is estimated that, over the course of five years, this rule will have a total cost impact of approximately $27,675. This estimate is based on a cost of $9 an hour for employee time, an estimate that it will take each impacted provider an hour to comply with the requirements of the rule and an estimate of 615 impacted providers. Impacted providers will be those providers which elect to participate in an alternative registration process. Importantly, it is anticipated that the costs incurred by each of these providers will be offset by the added benefit of increased convenience for the providers’ customers.
The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein:
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1002.79(2) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.53(4), 1002.75(2)(a) FS.
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: July 20, 2012, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Florida’s Office of Early Learning, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301, or via WebEx which may be accessed at the following website: http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/EarlyLearning/OEL_Program_ProposedRulesNotices.html
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Ed Hoover at [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Stephanie Savestanan at [phone]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

6M-8.2011 Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide.

(1) The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide, Form OEL-VPK 06, dated August 2012, is hereby incorporated by reference for use in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Program.

(2) Prior to distribution of this document by an early learning coalition, the coalition must add its contact information to the fourth page of the document in the final bullet under the heading “For More Information, Contact Your ELC.” Contact information must include, but is not limited to, the coalition’s name, phone number, and web address.

(3) Prior to distribution of this document by a VPK Program provider to a parent, the provider must add the contact information of the local early learning coalition to the fourth page of the document in the final bullet under the heading “For More Information, Contact Your ELC.” Contact information must include, but is not limited to, the coalition’s name, phone number, and web address.

Rulemaking Authority 1002.79(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.53(4), 1002.75(2)(a) FS. History–New_________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Stephanie Savestanan, Florida's Office of Early Learning
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Mel Jurado, Director, Florida’s Office of Early Learning
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 14, 2012
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: March 2, 2012, Vol. 38/09