The purpose of the proposed rule revision is to collapse all of the steps for enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program class into a single rule. The rule addresses the process of child registration, eligibility ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Florida/s Office of Early Learning

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

6M-8.201Child Registration Procedures; Application; Parent Orientation Session

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule revision is to collapse all of the steps for enrolling a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program class into a single rule. The rule addresses the process of child registration, eligibility determination and enrollment into a Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program class.

SUMMARY: Child application process, required documentation and process for determination of child eligibility and enrollment into a Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program class.

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 not been prepared by the Agency.

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: the proposed rule impacts the parent seeking to enroll their child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education program and where it indirectly impacts an early learning coalition or a VPK provider the proposed process is streamlined to create efficiencies of use to minimize time and cost impacts that should result in cost savings to the current process.

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: 1001.213(2), 1002.79 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1002.53(4), (5), 1002.75(2)(a), (b), 1002.82(2)(n) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: Monday, September 22, 2014, 11:00 a.m. ‒ 12:00 Noon or at the conclusion of business whichever is earlier

PLACE: Via GoToWebinar only; to register for the hearing go to: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/614782391786586626 or information may be found at:

http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/oel_resources/rules_guidance_technical_assistance/proposed_rules.aspx

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 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone] or [e-mail]. 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: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, 250 Marriott Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone] or [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

(Substantial rewording of Rule 6M-8.201 follows. See Florida Administrative Code for present text.)

 

6M-8.201 Child Enrollment Procedure for the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program; Application; Parent Orientation Session.

(1) Child registration. A parent wishing to register a child in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must complete an application and submit it through the single point of entry established under Section 1002.53, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and available at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com/ using personal means or with assistance available at an early learning coalition. The application is available in English, Spanish and Haitian-Creole.

(a) Form OEL-VPK 01-SPEE (Single Point of Entry Student Application English), dated August 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference and is available by following the instructions at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com.

(b) Form OEL-VPK 01-SPES (Single Point of Entry Student Application Spanish), dated August 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference and is available by following the instructions at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com.

(c) Form OEL-VPK 01-SPEHC (Single Point of Entry Student Application Haitian-Creole), dated August 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference and is available by following the instructions at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com.

(2) Parent Guide and Right to Information. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide, Form OEL-VPK 06, is hereby incorporated by reference as adopted in Rule 6M-8.2011, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) is available by following the instructions at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com/.

(3) Parent Handbook. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Handbook, Form OEL-VPK 07 (August 2014), is hereby incorporated by reference and is available by following the instructions at the following web address: https://vpkcp.floridaearlylearning.com/

(4) Determining eligibility. The early learning coalition will review information submitted through the site to determine each child’s eligibility.

(a) Age eligibility. The early learning coalition shall 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 an 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.

7. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (1)(b)1.-6. above are available, a coalition may accept a parent’s sworn affidavit of the child’s age accompanied by a certificate of age 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 VPK, a child must reside in Florida while attending the VPK program. The early learning coalition shall 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 bill (electric, gas water), cable, or home phone bill;

2. Pay stub;

3. Residential rental agreement or receipt from rental payment;

4. Government-issued document (e.g., Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, property tax assessment showing a homestead exemption); or

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. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-5. above are available, a coalition may accept an affidavit sworn to or affirmed by the child’s parent accompanied by a letter from a landlord or property owner which confirms that the child resides at the address shown in the affidavit.

7. If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-6. above are available for a homeless child as defined in Section 1003.01, F.S., a coalition shall document residency based on other supporting documents showing that the child is homeless and resides in Florida (e.g., letter from a homeless shelter or affidavit sworn to or affirmed by the child’s parent).

(c) Eligibility for VPK Specialized Instructional Services. Eligibility for VPK Specialized Instructional Services (VPK SIS) in lieu of a traditional VPK education program, requires that the child must have a disability and a current individual educational plan (IEP) developed by the local school district. The coalition shall 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 Specialized Instructional Services.

(5) Early Learning Coalition Responsibilities.

(a) The early learning coalition will review documentation submitted via the single point of entry, determine the eligibility of each child for VPK, and manage the eligibility process through the single point of entry.

(b) When the early learning coalition has verified the eligibility of a child for VPK, and the provider has enrolled the child in their VPK program, a coalition must complete a child’s enrollment in the statewide information system by recording an association between the child and the child’s VPK provider.

(c) An early learning coalition shall keep the profiles of VPK providers in the coalition’s geographic region current on the VPK web portal of the Child Care Information System administered by the Department of Children and Family Services at the Internet website: http://dcfsanswrite.state.fl.us/childcare/provider.

(d) The early learning coalition shall assist all parents who present themselves or contact the early learning coalition with available information to help the parent make informed decisions, including

1. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Guide.

2. The Voluntary Prekindergarten Parent Handbook.

3. Profiles of VPK providers in the coalition’s geographic region.

4. Information about different VPK program types.

(6) Enrollment. A VPK provider may only enroll a child in the VPK or VPK SIS program after the early learning coalition determines that the child is eligible for the program.

(a) The VPK provider admitting the child must submit the child’s certificate of eligibility generated by the SPE system and the child’s assigned VPK class, or approved VPK SIS provider as applicable, to the coalition to enroll an eligible child.

(b) For children enrolling into the VPK SIS program, an early learning coalition and VPK SIS providers will adhere to the Rule 6M-8.500, F.A.C.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) A coalition shall complete a child’s enrollment in the statewide information system by recording an association between the child and the child’s VPK provider.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.213(2). 1002.79(2) FS. Law Implemented 1002.53(4),(5), 1002.75(2)(a),(b), 1002.82(2)(n) FS. History–New 1-19-06, Amended 5-24-07, Formerly 60BB-8.201, Amended__________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Tara Huls, Bureau Chief, Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Shan Goff, Executive Director

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 27, 2014

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: June 26, 2014 and July 24, 2014