Overview

There are several difference PK programs available:

VPK School-Year Program: 540 Instructional Hours/ 3-4 hours a day, Class size is 11 students or fewer with one lead instructor or up to 20 students with a lead instructor and an assistant. Instructors must have a minimum of a Florida Child Care Professional Credential.
VPK Summer Program: 300 Instructional Hours, Class size is 12 students or fewer with one lead instructor and an assistant. Instructors must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Since Voluntary Prekindergarten is funded by the Early Learning Coalition through VPK Certificates, this program does not generate FTE.
- Children who live in Florida and are 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current year are eligible. Families with children born between February 2 and September 1 may postpone enrolling their 4-year-old until the following year when their child is 5.
Specialized Instructional Services Program: Hours vary based on services. VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) is a program option for VPK-age children with current individual educational plans (IEPs). This option allows parents to choose additional therapy services consistent with the child’s IEP in lieu of attending VPK in a traditional classroom setting.
Head Start & Early Start: The Head Start program provides intensive comprehensive child development and family support services to enrolled children, pregnant women and families. Head Start serves families with children ages 3 to 5. Early Head Start serves families with children under the age of 3 and pregnant women. Eligible families include those experiencing homelessness, receiving public assistance (SNAP, TANF and SSI) and with incomes under the federal poverty guidelines. Children in foster care are also eligible. Since Head Start programs are funded by the Early Learning Coalition through VPK Certificates, this program does not generate FTE.
School Readiness: Florida’s School Readiness Program (SR) offers financial assistance to eligible low-income families for early education and care so they can become financially self-sufficient and their young children can be successful in school in the future. Even before children attend prekindergarten, they gain from experiences that help them enter school ready for kindergarten. Parent(s) must be working or participating in an educational activity such as attending college or trade school at least 20 hours per week. Gross income must be at or below 150 percent of federal poverty level for family size. Families must pay a copayment for child care based on income and family size. Other children may be eligible if they have special needs or are at-risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment, or if their parents are homeless, victims of domestic violence or are low-income migrant families or farm workers.
Locally Defined Other Pre-K Program: These vary from district to district.

With the exception of Age 0-5 Pre-K for Disabled Students and Teen Parent Programs, Prekindergarten Programs are generally funded through certificates, grants, and self-pay parents. These programs do not generate FTE and should be coded FEFP 999. Reporting is still required for these programs, so "Exclude from FTE" should remain unchecked.

In this article we will cover how to enter data for PK student reporting. There are several types of instruction for students under 5 years old.

Enrollment & Demographic

Follow the same procedures as we outline in our Enrollment Article here. Below are specific enrollment and demographic data elements to note for PK program students.

If this is the first time the student has enrolled in PK you must use the Enrollment Code = E05 -Any student entering PK or KG for the first time.

If the student withdraws you would use Withdraw Code = W25 Any student under the age of 6 as of February 1 of the current school year who withdraws from school.

For PK Students with an IEP Exceptionality other than Gifted, there are specific IDEA codes that must be used for those students, please refer to that data element link in FOCUS for additional details.

Scheduling

VPK

PK Students who are only attending Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten with a VPK certificate during the regular school year can have one or multiple instances of the VPK Course 5100580 on their schedule.

PK Students who attend VPK and receive full day instruction through School Readiness have VPK course 5100580 and School Readiness course 5100570 both on their schedule.

Note: 5100590: VPK-SUMMER PROG is to be used for PK students approved and attending VPK in the summer.

PK ESE Students

PK Students who are between 0-2 years old or 3-5 years old who are receiving ESE services that have an IEP should have either course 7650030 PREK DISAB: 0-2 or 7650130 PREK DISAB: 3-5 in addition to any therapy courses the student is receiving. These PK courses are eligible for FTE through FEFP Code 111. If the student requires transportation to receive these services, the student may also qualify for transportation funding through membership category L or M.

PK Teenage Parent Dropout Prevention Program

“Teenage parent programs” means educational programs designed to provide a specialized curriculum to meet the needs of students who are pregnant or students who are mothers or fathers and the children of the students. Children enrolled in child care provided by the district shall be funded at the special program cost factor if the parent or parents are enrolled full time in a public school in the district. This is only applicable if the child care program is not funded through alternative certificates or grants. For example, a student enrolled in Early Head Start may not also be reported for funding through FEFP 101.

Both the parent and child should be enrolled in Dropout Prevention Program P if the child is receiving child care provided by the school district.

The child's PK courses are eligible for FTE through FEFP Code 101. If the student requires transportation to receive these services, the student may also qualify for transportation funding through membership category M.

The Course Code Directory does not indicate a specific course number to use for Teen Parent Program childcare. It is recommended to add an alternative PK course to the catalog such as 5100560: TAP DOP to schedule these students.

Other PK Courses/Programs

There are three other PK specific course numbers available for districts:

5100560: PREK OTHER - Local Defined. Any other pre-k program.
5100520: DIST HEAD START - Any preschool program operated by the school district with Head Start funds.
5100570: SCHOOL READINESS - To be used for students receiving subsidized instruction outside of the hours provided by the VPK program. (financial assistance to eligible low-income families for early education using funds provided through an early-learning coalition.)

Important Field Edits for PK Students

If Grade Level on the Student Demographic Information record is PK, then Military Family Student code must be Z
If Grade Level equals PK or 9-12 on the matching Student Demographic Information record, then the Physical Education Waiver code must be Z
If Grade Level is PK-08 then Year Entered Ninth Grade, Graduation Requirements Determination must be 00000000. If Grade Level is 09, 10 or 11 then Year Entered Ninth Grade, Graduation Requirements Determination must be greater than zero
PK students cannot be marked Gifted
PK students cannot be enrolled in 7004
If Immigrant Student is Y and student is not PK then the student must have a Date Entered United States School
If Grade Level = PK then Educational Choice must not be C.