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Bureau of Voluntary Prekindergarten

 

  Bureau of Voluntary Prekindergarten  

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Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) Providers

Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, a child who has a disability, as evidenced by a current Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and is age-eligible for VPK (four years old by September 1) is eligible for specialized instructional services, pursuant to 1002.66, F.S. The Department of Education approves SIS providers whose services meet the statutory standards, maintain a list of approved providers, and notify each school district and early learning coalition of the approved provider list. The approved Rule and forms are found below.

Parents with questions about accessing SIS for their child, or any questions a SIS provider may have beyond approval should be directed to Florida's Office of Early Learning at 1-866-357-3239 or to the local Early Learning Coalition.

Certain categories of certified providers are automatically approved and require no forms to be submitted to the Department of Education
  1. Individuals certified pursuant to section 393.17, F.S., or licensed pursuant to chapter 490, F.S., or chapter 491, F.S., for applied behavior analysis services as defined under Sections 627.6686 and 641.31098, F.S.;
  2. Speech-language pathologists licensed under Section 468.1185, F.S;
  3. Occupational therapists licensed under chapter 468, Part III, F.S.;
  4. Physical therapists licensed under chapter 486, F.S.;
  5. Clinical Social Workers licensed under chapter 491, F.S.; and
  6. Psychologists licensed under chapter 490, F.S.
The following SIS applicants should use DOE Form VPK-SIS1
  1. Listening and Spoken Language Specialists™ certified by the Alexander Graham Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language;
  2. Board Certified Behavior Analysts certified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® pursuant to Rule 65G-4.0011, F.A.C.

If an SIS applicant is licensed or certified in an applicable field of study not covered above, DOE Form VPK-SIS2 should be used.

A parent can also apply to have a SIS provider approved (DOE Form VPK-SIS3). For approval, the services of the SIS provider must
  1. be consistent with the child's individual educational plan (IEP)
  2. be provided by service provider licensed or certified in an applicable field of study;
  3. be delivered according to professionally accepted standards;
  4. be delivered in accordance with the performance standards adopted by the department for use in VPK and
  5. address the age-appropriate progress of the child in the development of the capabilities, capacities, and skills required under s. 1(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution.

State Board Approved Rule and Forms (Approved 7-17-12)

Approved SIS Providers

Please note that several categories of certified providers are automatically approved and are not listed here. Please view Rule 6A-6.03033 for more information about providers that are automatically approved. Beginning with the 2012?2013 school year, a new program option for VPK, Specialized Instructional Services (SIS), exists (Section 1002.66, Florida Statutes (F.S.)) for a child who has a disability that is eligible for the VPK program and has a current individual educational plan (IEP). The Department of Education (Department) outlines approved SIS providers in Rule #6A?6.03033 (Effective July 2012). The Department is responsible for approving SIS providers, maintaining a list of approved providers, and notifying early learning coalitions and school districts of the approved list. This Technical Assistance Paper (TAP) serves to provide responses to general questions as well as to provide notice of those that are approved to provide SIS services.