As used in this chapter, the term:
    (1) “”Absence”” means each instructional day that a child does not attend (is absent from) a VPK program.
    (2) “”Advance payment”” is the process of a Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) provider choosing to receive an advance payment, prior to providing services, instead of a reimbursement for services rendered as described in subsection 6M-8.205(2), F.A.C.
    (3) “”Attendance”” means an instructional day, either in whole or in part, that a child is present (or attends) a VPK program.
    (4) “”Coalition”” means an early learning coalition created under Florida Statutes § 1002.83
    (5) “”Enrollment”” is the final step in the process of entering (or enrolling) a child in the VPK program. It means officially entering the child’s name in the statewide information system as a VPK student associated with a VPK provider.
    (6) “”Instructional day”” means a calendar day that a VPK provider delivers scheduled instruction for the VPK program.
    (7) “”Instructional hour”” means 60 minutes of instructional time that comprises planned activities or experiences implementing a curriculum that enhances a child’s progress in attaining the VPK performance standards adopted in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6M-8.602
    (8) “”Parent”” has the same meaning as the term defined in Florida Statutes § 1000.21
    (9) “”Program year”” means the annual period beginning in one calendar year on the first day that a school-year program may begin instruction under subsection 6M-8.204(3), F.A.C., and ending in the next calendar year on the last day by which a summer program must complete instruction under subsection 6M-8.304(3), F.A.C. A program year is designated by the corresponding calendar years (e.g., 2014-2015, 2015-2016).
    (10) “”Provider on Probation”” is a VPK private provider or public school whose readiness rate is below the minimum level established by the Office of Early Learning and incorporated in Fl. Admin. Code R. 6M-8.601
    (11) “”School-year program”” means a school-year prekindergarten program consisting of 540 instructional hours delivered by a private provider under Florida Statutes § 1002.55, or by a public school under Florida Statutes § 1002.63
    (12) “”Summer program”” means a summer prekindergarten program consisting of 300 instructional hours delivered by a private provider or public school under Florida Statutes § 1002.61
    (13) “”VPK class”” means a private provider’s or public school’s prekindergarten class that includes a child in the VPK program.
    (14) “”VPK program”” means the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education program created under Florida Statutes § 1002.53, and which is organized, designed, and delivered in accordance with Fla. Const. Art. IX, § 1(b) and (c),.
    (15) “”VPK provider”” means a provider delivering the VPK school-year program or summer program. There are two types of VPK providers: private prekindergarten providers as defined in Florida Statutes § 1002.51 and public schools.
    (16) “”VPK SIS provider”” means a provider delivering the VPK specialized instructional services (SIS) program defined in Florida Statutes § 1002.66
    (17) “”VPK site”” means the permanent physical location where a private provider or public school delivers instruction for the VPK program.
Rulemaking Authority 1001.213(2), 1002.79 FS. Law Implemented 1002.51, 1002.53(2), 1002.55(2), 1002.61(2)(a), 1002.63(2), 1002.67(4), 1002.71(2)(d), 1002.66, 1002.75(2)(a) FS. History-New 1-19-06, Amended 5-24-07, Formerly 60BB-8.100, Amended 3-29-15, 2-15-16.