Securing quality day care for younger and school-age children is one of the foremost concerns for working parents and guardians. The following resources will be valuable in exploring the available options for licensed day care and other facilities:

Florida Department of Children & Family Life

Child Care Licensing Specialists

Orlando

407-245-0470

www.state.fl.us/cf_web

Community Coordinated Care for Children (4C)

Orange County 407-522-2252

Seminole County 407-324-9999

Osceola County 407-846-5311

www.4corlando.org

Private Education

While some parents are interested in home schooling, others prefer non-public or private education in parochial or independent schools. The Office of Family Involvement offers information on home education that includes Florida statutes and district contacts. This office also provides information and resources on Florida’s non-public schools, including general requirements, accreditation, and the directory of non-public schools:

Florida Department of Education

Office of Family Involvement

Tallahassee

850-245-0505

www.firn.edu/doe/family

Florida School Choice Office

Non-Public Schools

Tallahassee

800-447-1636

www.floridaschoolchoice.org

Public Education System

Enrollment Requirements

Children eligible for kindergarten enrollment must be five years old on or before September 1st of the current school year. Children eligible for first grade enrollment must have completed kindergarten in a public or non-public school and must be six years old on or before September 1st of the current school year. Documentation needed for registration include a legal birth certificate or other legal evidence of date of birth, physician-signed proof of immunizations, a record of a recent health examination by a Florida physician, and proof of residence. Details about required immunizations and other information that will assist parents in preparing school-age children for education in Florida can be obtained from:

Florida Partnership for School Readiness

Tallahassee

850-922-4200

www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning

Immunization Information

Florida Department of Health

Tallahassee

850-245-4342

www.doh.state.fl.us/disease_ctrl/immune

Assessment & Testing

Florida schools administer the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), an achievement designed to measure specific Sunshine State Standards benchmarks in reading and math. Test scores are measured on a scoring range from 100 to 500 and grouped into five achievement levels: Level 1 (lowest) to Level 5 (highest). For more details on the FCAT or standardized nationwide tests, contact Accountability, Research & Measurement. For general information or answers to specific questions about Florida education, contact the appropriate offices:

Florida Department of Education

850-245-0505

www.fldoe.org

Accountability, Research & Measurement

850-245-0437

www.fldoe.org/arm

Public Colleges & Universities

Ten institutions and a wide variety of off-campus centers are encompassed within the Florida State University System. Two of the universities operate academic health centers that combine to offer medical, dental, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, public health programs, health-related professions, and nursing programs.