When your autistic child turns 4, Florida offers two very different public paths for the year before kindergarten. One is the school district's preschool special education program, run under your child's IEP. The other is a little-known option inside Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) called Specialized Instructional Services, or SIS, where you choose therapy services such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) and the early learning coalition pays approved providers up to a set amount. This guide compares the two side by side so you can decide what fits your child, using the Florida Statutes and the State Board of Education rules in force in October 2026.
What are the two options?
District ESE pre-K
Your school district's Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities serves eligible children from age 3. Florida law says children with disabilities "who have attained the age of 3 years shall be eligible for admission to public special education programs and for related services" (s. 1003.21(1)(e)). The district provides a free appropriate public education (FAPE) under an IEP. The IEP team, which includes you, decides the services and the placement, such as a classroom, related services like speech, or a combination. Read more in our guide to the Prekindergarten Program for Children with Disabilities.
VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS)
VPK is Florida's free prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds. A child is eligible if they "will have attained the age of 4 years on or before September 1 of the school year," and can use VPK that year or the following year (s. 1002.53(2)). Of the four VPK program types, one is "A specialized instructional services program for children who have disabilities" (s. 1002.53(3)(d)).
Under s. 1002.66, a child with a disability qualifies for SIS if they are VPK-eligible and "A current individual educational plan has been developed for the child by the local school board." The parent "may select one or more specialized instructional services that are consistent with the child's individual educational plan," which "may include, but are not limited to: (a) Applied behavior analysis," plus speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and listening and spoken language services. The early learning coalition pays approved providers, but "the cumulative total of services reimbursed for a child may not exceed the amount of the base student allocation provided in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program in the General Appropriations Act" (s. 1002.66(5)).
How do they compare?
| Question | District ESE pre-K | VPK SIS |
|---|---|---|
| Ages | From age 3 until kindergarten | The VPK year: age 4 by September 1 (that year or the next) |
| Needs an IEP? | Yes, the district writes it after finding your child eligible | Yes, a current IEP from the school board is required; the coalition checks that it is dated within the last year |
| Who chooses services | The IEP team, including you | You choose, from services consistent with the IEP |
| Can it pay for ABA? | The district provides the services in the IEP, which may include behavior supports; private ABA paid by insurance is separate | Yes, ABA is named in the statute, from an approved provider |
| Who delivers it | District staff and contractors | Providers approved by the Department of Education under Rule 6A-6.03033 |
| Cost to family | Free (FAPE) | Free up to the VPK funding cap; services beyond it are not paid by the coalition |
| Classroom included? | Depends on the IEP placement | No classroom unless you arrange one separately; SIS is services |
| Where you apply | School district ESE office | Early learning coalition |
| Legal rights | Full IDEA rights, including dispute resolution | Your child keeps the IEP; SIS is a VPK program, so check with the district what IEP services continue |
What is the one-program rule?
Section 1002.53(3) lists the VPK programs (school-year private, summer, school-year public, and SIS) and says, "Except as provided in s. 1002.71(4), a child may not enroll in more than one of these programs." Rule 6M-8.500(1) states it plainly: "a child may not be enrolled in a school-year or summer program type and the VPK specialized instructional services program type at the same time."
So choosing SIS means not using regular VPK classroom hours that year. Changing between a standard VPK type and SIS counts as a reenrollment under the coalition's rules (Rule 6M-8.500(8)), which has its own conditions.
The one-program rule is about VPK program types. Whether your child can also attend the district's ESE pre-K while enrolled in SIS is a separate question. We could not find a clear statewide answer in the statute or rules, so ask your district ESE office and your early learning coalition in writing before you decide.
How much SIS funding is there?
The cap is the VPK base student allocation in the state budget, set each year. Under Rule 6M-8.500(6), if there is no separate SIS allocation, the coalition uses the VPK school-year amount for families who choose the school-year option, and the summer amount for those who choose summer. School-year option services must happen "between 14 calendar days before Labor Day and June 30th"; summer option services between May 1 and 15 calendar days before Labor Day of the year the child is eligible for kindergarten.
We did not print a dollar figure because it changes every year. Ask your early learning coalition for the current amount. Compare it with your child's needs: intensive ABA can cost more than the VPK amount, and the rule says the coalition will not pay for scheduled services that would exceed it.
How does each choice affect FES-UA?
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) has a cap on funded scholarships. Section 1002.394(12)(b)1. excludes some students from that cap, including a student who "Received specialized instructional services under the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program pursuant to s. 1002.66 during the previous school year and the student has a current IEP." The same paragraph also excludes a student reported by a school district for funding who "was at least 4 years of age when enrolled and reported, and was eligible for services under s. 1003.21(1)(e)." In other words, both paths can lead to a cap-exempt FES-UA application the next year. See the VPK SIS to FES-UA pathway.
One timing rule matters: under s. 1002.394(6)(a), "a 3- or 4-year-old child who receives services funded through the Florida Education Finance Program is considered to be a student enrolled in a public school," and a student enrolled full time in public school cannot receive FES-UA at the same time.
Decision checklist
Use these questions to talk it through with your family and your child's IEP team. There is no single right answer.
- Does your child need a classroom with peers and teachers, or mainly one-to-one therapy?
- Does the district's IEP offer cover what your child needs, including behavior support?
- Is there an approved SIS provider for the service you want in your coalition's area? Has the provider confirmed it is on the list?
- Will the VPK funding cap cover enough hours to be useful, alongside insurance-funded ABA?
- Do you already have private ABA through health insurance? If so, would SIS add anything, or duplicate it? Providers may not bill the coalition for services paid by other sources (Rule 6M-8.500(7)(c)).
- Do you plan to apply for FES-UA for kindergarten? Both paths can support a cap-exempt application.
- Can you manage the SIS paperwork, including scheduling forms submitted to the coalition at least 10 business days before the first appointment?
Ready to apply for SIS? Our step-by-step guide to using specialized VPK funds for ABA covers the forms.
Where does Hope Center fit?
Hope Center provides ABA at home, at our centers, and in schools and daycares where allowed, usually funded by health insurance or self-pay with a sliding scale. Hope Center is not an approved VPK SIS provider, so SIS funds cannot be used for ABA with us. If you choose SIS with another provider, ask the provider and your coalition to confirm its approval before services start. Our staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows it. For a free consultation and benefits check, contact us or call 561-337-8865.