Getting Private ABA Into Broward County Public Schools

Broward County Public Schools has its own process for letting a family's private BCBA or RBT work with a student on campus, built on Florida's s. 1003.572. It centers on a yearly "PIP Packet" (PIP stands for private instructional personnel), a Broward vendor badge, and a written behavior plan summary. This guide explains the 2026-2027 process as the district published it on October 20, 2026, the contacts to know, and some Broward history parents ask about, including the classroom camera pilot. Procedures change, so confirm details with your school's ESE contact.

What does Florida law allow?

Section 1003.572(3), Florida Statutes, says private instructional personnel "hired or contracted by parents" must be permitted to observe, collaborate and provide services in the educational setting when "The student's public instructional personnel and principal consent to the time and place" and the provider meets screening under s. 1012.32 or s. 1012.321. A registered behavior technician must practice under a qualifying behavior analyst's supervision and "must be employed by a provider described in paragraph (a)." The law also says a district "may not impose any requirements beyond those requirements specified in this subsection or charge any fees." See private ABA in Florida public schools for the full picture.

One wording difference to know about: Broward's web page describes the RBT employment requirement differently from the statute's current text. The district's 2026-2027 packet quotes the statute itself. If the question comes up, point to the statute's words above.

How does the Broward PIP process work?

From the 2026-2027 PIP Parent Packet and the district's PIP and RBT Questions and Answers:

1. Read and complete the packet together. "Parent and PIP read and complete the packet together," gather every listed document, and initial each page. "A separate packet will need to be completed for each provider." For ABA, the district asks both the RBT and the RBT's supervising behavior analyst to complete a packet.
2. Get a Broward vendor badge. The packet requires fingerprint screening "by school district officials at the expense of the person requesting access," within the last 5 years, and a Broward vendor badge. The district says a Florida Public Schools Contractor's Badge "cannot be accepted in lieu of" a Broward vendor badge.
3. Submit to your child's school. For 2026-2027, packets could be submitted "as early as July 27th, 2026." The district says "The review process may take up to 30 calendar days," and requests for more documents can extend it.
4. Observation and pre-meeting. Once approved, school staff contact the provider "to schedule a student observation and pre-meeting prior to the PIP initiating services," to set a schedule approved by the principal and review how the private behavior plan will be used at school.

What the packet asks for

• proof of certification or licensure, with expiration dates;
• a copy of the Broward vendor badge, which "verifies the individual has obtained Level 2 security clearance";
• a signed confidentiality statement, communication agreement and release of information;
• the private behavior plan or plan of care, plus a completed "PIP School Behavior Plan Summary" covering target behaviors and their function, triggers, goals, strategies, data collection and crisis management;
• optional: proof of professional liability and workers' compensation or medical insurance.

The fingerprinting page of the packet lists Fieldprint fees for a new PIP direct-contact vendor of $88.00, an annual badge renewal of $20.00 and a badge replacement of $10.00, noting "Fees are subject to change." It lists the Security Clearance Office at 754-321-2374.

The cost question

Section 1003.572(3) bars districts from charging "any fees" to implement the subsection, while s. 1012.465(2) says Level 2 screening costs "may be borne by the district school board, the contractor, or the person fingerprinted." How these fit together has not been settled, and we do not take a position on it. If you have concerns, ask the district in writing which authority applies, and talk with a Florida education attorney for advice.

What rules apply once services start?

Broward's 2026-2027 Questions and Answers and packet describe how the district runs the program. Some points parents often ask about:

• Schedule and place: set by the principal and teacher under s. 1003.572(3)(a). Insurance billing "does not determine a PIP's schedule."
• Staff presence: the district says an approved PIP can be alone with the child, but "an RBT must provide services where an SBBC staff member is present."
• Testing: PIPs and RBTs "will not be present for any state or district testing."
• Field trips and aftercare: at the principal's discretion; community-run aftercare programs make their own decisions.
• No recording, no physical intervention: no photos, audio or video on campus, and "at no time can any PIP use any physical intervention with a student on any school campus." In a crisis, "only school staff will implement BCPS policies and procedures."
• Data: data collected at school "becomes a student record," and the district recommends providers share it weekly.
• The IEP: privately provided services the IEP team has not found necessary for FAPE "are not recorded on the IEP." The district must still meet your child's needs through the IEP.
• Who it covers: the district's position is that s. 1003.572 "applies only to students with an IEP."

Where a district practice seems to add requirements, ask for the policy in writing. For unresolved disagreements, see Florida's IEP dispute options.

What happened to Broward's classroom camera pilot?

Section 1003.574, Florida Statutes, created a "Video Cameras in Public School Classrooms Pilot Program" for "a period of 3 school years" beginning in 2021-2022, and defines the school district as "the Broward County Public Schools." It required a camera in a self-contained classroom on a parent's written request, operational within 30 days. Bills to expand cameras statewide did not pass; HB 859 in 2026 "Died in Rules." By its terms, the pilot covered three school years. Whether Broward still offers cameras is something to ask the district directly. Our guide to cameras in Florida ESE classrooms has more.

Who do I contact in Broward?

Broward is served by the University of Miami-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) under s. 1004.55. More local resources are in our Broward County autism resources guide.

A Broward checklist

1. Talk with your child's ESE case manager about what you want private ABA to do at school.
2. Ask your provider to check whether your health plan covers ABA in a school setting; see insurance and ABA at school.
3. Provider completes Broward fingerprinting and gets a vendor badge.
4. You and each provider complete the 2026-2027 PIP Parent Packet and the behavior plan summary.
5. Submit everything to your child's school with a short cover letter; our letter template can be adapted.
6. Attend the observation and pre-meeting, and confirm the agreed schedule in writing.
7. Renew badges and the packet each school year, and submit a new packet if your child changes schools or providers.

How Hope Center helps Broward families

Hope Center serves Fort Lauderdale and Broward County families in homes, schools, daycares and the community; our nearest center is in West Palm Beach. Our programs are written by BCBAs, delivered by RBTs with weekly supervision, and reviewed by our clinical director before they go to insurance. We use no restraint, which fits Broward's no-physical-intervention rule for private providers, and we can help prepare the plan of care and behavior plan summary. Our staff can join IEP meetings where the school allows. To ask about school-based ABA in Broward, contact us or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and free benefits check.