For families in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow and the rest of Polk County, getting your child's ABA provider into school can link what your child learns in therapy with what happens in class. Florida law allows it, and Polk's own school board policy says district staff will collaborate with private providers. This guide covers the statute, what Polk's policy says, local contacts such as FDLRS Sunrise and the ESE Family Partnerships Coordinator, and the steps to make a request. For the full legal background, see private ABA in public schools under s. 1003.572.
What do the law and Polk's policy say?
Section 1003.572(3), Florida Statutes, says private instructional personnel hired or contracted by parents "must be permitted to observe the student in the educational setting, collaborate with instructional personnel in the educational setting, and provide services in the educational setting" when "(a) The student's public instructional personnel and principal consent to the time and place" and "(b) The private instructional personnel satisfy the requirements of s. 1012.32 or s. 1012.321." It adds that a district "may not impose any requirements beyond those requirements specified in this subsection or charge any fees."
The School Board of Polk County's Policy 2460, Exceptional Student Education, states: "District personnel will collaborate with private instructional personnel who are hired or contracted by parents in compliance with F.S. 1003.572." The policy repeats the two conditions (teacher and principal consent to time and place, and screening under s. 1012.32 or 1012.321).
One caution: the policy text we viewed shows it was last revised on 1/19/16. Its list of covered providers predates the 2022 amendment that added registered behavior technicians, and the 2023 amendment barring extra requirements and fees. Where the policy and the current statute differ, the 2026 statute is the current law. If a school reads the older list as excluding RBTs, point to the statute's current subsection (1)(b), which covers RBTs who work under a qualifying supervisor and are "employed by a provider described in paragraph (a)."
Step by step for Polk families
- Agree on goals with your BCBA: observation, collaboration with the teacher, in-class support, or a mix.
- Check insurance. Plans differ on school-setting ABA. See ABA at school and insurance.
- Talk to the school first. Polk's ESE page tells families to start at the school: the teacher, then the ESE facilitator, school counselor or service provider, then the assistant principal or principal.
- Send a written request to the principal and teacher, citing s. 1003.572 and Policy 2460, with proposed days, times and location. Our letter template has wording.
- Complete Level 2 screening through the district's process, or document the s. 1012.321 exception.
- Confirm the schedule by email.
- Invite your BCBA to IEP meetings under Rule 6A-6.03028(3)(c)7.
- Review progress with the teacher and BCBA after a few weeks.
A short request might read: "Under section 1003.572(3), Florida Statutes, and School Board Policy 2460, I am requesting that [child]'s BCBA, [name], and RBT, [name], employed by [provider], be permitted to observe, collaborate and provide services in [child]'s classroom. We propose [days and times] in [location]. The provider will complete background screening under s. 1012.32. Please let me know whether these times work or suggest alternatives."
Example only: setting up screening, schedules and insurance authorization often takes several weeks, and each school's timing differs.
Who do I contact in Polk County if there is a problem?
Polk County Public Schools publishes an ESE "Contact Progression of Support" for the 2026-27 school year:
| Step | Who |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher |
| 2 | ESE Facilitator, School Counselor or Service Provider |
| 3 | Assistant Principal or Principal |
| 4 | ESE Specialist (district) |
| 5 | Senior Manager |
| 6 | Assistant Director or Director |
| 7 | ESE Senior Director |
| 8 | Assistant Superintendent |
The district also has an ESE Family Partnerships Coordinator, who helps parents understand their rights under IDEA and the procedural safeguards and navigate the system. The district's ESE page lists the coordinator's phone as 863-535-6488. The district office is at 1915 South Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 (switchboard 863-534-0500).
If a disagreement cannot be resolved locally, Florida's state options include facilitated IEP meetings, mediation, state complaints and due process; see IEP dispute options. If the school asks for a fingerprinting or badge fee, ask in writing which statute it relies on. Section 1012.465(2) says Level 2 screening costs "may be borne by the district school board, the contractor, or the person fingerprinted," while s. 1003.572(3) bars "any fees," and how the two fit together has not been settled. A Florida education attorney can advise on disputes.
Where do Polk families start if there is no IEP yet?
- Ages 3 to 5: FDLRS Sunrise, 1860 Ken Riley Way, Bartow, FL 33830, phone 863-535-6486, serves Polk County. See FDLRS and Child Find.
- School age: write to your child's school asking for an initial evaluation. Under Rule 6A-6.0331, the district has 30 days to ask for consent or explain a refusal in writing, and 60 calendar days after consent to complete the evaluation, with some breaks excluded. Use our evaluation request letter.
- Other local help: CARD-USF, Bay Area Early Steps and the APD Lakeland office are listed in our Polk County autism resources guide.
How Hope Center helps Polk County families
Hope Center serves families in Lakeland and Winter Haven in homes, schools, daycares and the community. We do not have a center in Polk County; our nearest centers are in Temple Terrace and Sebring. If you live elsewhere in Polk, call to ask whether we can staff your area. Programs are written by BCBAs and delivered by RBTs, and our staff can join IEP meetings where allowed. There is no waitlist. Learn about school-based ABA, contact us, or call 561-337-8865 for a free consultation and free benefits check.