Knowledge Base

The following types of after school program are not required to be licensed:

• Programs at public/charter/private schools that are operated and staffed directly by that school and serve only children enrolled in that school
• Programs that Serve only the school-age children attending the school during the school day. The program may provide services during any out-of-school time, including before school, after school, on teacher planning days, holidays, and intercessions that occur during the school district’s academic calendar year
• Programs not designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider, operated by, or in affiliation with a national membership non-profit or not for profit organization that certifies membership organizations, as of February 1, 2017, in at least ten states, that was created for the purpose of providing activities that contribute to the development of good character or good sportsmanship or to the education or cultural development of minors in this state, that charges a membership fee for children and may receive grant funding for services
• Programs not designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care that provide child care exclusively for children in grades six and above
• Open Access Programs not designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider are not required to be licensed if they meet all the following criteria:
  • Does not advertise or otherwise represent that the program is an afterschool child care program or that the program offers supervision
  • Allows children to enter and leave the program at any time without permission, prior arrangements, or supervision, and the program does not assume responsibility for the supervision of the children
  • Does not provide transportation, directly or through a contract or agreement with an outside entity, during the hours of operation for the purposes of field trips
  • Does not serve or prepare any meals, except those provided through the USDA Afterschool Meal Program (AMP) administered by the Florida Department of Health.  Programs not participating in the AMP may choose to provide drinks and ready-to-eat snacks that are individually pre-packaged and do not require refrigeration
  • Does not contract to deliver a school readiness program
• Instruction/Tutorial Programs not designated as a Gold Seal Quality Care provider that have a single instructional/tutorial purpose and that purpose is the only service that the program provides. Some examples of these programs include, but are not limited to, tutoring; computer class; ballet class; karate class; sports and athletics. The program cannot provide any service beyond the instructional and tutorial/academic activity; and:
  • Does not cater, serve or prepare meals. The program may choose to provide drinks and ready-to-eat snacks that are individually pre-packaged and do not require refrigeration
  • Does not advertise or otherwise represent that the program has attributes of child care
  • Enrollment information shall clearly define the duration of the instructional sessions. Session time may not exceed two hours. If tutoring is provided in multiple academic areas, the total combined session times cannot exceed three hours per day
  • Does not contract to deliver a school readiness program pursuant to Section 1002.88, F.S.