Educators
Report an Absent Child
Children’s attendance matters. It supports both their safety and the integrity of early education services.
If a child enrolled in School Readiness services has unreported or prolonged absences, providers are required to notify the Early Learning Coalition. Timely reporting ensures providers stay in compliance with state requirements and helps the Coalition follow up appropriately to support families and protect children’s well-being.
This page is for child care providers to submit absence reports directly to the Coalition.
When to Submit a Report
You should use this form to report a child’s absence when:
A School Readiness child has been absent for five (5) consecutive days with no communication from the parent or guardian.
A School Readiness child has ten (10) unexplained absences during a calendar month.
A child considered “at-risk” or under protective supervision (BG1/Rilya Wilson) has an unexcused absence or seven (7) consecutive excused absences.
In these cases, the law and state policy require providers to report the absence so that the child’s enrollment status can be reviewed and appropriate follow-up steps taken.
How to Submit an Absence Report
Please complete the form below to report an absent child directly to the Coalition.
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Why Timely Reporting Matters
Reporting absences promptly:
- Helps ensure the safety and well-being of children
- Keeps your program in compliance with state and contract requirements
- Supports accurate attendance and funding practices
- Allows the Coalition to follow up with families when needed
At-Risk BG-1 Children Absences: A child from birth to the age of school entry, who is under court-ordered protective supervision or in out-of home care and is enrolled in an early education or child care program must attend the program 5 days a week unless the court grants an exception. (Pursuant to s. 39.604, Florida Statutes)
If you have questions about absence reporting or the Rilya Wilson Act, contact the Coalition’s Provider Support Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Rilya Wilson Act?
An excused absence occurs when the parent or caregiver the child lives with notifies the provider by the end of the business day that the child will be absent, or provides advance notice that the child will not attend care.
Examples of excused absences:
- A parent or caregiver notifies you in advance that the child will be on vacation the following week.
- A parent or caregiver calls at noon on Tuesday to report that the child will not attend that day (as long as the call is made before the end of your business day).
An unexcused absence occurs when the child does not attend care and no notification is received by the end of the provider’s business day.
Example of an unexcused absence:
- Your business day ends at 6:00 PM, the child did not attend care that day, and you were not notified that the child would be absent.
What is the difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence?
This Florida State law was developed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children who have been determined to be at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation by either the court system or by your community Family Safety agency.
What happens if I do not report these absences?
You may no longer be eligible to offer School Readiness.
You are a valued part of this process. Your actions in reporting absences for at-risk children are critical to helping keep children in our community safe.
If you have difficulty submitting the form, you may contact us at 941-954-4830 x 101 so we can further assist you.
What happens with the information that I provide?
The Family Safety caseworker will be notified. If two consecutive unexcused absences or seven consecutive excused absences are reported, the caseworker will conduct a site visit to confirm the child’s safety.
If the caseworker is unable to locate the child, the child will be immediately reported as missing.
Need More Information?
View our full list of FAQs here