What is VPK?
Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) provides free educational, curriculum-driven prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds in Florida regardless of family income.
Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK)
The Florida Department of Education, through the Division of Early Learning, oversees the program at the State level, while the Early Learning Coalition of Escambia County (ELCEC) administers the program locally. Legally operating childcare programs (Private Child Care Providers, Public Schools, accredited Private Schools, Licensed Family Child Care Homes, and Faith Based Providers) may enter into a contract with the Early Learning Coalition to offer the program if they meet the contractual requirements. This gives childcare programs and schools an opportunity to serve the community and also participate in quality programs and initiatives through the Early Learning Coalition.
Some benefits of being a VPK Provider include:
- Supports from the ELCEC on Kindergarten Transition
- Support the families you serve by providing access to free high-quality prekindergarten
- Professional development and training opportunities available for Teachers and Directors in topics aligned with best practice for Early Childhood Education
- Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observations provided to measure quality child-teacher interactions that guide professional development strategies
- Progress Monitoring tool that measures student progress in meeting the age-appropriate expectations in early literacy and early math skills
Contracting Information
Some requirements to be a VPK Provider include but are not limited to:
Participation in state approved assessment tools
Minimum qualifications and credentials for VPK directors and teachers
Use of a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, supports learning gains through differentiated instructions and is designed to enhance the progress of students attaining the State’s performance standards
Liability insurance coverage and worker’s compensation insurance (if required by state)
Participation in E-Verify
A Provider Profile in the Division of Early Learning’s Provider Portal (information is used referred to families for Child Care Resource and Referral)
Minimum health & safety requirements
Ratio
School-Year Program – 540 Instructional Hours
Class sizes are not to exceed 11 students with a single lead instructor or up to 20 students with a lead instructor and an assistant. Instructors must have a minimum Florida Child Care Professional Credential.
Summer Program – 300 Instructional Hours
Classes are not to exceed 12 students with a single lead instructor. Instructors must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
For information on the credentials and requirements of a VPK Teacher, please visit Professional Learning (fldoe.org)
Please click to view our Application Documents Checklist
VPK Contract Brief – JULY24 (Link to PDF)
Attendance Forms
Blank Attendance Sheets:
Provider VPK Application Forms & Information
Other
Department of Children and Families – Licensing, Training, Policies, Regulations, Provider Search