Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
For Providers
The Florida Department of Education, through the Division of Early Learning, oversees the program at the State level, while the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County (ELPBC) administers the program locally. Licensed child care programs (Private Child Care Providers, Public Schools, accredited Private Schools, 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 child care programs and schools an opportunity to serve the community and also participate in quality programs and initiatives through the Early Learning Coalition.
Key VPK Scheduling Requirements
The School Year program must be 540 instructional hours, which is usually a half-day program and the Summer program must be 300 instructional hours. Eligible Providers can set their own schedule of these VPK instructional hours, as long as they fall within the established parameters. School Year programs can be offered starting on the first day Palm Beach County Public Schools (PBCSD) begins and ending by June 30th. Summer Programs can begin as early as May 1 and must end before the PBCSD calendar begins for the School Year. During the School Year, many providers schedule 3 or 4 hour VPK programs and the parents choose to pay tuition for additional child care beyond the VPK hours. VPK providers can not require supplemental fees associated with the VPK program.
Benefits of being VPK Provider:
- Support the families you serve by providing access to free high-quality prekindergartenÂ
- Professional development and training opportunities available for Teachers and Directors in topics aligned with best practice for Early Childhood EducationÂ
- Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observations provided to measure quality child-teacher interactions that guide professional development strategiesÂ
- Access to Age of Learning, an app that provides personalized math and reading activities, tracks student progress, and gives providers real-time data to support school readiness
- Other workforce and quality grants and funding offered exclusively to Providers contracted with the ELCÂ
- Supports from the ELCPBC on Kindergarten Transition
Key VPK Provider Requirements
To participate in Florida’s VPK program, providers must meet a variety of requirements. The list below highlights some of the key requirements.
- Meet minimum qualifications and credentials for VPK directors and teachersÂ
- 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 standardsÂ
- Liability insurance coverage and worker’s compensation insurance (if required by state)Â
- 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)Â
- Minimum health & safety requirementsÂ
- Participation in state approved assessment tools
To see examples of the contracts needed for VPK providers, please visit:Â https://www.fldoe.org/schools/early-learning/providers/vpk-adopted-forms.stml
VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) Education Program
Takes place outside a traditional classroom setting and is designed for 4-year-olds with special needs who have current individualized educational plans from local school districts.
The VPK Specialized Educational Services or VPK SIS is available for age-eligible children with disabilities as evidenced by a current individual educational plan (IEP). The Department of Education approves SIS providers whose services meet statutory standards, maintains a list of approved providers, and notifies each school district and early learning coalition of the approved provider list. Â VPK SIS providers with questions, contact us at 561-214-8000.Â