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IDEA
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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Center
(1) What is Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)?
A constitutional amendment passed by Florida’s voters in Nov. 2002 required a
voluntary prekindergarten program for all four-year-old children by fall 2005.
House Bill 1-A was signed into law by Governor Bush on January 2, 2005, creating
a program designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the
foundation for their educational success. The program allows a parent to enroll
his or her eligible child (four years old by September 1 and residing in
Florida) in a free VPK program. The program is voluntary for children and
providers.
(2) When does the VPK program begin and who is eligible to deliver the program?
The VPK program began in the 2005-2006 school year. Public, private, and
faith-based providers may be eligible to deliver the program depending on
whether they meet the minimum standards required in law.
The first summer VPK program will be offered in 2006. Children may participate
in the summer VPK program the summer immediately before the school year for
which the child is eligible for kindergarten.
(3) Is my child eligible for the VPK program?
A child must be 4 years of age before September 1, and reside in Florida to
participate in the VPK program.
(4) How do I enroll my child in Florida’s Voluntary Pre-K Program?
You may apply for the VPK program at http://www.vpkflorida.org. Parents are
encouraged to check the website periodically for updates. Once you complete the
application, your local early learning coalition will contact you for further
information and to assist you in completing the application process. If you have
any questions, you can find the contact information for your local coalition by
clicking on the link “Where do I go for VPK information in my area?” and
selecting the county in which you live.
(5) What options for VPK will be available for families?
The Legislature created two different options for parents:
(a) A school-year program consisting of 540 instructional hours; and
(b) A summer program consisting of 300 instructional hours.
VPK providers have flexibility in structuring the hours per day and days per
week to meet the required instructional hours. For example, if a program is 180
days (similar to a school-year calendar), it would offer 3 hours of instruction
each day to meet the 540-hour requirement. A provider could also choose to offer
a 6 hour-per-day program for 90 days. Providers may consider other options,
including offering a morning or afternoon program or having a program for 2 or 3
days a week instead of every day.
(6) Which private providers are eligible to offer the VPK program?
Each private provider must be a licensed child care facility, a licensed family
day care home (registered homes are not eligible), a licensed large family child
care home, or a nonpublic school or faith-based child care provider that is
exempt from licensure. Each private provider must also:
OPTION 1. Be accredited by an accrediting association that is a member of the
National Council for Private School Accreditation (http://www.ncpsa.org), the
Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (http://www.citaschools.org),
or the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (http://www.faans.org);
OPTION 2. Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation; or
OPTION 3. Be a licensed child care provider and demonstrate to the early
learning coalition that the provider meets the VPK program requirements,
including, but not limited to, credentials and background screenings of
instructors, minimum and maximum class sizes, director credentials, and
developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Unlicensed family day care homes and informal child care providers are not
eligible to participate in the program.
(7) Which public providers are eligible to offer the VPK program?
To deliver the school-year VPK program, a school district must be approved by
the Department of Education as reducing the district’s average class sizes and
having sufficient educational facilities and capital outlay funds. The
Department of Education is scheduled to verify which school districts have met
these requirements in March 2005. Once approved, each eligible school district
shall choose which public schools may offer the program, and those schools are
required to register with the local early learning coalition.
Every school district is required by law to deliver the summer VPK program for
every eligible child wanting to participate.
(8) When will I be able to select a provider?
You may choose a provider through the early learning coalition. By completing
the application form at www.vpkflorida.org, you have submitted your contact
information to your local coalition so they may contact you regarding the full
application process at the appropriate time.
(9) How many children may each private provider serve in the VPK program?
The VPK program places no limit on the number of children served by each
provider. It is each provider’s decision of how many children to serve.
(10) Will providers be able to turn away children requesting to enroll in the
VPK program?
Florida law prohibits VPK providers from discriminating against children or
their parents on the ground of race, color, or national origin, including the
refusal to admit a child to the VPK program.
(11) How much does it cost to enroll in a VPK program?
The VPK program is FREE for eligible children, regardless of family income.
Providers are not permitted to charge a registration fee or require parents to
agree to any additional services. State law does not, however, prohibit a
provider from charging registration fees for programs or care that are not part
of the VPK program.
(12) Will the VPK program provide transportation?
No. Florida law specifies that each parent is responsible for the transportation
of his or her child to and from the VPK program. Some VPK providers may offer
transportation services, and families are encouraged to explore these options
before choosing a VPK provider.
(13) Do I have to enroll my eligible child in the VPK program?
No. The VPK program is voluntary.
(14) Is the VPK progarm only for 4 year olds? If yes, where can I send my 2 year
old?
Yes the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program in only open to children who turn
fours years of age by September 1st and reside in the State of Florida. However,
there are other options available to you for a two year old child. In each
county there is a Resource and Referral (R&R) agency that maintains a database
of all legally operating early learning providers for that county. A trained R&R
specialist will be able to provide you with a customized listing of referrals
that match the needs of you and your child.
Frequently Asked Questions for Providers
(1) What is Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)?
A constitutional amendment passed by Florida's voters in Nov. 2002 required a
voluntary prekindergarten program for all four-year-old children by fall 2005.
House Bill 1-A was signed into law by Governor Bush on January 2, 2005, creating
a program designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the
foundation for their educational success. The program allows a parent to enroll
his or her eligible child (four years old by September 1 and residing in
Florida) in a free VPK program. The program is voluntary for children and
providers.
(2) What options for VPK will be available to families?
The Legislature created two different options for parents:
(a) A school-year program consisting of 540 instructional hours; and
(b) A summer program consisting of 300 instructional hours.
VPK providers have flexibility in structuring the hours per day and days per
week to meet the required instructional hours. For example, if a program is 180
days (similar to a school-year calendar), it would offer 3 hours of instruction
each day to meet the 540-hour requirement. A provider could also choose to offer
a 6 hour-per-day program for 90 days. Keep in mind, programs must be
developmentally appropriate and the state will only pay for instructional hours
- activities such as napping do not qualify for funding. Providers may consider
other options, including offering a morning or afternoon program or having a
program for 2 or 3 days a week instead of every day.
(3) When does the VPK program begin and who is eligible to deliver the program?
The VPK program will began in the 2005-2006 school year. Public, private, and
faith-based providers may be eligible to deliver the program depending on
whether they meet the minimum standards required in law.
The first summer VPK program will be offered in 2006. Children may participate
in the summer VPK program the summer immediately before the school year for
which the child is eligible for kindergarten.
(4) How do I apply to be a VPK provider?
You may apply to be a VPK provider at http://www.vpkflorida.org. Providers are
encouraged to check the website periodically for updates. Once you complete the
application, your local early learning coalition will contact you for further
information and to assist you in completing the application process. If you have
any questions, you can find the contact information for your local coalition by
clicking on the link "Where do I go for VPK information in my area?" and
selecting the county in which you live.
(5) Which private providers are eligible to offer the VPK program?
Each private provider must be a licensed child care facility, a licensed family
day care home (registered homes are not eligible), a licensed large family child
care home, or a nonpublic school or faith-based child care provider that is
exempt from licensure. Each private provider must also:
OPTION 1. Be accredited by an accrediting association that is a member of the
National Council for Private School Accreditation (http://www.ncpsa.org), the
Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation
(http://www.citaschools.org), or the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic
Schools (http://www.faans.org);
OPTION 2. Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation; or
OPTION 3. Be a licensed child care provider and demonstrate to the early
learning coalition that the provider meets the VPK program requirements,
including, but not limited to, credentials and background screenings of
instructors, minimum and maximum class sizes, director credentials, and
developmentally appropriate curriculum.
Unlicensed family day care homes and informal child care providers are not
eligible to participate in the program.
(6) Which public providers are eligible to offer the VPK program?
To deliver the school-year VPK program, a school district must be approved by
the Department of Education as reducing the district's average class sizes and
having sufficient educational facilities and capital outlay funds. The
Department of Education is scheduled to verify which school districts have met
these requirements in March 2005. Once approved, each eligible district shall
choose which public schools may offer the program, and those schools are
required to register with the local early learning coalition.
Every school district is required by law to deliver the summer VPK program for
every eligible child wanting to participate.
(7) What are the standards or requirements for the school-year VPK program?
A provider delivering the school-year program must:
Offer at least 540 instructional hours
Maintain VPK classes with at least 4 children and no more than 18 children
(however, providers may not exceed their licensed capacity)
Have a prekindergarten director credential (or a child care director credential,
if completed before July 1, 2006)
Have a developmentally appropriate curriculum
Have, for each VPK class, at least one VPK instructor who:
(a) Holds, at a minimum, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential issued
by the National Credentialing Program or a credential approved by the Department
of Children and Families as being equivalent to or greater than the national
credential AND who completes a 5-hour emergent literacy training course (or the
Department of Children and Families' 5-hour training in early literacy and
language development, if completed before April 1, 2005);
-OR-
(b) Holds one of the following educational credentials:
A bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood education, prekindergarten or
primary education, preschool education, or family and consumer science.
A bachelor's or higher degree in elementary education, if the prekindergarten
instructor has been certified to teach children any age from birth through 6th
grade, regardless of whether the instructor's educator certificate is current.
An associate's or higher degree in child development.
An associate's or higher degree in an unrelated field, at least 6 credit hours
in early childhood education or child development, and at least 480 hours of
experience in teaching or providing child care services for children any age
from birth through 8 years of age.
An educational credential approved by the Department of Education as being
equivalent to or greater than an educational credential described above.
Have, for each VPK class of 11 or more children, at least one additional
instructor who is not required to have a CDA credential or complete an emergent
literacy training course
Employ instructors of good moral character
Complete background screening (Level 2 screening in s. 435.04, F.S.) for all
instructors
(8) What are the standards or requirements for the summer VPK program?
A provider delivering the VPK summer program must:
Offer at least 300 instructional hours
Offer the program between May 1 and the start of the school year in August or
September
Deliver the program to children no earlier than the summer before the school
year for which the children are eligible to enter kindergarten
Maintain VPK classes with at least 4 children and no more than 10 children
(however, providers may not exceed their licensed capacity)
Have a developmentally appropriate curriculum
Have, for each VPK class, an instructor who holds a valid Florida Educator
Certificate or has one of the following credentials:
A bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood education, prekindergarten or
primary education, preschool education or family and consumer science; or
A bachelor's or higher degree in elementary education, if the prekingergarten
instructor has been certified to teach children any age from birth through 6th
grade, regardless of whether the instructor's educator certificate is current.
(9) How many children may each private provider serve in the VPK program?
The VPK program places no limit on the number of children served by each
provider. It is each provider's decision of how many children to serve.
(10) Will providers be able to turn away children requesting to enroll in their
VPK program?
Florida law prohibits VPK providers from discriminating against children or
their parents on the ground of race, color, or national origin, including the
refusal to admit a child to the VPK program.
11) How much funding will be provided per child?
Legislators approved a base student allocation of $2,500 per child.
(12) Will there be parent fees associated with the VPK program?
The VPK program is FREE for eligible children, regardless of family income.
Providers are not permitted to charge a registration fee or require parents to
agree to any additional services. State law does not, however, prohibit a
provider from charging registration fees for programs or care that are not part
of the VPK program.
(13) How will VPK providers get paid?
VPK providers will be paid in advance with a reconciliation of attendance
conducted at the end of each month. Additional details regarding the payment
process are being designed and will be available at a later date.
(14) Will the VPK program provide funding for transportation?
No. Florida law specifies that each parent is responsible for the transportation
of his or her child to and from the VPK program. VPK providers may offer
transportation services for families.
(15) What credentials must a VPK instructor have?
The prekindergarten instructor for the school-year program must hold, at a
minimum, one of the following credentials:
A child development associate credential issued by the National Credentialing
Program of the Council for professional Recognition (CDA); or
A credential approved by the Department of Children and Family Services as being
equivalent to or greater than the credential described is subparagraph A. (CDAE)
(s. 1002.55(3)(c)1.a., F.S.)
The prekindergarten instructor for the summer program must hold, at a minimum,
one of the following credentials (s. 1002.61(4)):
Be a certified teacher; or
Hold one the following educational credentials:
A bachelor's or higher degree in early childhood education, prekindergarten or
primary education, preschool education, or family and consumer science;
A bachelor's or higher degree in elementary education, if the prekindergarten
instructor has been certified to teach children any age from birth through 6th
grade, regardless of whether the instructor's educator certificate is current,
and if the instructor is not ineligible to teach in a public school because his
or her educator certificate is suspended or revoke
The term "certified teacher" means a teacher holding a valid Florida educator
certificate under s. 1012.56 who has the qualifications required by the district
school board to instruct students in the summer prekindergarten program. In
selecting instructional staff for the summer prekindergarten program, each
school district shall give priority to teachers who have experience or
coursework in early childhood education.
(16) Where can I find more information regarding the CDAE program?
You can find more information at the Department of Children and Families
website. https://training01-dcf.myflorida.gov/dcf/cct/cdaecred.html
(17) What credentials have been determined to be equivalent to the national CDA
for purposes of VPK?
The credentials that have been determined to be equivalent to or greater than
the national CDA for purposes of VPK participation are:
A Florida CDAE (see https://training01-dcf.myflorida.gov/dcf/cct/staffcred.html
for a list of approved CDAE programs.
Formal Education Qualifications
(18) Is the Employment History Recognition Exemption the same as being granted a
CDAE?
The Employment History Recognition Exemption is not the same as a Florida CDAE,
which is an approved course of study. The Employment History Recognition
Exemption is an alternative to the Florida CDAE that meets the staff credential
requirement for purposes of licensing, but does not qualify as a credential for
purposes of VPK.
(19) I am a family day care home provider. Can my child attend the VPK program I
provide?
The adult:child ratios for family day care homes are established by
s.402.302(7), Florida Statutes. According to CF-FSP Pamphlet 175-2 (the Child
Care Desk Reference) children under the age of 13 who are cared for in the
provider's home are to be included when calculating the ratio. There is nothing
in child care statute or rule that prohibits a family day care home provider
from caring for his or her own children in the home. In fact, this is quite
often the reason that a person becomes a family day care home provider. There is
nothing in VPK law that prohibits this action.
(20) I want to work in a VPK program, what do I need to do?
Training varies depending on which program you want to work in. Requirements for
working in an early learning program can be found on
http://www.myflorida.com/childare/training. Course schedules and fees can be
obtained by selecting your county at the top of the page. For more information,
please contact the Child Care Training Information Call Center at 1-888-352-2842
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