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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Archives

This page contains memoranda, materials and information about the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program and related programs from 2007 to the present. Questions about these or any documents released prior to 2007 may be directed to the Florida Department of Education, Office of Early Learning at or (866) 447-1159.

2011-12

Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Standards

The Florida VPK Education Standards (2008)* were formally adopted by the State Board of Education on August 19, 2008. These standards create a common framework and language for VPK programs serving Florida’s four-year-old children. The VPK Education Standards are reviewed and revised, as needed, every three years.

Based on collaboration with a Panel of Experts and public input from citizens across the state, the VPK Education Standards reflect the latest research on child development and developmentally appropriate practices for four-year-old children. Benchmarks are now available in three areas: the domains of Language and Communication and Emergent Literacy, and in Mathematical Thinking, further explaining what Florida’s children should know and be able to do at the end of the VPK experience.

To ensure all VPK teachers effectively utilize the VPK Education Standards, training has been developed. This training is based on the most current early childhood research and is appropriate for all VPK instructors. The participants will be introduced to the VPK Education Standards, which are guidelines that describe what children should know and be able to do at the end of the VPK year.

To register for an upcoming training on the VPK Education Standards, where participants receive Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) and a copy of the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards (2008) book, contact your DOE VPK Regional Facilitator.

The Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards (2008) book is also available for purchase through the Florida Institute of Education.

2011 Standards

One Set of Standards for Florida’s Four-Year-Olds – DRAFT available for public comment New!

The Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) and the Florida Department of Education (DOE) are collaborating to create One Set of Standards for Florida’s Four-Year-Olds These Standards provide examples of what children should know and be able to do and supportive instructional strategies for teachers to use in the School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education programs.

AWI and DOE are pleased to provide a DRAFT copy of the Standards for public review and feedback. We ask that members of the public review the DRAFT document found below and complete the related survey to share feedback, comments, and suggestions on the document and the revision process.

Public comment should be submitted no later than April 25, 2011, in one of the following ways:

Online
By fax: (850)245-5105
By mail: Florida Department of Education Office of Early Learning, 325 W. Gaines St., Suite 514, Tallahassee, FL 32399

Announcement of the Panel of Experts meeting for the One Set of Standards for Four-Year-Olds New!

To the Core: Voluntary Prekindergarten

Featuring Cheryl Conley, DOE/Macy’s Teacher of the Year and Tara Huls, Ph.D., DOE VPK educational policy consultant

Voluntary Prekindergarten is a program that began in Florida in 2005. The program provides funding for 4-year-olds to attend prekindergarten in order to better prepare them for kindergarten. In this podcast, Dr. Huls and Ms. Conley talk about the last five years of the program and what we can look forward to in the future.

2010-11

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) Announcements

Meetings, Workgroups, Webinars and Related Materials

The VPK Assessment Update Webinar included representatives from school districts, early learning coalitions, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the Department of Education. The VPK Assessment Workgroup includes representatives from school districts, early learning coalitions, and public and private VPK programs and was created to provide information and assistance to the Department of Education related to the development of the NEW VPK and K-12 Reading Assessments.

Performance Standards

Announcement of the Panel of Experts meeting for the One Set of Standards for Four-Year-Olds
The Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Office of Early Learning and the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Early Learning are collaborating to create one set of standards for four-year-olds throughout the state. A Panel of Experts will convene on November 16 and 17, 2010, from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, at Mission San Luis, 2100 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304. Meeting attendees will include researchers and other early learning stakeholders who will review the document and suggest revisions based on research on how children learn and grow.

Additionally, State Continuity Reviewers and National Experts have been identified and will review the draft resulting from the Panel of Experts meeting. These reviewers will be looking at content within each domain as well as continuity across domains. There will be additional opportunities for public input after this as well. The 2011 Standards will implemented in Fall 2011. For additional information on the project, you may review the one-page flyer distributed publicly during the Summer 2010.

One Set of Standards Awareness Flyer (Word, 735KB) - This one-page flyer was distributed publicly in Summer 2010.

VPK Assessment Updates

VPK Fact Sheet

The VPK Fact Sheet is published monthly to highlight recent achievements in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program. It includes the number of children currently enrolled in the VPK program, number and percentage of teachers taking and completing DOE-approved on-line and instructor led courses and updates on coming additions to our online resources.

What's Happening in VPK!

This informational flyer for VPK providers has updates about the 2008-09 Kindergarten Readiness Rate and new additions to the Training Management System (TMS) web site.

2009-10

District Master In-service Plans

To provide certified public school VPK teachers with the opportunity to earn in-service points toward recertification, we have developed Master In-service Plans for the following DOE-approved online courses: Emergent Literacy for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Instructors; English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom; Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom.

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) Announcements

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) Training for Kindergarten Teachers

Rule Development Workshops

VPK Assessment Updates

2008-09

Data Book

  • Memo # 09-18 (PDF, 52KB) – June 15, 2009 – VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Data Book
  • Memo #09-24 (PDF, 53KB) Reporting Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Students on the Automated Student Information System

Draft Competencies and Skills for Elementary Education

  • Memo #09-08 (PDF) – April 7, 2009 - Draft Competencies and Skills for Elementary Education K-6 and Prekindergarten/Primary PK-3 Teacher Certification Examinations

EvenStart

Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS) Announcements

Funding for VPK

  • Memo #09-04 (PDF, 54KB) Conference Report-FY2008-09 Reductions
  • Memo #09-09 (PDF, 52KB) 2008-09 Minimum Funding Level for 2009 Summer Programs
  • Memo #09-17 (PDF, 188KB) VPK Funding and the District Cost Differential

National Early Literacy Panel Report

  • Memo #09-03 (PDF): February 24, 2009 - National Early Literacy Panel Report - Developing Early Literacy

Readiness Rate

  • Memo #09-01 (PDF, 68KB) 2007 -08 Preliminary Rates & Dispute Process to Districts
  • Memo #09-06 (PDF, 57KB) District Designee for Approving Low Performing Voluntary rekindergarten (VPK) Provider Improvement Plans
  • Memo #09-14 (PDF, 73KB) Administration of the IDEL™ (Indicadores dinámicos del éxito en la lectura) and Calculation of the 2008-09 VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate

Rule Development Workshops

Summer VPK Planning Tool

Teenage Parent Program (TAPP)

  • Memo # 09-22 (PDF, 62KB) Teenage Parent Program Reporting Procedures and Dates (Revised)
  • Attachment 1: (PDF, 23KB) Teenage Parent Program Supplemental Information Form 2008-09 School Year
  • Attachment 2: (PDF, 13KB) Instructions for Completing the Teenage Parent Supplemental Information Form

VPK Courses

  • Memo #09-53 (PDF) English Language Learners in the VPK Classroom Course
  • Memo #09-100 (PDF) What I Learned in VPK! Teacher's Guide Child Portfolio
  • Memo #09-234 (PDF) Language and Vocabulary Course Memo

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Teacher Toolkit

  • Memo #09-13 (PDF) – April 6, 2009 - Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Teacher Toolkit: Language and Vocabulary Folder
  • Memo #09-237 (PDF) VPK Teacher Toolkit Mathematical Thinking Folder

2007-08

2007 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program Curriculum Approval Process for Low Performing Providers

FLKRS Announcements

Funding for VPK

Rule Development Workshops

Publications

  • Memo #07-35 (PDF) - New Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Brochures

Sample Lesson Plans

  • Memo #08-17 (PDF) September 10, 2008 - Lesson Plans Based on the Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Standards

Teenage Parent Program (TAPP)