You are guiding Florida’s future.
Every day, you increase a child’s chances of graduating from high school, acquiring a college degree, and earning more money as an adult. The day-to-day role of educators like you is at the heart of a healthy society. That’s why we need you to participated in Florida’s VPK Program.
Interested in participating in the VPK Program?
Beginning in the fall of 2005, public, private, and faith-based providers started delivering the program statewide. Licensed private child care providers are eligible if they are accredited by a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation, currently hold a Gold Seal Quality Care designation, or can demonstrate their ability to meet the VPK requirements. Public school districts must be approved by the state. For more eligibility requirements, please visit www.vpkflorida.org. To learn more about becoming a VPK provider, download a brochure here in English, Spanish, or Creole.
Ready to apply?
Contact the Early Coalition of Northwest Florida at 850-747-5400, Extension 139, and a staff member will help you with the application process.
VPK Provider Forms and Resources
Below you will find necessary forms during your time as a contracted VPK provider.
Direct Deposit Authorization
Temporary Program Closure
VPK Parental Choice Certificate, Long [OEL-VPK 03 (L)]
VPK Parental Choice Certificate, Short [OEL-VPK 03 (S)]
Photograph Release Form
VPK Provider Monitoring Tool
Bright Beginnings Website (for Replacement VPK Assessment Kit)
VPK Contract Renewal Information and Forms
Click the button below to visit our VPK Contracting page with information and forms necessary for renewing your contract.
VPK Example Forms for Providers on Probation (POPs)
Parent/Teacher Conference
POP Improvement Plan Verification Checklist: Staff Development
POP Improvement Plan Verification Checklist: Curriculum
POP Improvement Plan Verification Checklist: Other
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Agenda + Minutes
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Agenda + Minutes (AP1)
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Agenda + Minutes (AP2)
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Agenda + Minutes (AP3)
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Observation
VPK Staff Member/Class Team Meetings Sign-in Sheet
VPK Programs for Children with Special Needs
Specialized Instructional Services Providers
In 2012-2013, a child who had a disability as evidenced by a current Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and was age-eligible for VPK became eligible for Specialized Instructional Services (SIS). 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.
Click below for more resources on the Florida Office of Early Learning’s website including Gardiner Scholarship information, resources, explanations of service, and more.
Approved VPK Curriculum & Information
Click below to visit OEL’s website that includes approved VPK curriculum.
Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS)
FLKRS is the screener administered to all public school kindergarten students within the first 30 days of the school year to gather information about a child’s overall development and address each student’s readiness for kindergarten. It is also used to calculate VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness rates. Beginning with the 2017/2018 school year, the instrument used for FLKRS will be Star Early Literacy which will replace the FLKRS Work Sampling System (FLKRS-WSS). The Star Early Literacy assessment is an online, adaptive instrument that students complete independently in approximately 15-20 minutes.
To learn more, click on the button below to follow the link to the Florida Department of Education’s posted information and resources regarding FLKRS.
Florida Center for Reading Research
Center Activities for VPK
From 2014 to 2015, a team of researchers at the Florida Center for Reading Research collected ideas and created the VPK Learning Center Activities for use in preschool classrooms. Accompanying these Learning Center Activities is a Teacher Resource Guide and a Professional Development Video that offers important insights on differentiated instruction and how to use the Learning Center materials.
Click below to learn more about the Florida Center for Reading Research and the VPK center activities created for preschool settings. These materials are free, research based, and they come with directions to help the facilitator guide children in the learning process.
VPK Provider Tool Kit – Ready, Set, Enroll Campaign
For providers interested in advertising their VPK programs, we have created additional marketing materials to assist in their open enrollment efforts. In the below digital tool kit you will find:
Letter to Parent Template (Current Students)
Letter to Parent Template (Prospective Students)
Enrollment Tip Sheet for Parents
VPK Logo Branding Guidelines & Tools
Using the approved Florida VPK logos in your banners and other printed materials can help build brand recognition with families who are looking for a VPK program. Please review the “VPK Logotype Usage and Brand Guidelines” document as well as the approved versions of the VPK logo if you plan to use these logos in your printed materials (i.e., brochures, banners, etc.). You can click on any of these images to save to your computer. If you have questions, email redline@elcnwf.org.
