VPK Provider Contracts

Please contact the Provider Relationship team for further details. 305-359-5550

Becoming a VPK Provider

Providers interested in becoming a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Provider in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties should submit a copy of the Provider Service Agreement Information Form below with a copy of your current Child Care License to

Print a copy of the Provider Service Agreement Information Form

For more information go to: http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/providers.aspx You’ll find links to guidance on all areas of the VPK program.

VPK Required Documents and Educator Credentials

All VPK personnel that require credentials should upload their most current DCF Child Care Training Transcripts to show proof of credentials and courses depending on their role.

Directors
Required Documents	Copy of Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Background screening completed in the past 5 years. Copy of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Background check completed within the last 5 years. Copy of Affidavit of Good Moral Character
Educator Credentials	VPK Director Credential Course (DVPK) Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors Course (VPK) Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classrooms 3 Years Old to Kindergarten (VSFP) Mathematical Thinking for Early Learners (MATH) Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom If the Director has a valid certificate in education leadership issued by the Florida Department of Education, the courses listed above are not needed*

Leads (regardless of the credential/degree type):
Required Documents	Copy of Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Background screening completed in the past 5 years. Copy of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Background check completed within the last 5 years. Copy of Affidavit of Good Moral Character
Educator Credentials	DCF transcripts should show teaching credentials and required courses Teaching Credentials NECC, FCCPC, ECPC, CCAC, CDAE, or Formal Education Staff Credential Verification form may be requested if the type of credential is not clear based on the DCF transcripts. Formal education requires Staff Credential Verification form or degree certificate. Required Courses: Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classrooms: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten and Three of the 5-hour emergent literacy courses to satisfy the emergent literacy requirement: Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors (Completed after July 1, 2018) Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom (Completed after July 1, 2020) Phonological Awareness Development for Preschoolers Dialogic Reading: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers Book Embedded Vocabulary Instruction: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers Scaffolding and Think, Show, Tell, Talk: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers Building a Strong Foundation for Emergent Literacy or Successful completion of one of the following courses can fulfill the emergent literacy course requirements: Preschool Language Development- Flamingo Early Learning or The Building Blocks of Preschool Literacy- Flamingo Early Learning or Completion of Competency 1 of the Florida Reading Endorsement Can only be approved for someone who has a teaching certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education Teachers who have the Reading endorsement by way of the Department of Education Endorsement Exam would need to meet the course requirement by completing the 15 hours of emergent literacy course work

Aides
Required Documents	Copy of level 2 background screening Attestation of Good Moral Character
Educator Credentials	Credentials and courses are not required but can be added to the VPK APP if valid.

Each credentialed Substitute teacher must have:
Required Documents	Copy of level 2 background screening Attestation of Good Moral Character
Educator Credentials	DCF transcripts should show teaching credentials and required courses Teaching Credentials NECC, FCCPC, ECPC, CCAC, CDAE, or Formal Education Staff Credential Verification form may be requested if the type of credential is not clear based on the DCF transcripts. Formal education requires Staff Credential Verification form or degree certificate.

Substitute Aides
Required Documents	Copy of level 2 background screening Attestation of Good Moral Character
Educator Credentials	Credentials and courses are not required but can be added to the VPK APP if valid.

Please note that a teaching degree from another country must be evaluated and translated by an accredited organization and submitted to DCF for approval.

Summer VPK Program

You must include the following for each credentialed VPK Instructor

Copy of one (1) of the following credentials:

A Bachelor’s Degree or higher in early childhood education, prekindergarten or primary education, preschool education, or family and consumer science; or
A Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education, if the pre-k instructor has been certified to teach children any age from birth through 6th grade, with a Florida Educator’s Certificate, regardless of whether the certificate is current or not, and has not had this educator certificate suspended or revoked.
A valid Florida Educator Certificate
Copy of Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Criminal Background screening completed in the past 5 years.
Copy of Attestation of Good Moral Character.

Required Courses:

Complete the Early Learning Standards Training and 15 hours in approved emergent literacy courses. More information: https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/20626/urlt/vpkinstructorflyer.pdf

Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors (*Completed after July 1, 2018)
Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom (*Completed after July 1, 2020)
Phonological Awareness Development for Preschoolers
Dialogic Reading: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers
Book Embedded Vocabulary Instruction: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers
Scaffolding and Think, Show, Tell, Talk: Language and Vocabulary Development for Preschoolers
Building a Strong Foundation for Emergent Literacy or

Successful completion of one of the following courses can fulfill the emergent literacy course requirements:

Preschool Language Development- Flamingo Early Learning or
The Building Blocks of Preschool Literacy- Flamingo Early Learning or
Completion of Competency 1 of the Florida Reading Endorsement
- Can only be approved for someone who has a teaching certificate issued by the Florida Department of Education
- Teachers who have the Reading endorsement by way of the Department of Education Endorsement Exam would need to meet the course requirement by completing the 15 hours of emergent literacy coursework

Changes to Florida Law regarding Voluntary Prekindergarten Program Assessment:

During the 2022 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill (HB 419) that increases quality and accountability in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK).

Rule 6M-8.621 was established beginning with the 2022-2023 VPK program year. All private and public school VPK partners must annually participate in a program assessment of each VPK classroom for both the school-year and summer VPK programs.