In an effort to keep you informed of current legislation, we want to make you aware of a Legislative Rules awaiting approval and draft language in our Florida Administrative Code, regarding both VPK and School Readiness Program Assessment (SRPA), and VPK FAST testing requirements. We ask that you read the Legislative Rules and become familiar with new guidelines and contract requirements.
VPK Legislative Rules are new to the state and therefore new to Coalitions and child care providers. We are here to support you through this process and will work through questions as they arise.
- Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, each private prekindergarten provider and public school in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program must participate in a program assessment of each voluntary prekindergarten education classroom. It is required that the approved VPK Lead teacher is present and observed. Substitutes are not permitted for the VPK Program Assessment.
- ELCPH and/or contracted assessors shall be responsible for the administration of the program assessments.
- The program assessment shall measure the quality of teacher-child interactions, including emotional support, classroom organization, and instructional support for children ages 3 to 5 years.
- RESULTS: Provider shall receive the results of the program assessment for each classroom within 14 days after the observation. (A Composite Score notification Rule/Guidance has not been completed by DEL yet).
- A “Composite” score of a 4.0 or above will be required in order to have a VPK Program Contract the following year (2023-2024).Beginning with the 2022-2023 program year, the department shall adopt a methodology for calculating each private prekindergarten provider’s and public-school provider’s performance metric, which must be based on a combination of the following:
1. Program assessment composite scores which must be weighted at no less than 50 percent.
2. Learning gains operationalized as change-in-ability scores from the initial and final progress monitoring results.
3. Norm-referenced developmental learning outcomes
One important change in the Draft language for School Readiness (SRPA) pertains to providers with Biennial status. As of 2023-24, a provider who receives a composite score of 5.00 and above will no longer receive biennial status and will receive an annual program assessment. We have attached the DRAFT rules for your review
We know that this may seem frustrating, yet this particular change will align with our new VPK Legislation. Please note: This will NOT affect the differential rate that is received for the 5.00 and above composite score.
• 6M-4.740 Program Assessment Requirements for the School Readiness Program.
• 6M-8.621 Program Assessment Requirements for the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program.
VPK FAST Testing Updates
The VPK FAST training is required for anyone who will be administering the assessment to students as a test administrator. All VPK Programs are required to complete the new training sessions for FAST using Star Early Literacy as part of a verification process for meeting training requirements.
If you missed the zoom trainings, then there is an online course available to take. There is an attachment that will walk you through the steps to take this course. DEL is working with the Department of Children and Families to have the VPK FAST training requirement listed on the DCF transcript
• For a customizable Family Letter to send home to your families that allows each VPK Program to customize the bottom of the document with contact information for parents: Click Here
• For FAST resources: Click Here.
• If you have any technical issues to contact Renaissance Place Help Desk and Technical Assistance Team at 1-800-338-4204 or email at FAST_Star@renaissance.com, for site related issues such as logging in.
There are a few changes to School Readiness Rule 6M-4.500 Child Attendance and Provider Reimbursements. These changes are as follows:
SR Absences
• SR children are allowed three (3) excused absences per month. No documentation is required for these absences.
• SR children are now allowed up to ten (10) additional absences per month, with allowable documentation. (i.e., specifically dated Dr. note, court order paperwork, obituary with parent note, etc.)
SR Reimbursement for Quality Performance Incentive (QPI)
• Providers with a composite score of 4.50 to 4.99 shall receive a four percent (4%) QPI differential in their SR reimbursement payment
• Providers with a composite score of 5.00 to 5.99 shall receive a seven percent (7%) QPI differential in their SR reimbursement payment
• Providers with a composite score of 6.00 to 7.00 shall receive a ten percent (10%) QPI differential in their SR reimbursement payment
