Category
September 17, 2020

VPK School Year Options Through December 31st 2020

The Florida Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of Early Learning are approving flexible options for early learning providers to support parents rejoining the workforce and mirror the choices parents have for K-12 students. Eligible providers can choose to apply to offer a flexible innovative learning model or a hybrid model. 

If providers in your area are approved to offer flexible options, these options would be available through December 31, 2020.  Beginning in January 2021, students will return to face-to face instruction. As a parent, you will continue to have the option to move your child to another VPK program or provider at any time. 

Early learning providers must meet the following requirements to be eligible to provide flexible innovative options:

  • Be open, offering in-person VPK. (Public school programs will be given special considerations in the South Florida counties in Phase I of reopening and Monroe County.)
  • Ensure that up to 270 hours of instruction (through December 31, 2020) will be provided by qualified staff, using developmentally appropriate instruction aligned with the VPK standards, report students’ progress and providing training to staff, students and parents.

If you are interested in this flexible option, please contact your child care center or public school and confirm if they are offering a flexible VPK school year option. 

If you have any questions, please contact our office.

VPK Specialized Instructional Support (SIS)
VPK SIS is an option for children with disabilities who have a current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) where certified or licensed professionals provide instruction or therapy in individual or small group settings outside of a traditional classroom setting. For more information, please visit http:// www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk/vpk-providers/specialized-instructional-services-providers.

Family Resources: Florida Early Learning Standards

Visit http://flbt5.floridaearlylearning.com/families.html to learn about the knowledge and skills that a child should know and be able to do at the end of each age-related time-frame. Resources and activities are also available for families to support children’s learning and development.