Overview of VPK Accountability | VPK Help

In Florida, the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) is designed to ensure that your child receives quality early education. The state has established policies to hold VPK providers accountable for your child’s learning and achievement. This means that providers must meet certain standards to support your child’s development (Section 1002.68, Florida Statutes)

How Provider Performance is Measured

Starting with the year 2024-25 VPK program, every VPK provider will be evaluated based on three key areas:

  1. Quality Classroom Instruction: Measures Quality Techer Child Interactions in the classroom. (Based on the CLASS Observation Tool)
  2. Child Achievement: The progress children make in their learning. (Based on child progress monitoring using FAST Star Early Literacy)
  3. Child Learning Gains: Final Child Learning Outcomes (Based on child’s final progress monitoring using FAST Star Early Literacy)

Who is Included in the Evaluation?

A provider will receive a performance score if they have at least four eligible children. These children must complete more than 50% of the total instructional hours in the VPK program at that provider.

Important Documents for Families

  1. DPS Memo August 23, 2024: This memo provides detailed information about the new accountability measures. https://chatgpt.com/#:~:text=new%20accountability%20measures.-,Download%20PDF,-Guide%20to%20Calculating
  2. Guide to Calculating VPK Provider Performance Metrics and Designations: This guide explains how the performance metrics are determined for each provider. https://chatgpt.com/#:~:text=for%20each%20provider.-,Download%20PDF,-2022%2D2023%20VPK
  3. 2022-2023 VPK Provider Performance Metrics and Designations-Informational Use Only: This document outlines the performance metrics from the last school year, showing how providers measured up under the new accountability standards. https://chatgpt.com/#:~:text=new%20accountability%20standards.-,Download%20PDF,-Why%20This%20Matters

For more detailed information, please visit the Accountability Page of the Department of Education (DEL).

Why This Matters

Understanding these performance metrics helps you make informed choices about your child’s early education. It ensures that your child is in an environment that promotes their growth and readiness for future learning.

If you have questions about your VPK provider or how performance is measured, don’t hesitate to reach out for more information!