Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program

Becoming a VPK Provider

Here is a useful guide from ELC Broward to help complete your checklist:

Providers interested in becoming a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Provider in Broward County should create an account on Florida’s Provider Portal at: https://providerservices.floridaearlylearning.com/Account/Login.
All contracts and documents are completed and submitted through the electronic Provider Portal.
Once your account is active, you will complete and submit a profile for your program. Be sure to answer “yes” when asked if you would like to complete a contract to participate in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program.
Once your profile is activated by an ELC Provider Relations Specialist, forms OEL-VPK 20 and VPK 10,11a,11b (also known as the VPK Application) will be initiated for you to complete.
Complete all sections of the VPK Application, upload all supporting documents requested, and sign/certify the application to submit it for review.
Review the OEL-VPK 20 in its entirety to verify the accuracy of your information and to ensure you understand your rights and responsibilities as a VPK provider.
Sign and certify the OEL-VPK 20 form to submit it for review. Please note that both the application and OEL-VPK 20 forms must be submitted for ELC Provider Relations staff to review.
If you need any assistance throughout this process, please call 954-377-2188 and ask to speak with a Provider Relations Specialist.

Child Development Associate (CDA) or Florida Child Care Professional Certificate (FCCPC) earned within the last five (5) years; or
an associate degree or higher in Child Development; or
an associate degree or higher in an unrelated field, with at least 6 credit hours in early childhood education or child development, and at least 480 hours of experience in teaching or providing childcare services for children any age from birth to 8 years of age; or
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 whether the certificate is current or not, and has not had this educator certificate suspended or revoked. (Please note that a teaching degree from another country must be evaluated and translated by an accredited organization and submitted to DCF for approval.)
Copy of the required 15 hours of Emergent Literacy Requirements
Copy of completed Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classroom: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten
Copy of Background screening conducted by the DCF Clearinghouse.
Copy of a notarized Affidavit of Good Moral Character.

New VPK Director Requirement - must be Endorsed (as of November 23, 2021)

Copy of all the courses below. All the courses can be taken online through the DCF Training Registry

Florida Director's Credential
Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classroom: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten
Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructions
VPK Director Credential
Mathematical Thinking for Early Learners
Language and Vocabulary in the VPK Classroom

Copy of Background screening conducted by the DCF Clearinghouse.
Copy of a notarized Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
Best Practice for VPK Assistants to complete Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classroom: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten

The New FAST Assessment:

VPK Programs (school-year and summer) will begin implementation of the FAST using Star Early Literacy beginning in the 2022-2023 VPK Program Year.

For questions and additional information, please visit https://www.floridaearlylearning.com/vpk/fast

If you experience issues setting up your tablet, please use the document below to troubleshoot. (Broward Providers)

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 whether the certificate is current or not, and has not had this educator certificate suspended or revoked.
A valid (current) Florida Educator Certificate (Please note that a teaching degree from another country must be evaluated and translated by an accredited organization and submitted to DCF for approval.)
Copy of Background screening conducted by the DCF Clearinghouse.
Copy of a notarized Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
Copy of the required 15 hours of Emergent Literacy Requirements
Copy of completed Implementing the Florida Standards in Preschool Classroom: 3 Years Old to Kindergarten