
Becoming a VPK Provider
Congratulations! You’re on Your Way.
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.
You must have one copy of the following for each credentialed VPK Instructor (lead teacher):
- 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 Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors course.
- Copy of completed student performance standards training course (Standards for four-year-olds).
- Copy of Background screening conducted by the DCF Clearinghouse.
- Copy of a notarized Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
You must include the following for each VPK aide/assistant:
- Copy of Background screening conducted by the DCF Clearinghouse.
- Copy of a notarized Affidavit of Good Moral Character.
For more information visit: http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/providers.aspx
For background screening information go to: www.dcfbackgroundscreening.com
You must include one copy of the following for each credentialed VPK Instructor:
- 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.
For more information visit: http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/providers.aspx
For background screening information go to: www.dcfbackgroundscreening.com