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Good Afternoon Providers,
You may have received emails from the Office of Early Learning regarding VPK readiness rates and the Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment. We are providing you a copy of the emails to ensure you receive this important information.
VPK Readiness Rates
"In late December, the Office of Early Learning (OEL) sent a letter regarding provider availability of 2014-15 VPK preliminary kindergarten readiness rates. Providers were able to log in and verify data as well as view their program's preliminary rate.
Earlier this week, the Florida Legislature agreed on a budget. There is a 72-hour period before they actually vote on it and forward it to Governor Rick Scott for his consideration. Along with the budget, there is an implementing bill with language that addresses how to implement the budget. The implementing bill directs OEL not to adopt a kindergarten readiness rate for the 2014-2015 or 2015-2016 academic years.
Accordingly, OEL will not calculate or adopt kindergarten readiness rates. The VPK provider kindergarten readiness rate website has been updated to reflect this change. When you log in and search for 2014-15 readiness rates, you will read "No providers received a 2014-15 readiness rate." This will become available to the public by Monday, Mar. 14.
While some providers may have shared preliminary readiness rate data, the rates were always identified as preliminary. They were not intended for public distribution until they became final and available on the VPK Program Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate website.
The implementing bill also specifies that any VPK provider on probation in 2013-2014 will remain on probation. Providers on probation will continue to abide by their current, approved improvement plan.
Teaching Strategies GOLD
"When the Florida Legislature agreed on a budget earlier this week, it did not include funding to continue the Teaching Strategies GOLD pre- and post-assessment for the 2016-17 VPK program year. Although the budget is not yet final, if it is approved Friday, the loss of funding will not affect requirements for the current program year.
Florida law requires VPK providers to complete the GOLD post-assessment (Assessment Period 3/Checkpoint 3) for the current 2015-16 program year. Since there are serious consequences for not meeting this requirement, it is important to make a full faith effort to submit results by your AP3 data submission deadline.
The loss of funding only impacts the GOLD assessment. There is no change in status or funding for the Florida VPK Assessment. Providers are also required to administer the VPK Assessment for AP3.
Should you have GOLD-related logistical questions such as how to log in or use the GOLD system, please contact the Teaching Strategies GOLD help desk. You may do so by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-844-838-4653 (7 a.m.-7 p.m. EDT, Mon.-Fri.).
If you have VPK policy questions, please contact the VPK team at the Office of Early Learning by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-866-447-1159.
Thank you for your hard work on behalf of Florida 4-year-olds."
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