Provider Updates: 08/25/2020
Please read full message for all VPK & SR updates.

Contact our office at 772.220.1220 if you have any questions. We are here to help!

Thank you and be safe!

Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin & Okeechobee Counties
VPK Updates
VPK Flexible School Year Options Webinars

The Florida Department of Education and the Office of Early Learning have announced the availability of additional flexibility, through December 2020, for approved VPK providers for the 2020-21 School Year Program. This is an added feature to in-person instruction, but not a replacement.

OEL is hosting a series of webinars to support private providers in the development and submission of a private provider’s plan for delivering the VPK School Year Program, if opting to apply to use a flexible, innovative delivery option.

This flexibility will ensure that:
• VPK programs are open to enable learning to continue and allow parents able to rejoin the workforce.
• Choices for VPK parents that mirror those choices that K-12 parents now have via approved District Plans for Reopening.
• Structure safeguards that will encourage and shift families to in-person learning.

Webinars will be held August 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th. Please click below for more details.
VPK Short & Long Forms
During a routine audit of provider documents, ELCIRMO staff has found Providers still using the old VPK forms.

Please make sure to use OEL-VPK-03S with the current OEL logo. http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/providers/forms-for-providers

VPK forms are also available on the ELCIRMO website: https://www.elcirmo.org/voluntary-pre-kindergarten-2/
Instructions on using “Child Attendance and Parental Choice Certificate “Short Form”
 
  •  Provider must have a separate sign in/out form for each child, when using the “Short Form”.

  • The form must be completed to its entirety. Include birth date, class assignments, etc.

  • Parents must sign on the last day of the month or after, not prior to the last day of the month. By signing, they acknowledge their child attended the VPK Program.

Instructions on using “Child Attendance and Parental Choice Certificate “Long Form” only for School District Sites and Head Start
 
  • When using this form, Provider does not need to have a sign in/out sheet for each child.

  • The form must be completed to its entirety. Include birth date, class assignments, etc.

  • Parents must sign on the last day of the month or after, not prior to the last day of the month. By signing, they acknowledge their child attended the VPK Program.
School Readiness Updates
Message for Provider Services Team:

New Curriculum for SR Providers – Must Update Profile
Friendly reminder of the requirement to implement curriculum from OEL’s Approved List no later than 9/30/20.

Please be sure to update the Provider Profile to reflect your new curriculum.

Early Learning Literacy Grant Opportunity
The Office of Early Learning is again partnering with the Florida Literacy Association (FLA) in sharing information about the Early Learning Literacy Grant opportunity (see attachments). The top five winners will receive literacy resources and books provided by the FLA. Please visit the FLA website at http://flareads.org/ for additional details, resources and ways you can support literacy in your community. Deadline is September 30, 2020
EDUCare Relaunch Webinar