Families enrolled in the Florida’s Voluntary Pre-kindergarten program will soon have more flexible options for their 4-year-olds.
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.
Starting Tuesday, the Office of Early Learning will host webinars to support private providers in the development and submission of their plan for the 2020/2021 school year program.
“If you are considering applying for the ability to offer a flexible, innovative VPK option, we strongly recommend that you attend one of the OEL hosted webinars to support private providers in the development and submission of your plan for the 2020/2021 school year program,” reads a statement from the Florida Office of Early Learning.
According to the Office of Early Learning, 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.
‘VPK Flex’ is there as a resource for families who think it's appropriate, but the best type of interaction for a 4-year-old is face to face,” said Tony Loupe, CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County. “Fortunately the Office of Early Learning has put some stipulations in place. A virtual program cannot go past December 31.”
VPK Flexible School Year Options for VPK Private Providers Webinar
- Tuesday, August 25 3:00-4:00 pm EST https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1923458562893632267
- Wednesday, August 26 (Repeated) 9:00-10:00 am EST https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2456175245085818635
- Thursday, August 27 (Repeated) 5:00-6:00 pm EST https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8681132893507115787
- Friday, August 28 (Repeated) 1:30 -2:30 pm EST https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4496302577749856523