FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
?
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
March 28, 2006
MEMORANDUM #06-05
TO:
?
Interested Persons
Early Learning Coalitions Executive Directors
FROM:
?
Shan Goff, Executive Director
Office of Early Learning
SUBJECT:
?
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Director Credential and Rule
Development Workshops
Throughout Florida, directors of child care centers with VPK programs are highly
influential in the leadership needed to provide a foundation for the future of our four-year
old children. Input from Florida’s VPK center directors is critical in identifying the
competencies required for the VPK Director Credentia
l.
Section 1002.57(1), Florida Statutes, requires the Department of Education to develop
standards for a credential for prekindergarten (prek) directors of private providers
delivering the VPK program by July 1, 2006. Section 1002.57(3), Florida Statutes,
specifies that “The prekindergarten director credential must meet or exceed the
requirements of the Department of Children and Family Services for the child care
facility director credential under s. 402.305(2)(f), and successful completion of the
prekindergarten director credential satisfies these requirements for the child care facility
director credential.”
To accomplish this task, a diverse workgroup comprised of exemplary program directors
has met twice and reviewed the current/existing DCF Director Credential competencies
(go to: https://training01-dcf.myflorida.gov/dcf/cct/dircred.html), completed a survey that
SHAN GOFF
?
Executive Director
?
Office of Early Learning
?
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1532 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0445 • www.fldoe.org
Interested Persons
Early Learning Coalitions Executive Directors
March 28, 2006
Page Two
identified the knowledge, skills and abilities that a VPK center director should possess,
and made recommendations for “additional” competencies to be included for a VPK
director. These initial recommendations include knowledge of:
•
?
the VPK standards and their application in the classroom
•
?
the requirements of VPK providers and their relationship to the early
learning coalitions
•
?
the VPK specific statutory requirements to include funding, forms,
reconciliation, compliance standards, House Bill 1A, and state policies;
•
?
emergent literacy
•
?
data interpretation and VPK accountability measures
•
?
kindergarten screening and expected child outcomes.
Rule development workshops (for Rule 6A-6.040, FAC, Voluntary Prekindergarten
(VPK) Director Credential for Private Providers) were published in the March 17, 2006,
Florida Administrative Weekly. We encourage you to attend one of the following
workshops and participate in the development of the VPK Director Credential rule.
April 3, 2006 12:00-2:00
/
5:00-7:00
pm
Betty Easley Conference Center
4075 Esplanade Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
April 5, 2006 1:00-3:00
pm
Early Learning Coalition of Miami/Dade
and Monroe
?
Ponce de Leon Blvd., Board Meeting Room
?
Coral Gables, Florida 33134
?
April 6, 2006 5:00-7:00
pm
Children’s
Board,
Board Meeting Room
1002 East Palm Avenue
Tampa, Florida 33605
The final rule is proposed to be on the State Board of Education’s May 2006 agenda.
For more information regarding the DOE VPK Director Credential Workgroup activities,
please visit our website at http://myfloridaeducation.com/earlylearning/.
SG/db
cc:
?
Debby Russo, DCF
Gladys Wilson, AWI
