April 2011

VPK eNews Update

In this Issue

VPK Certification for 2011-2012

Pinellas County still has some providers who have not registered to attend a required VPK meeting.  If you plan to offer the VPK program next school year, you are REQUIRED to attend a VPK meeting.  The last meetings will held on April 27, 2011 at 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm to accommodate schedules. This meeting is oriented towards new VPK providers. However, attending this meeting does meet the requirement for current VPK providers. Register to Attend.

The Coalition will host paperwork assistance meeting on May 2, 2011 at 1:30 pm. This is not a required meeting but is provided to help with completing the applications in a small group setting. Space is Limited - Reserve Your Spot.

The Coalition currently has 24 classrooms approved across 13 providers for the next program year. We have many programs that are pending approval - we just need the requested information in order to continue processing. If you have any questions please contact us, we are happy to help!

Amanda Urdal           (727) 548-1439 Ext. 234
Jenifer Caccia           (727) 548-1439 Ext. 229
Sue Morrison             (727) 548-1439 Ext. 240

Substitute Teacher Monitoring

The VPK Substitute Instructor Policy limits assignment of approved substitute instructors in a VPK class to 30% of the instructional hours.  VPK providers are required to track the hours of substitute assignment using the VPK Substitute Tracking Form.  We have reviewed these tracking logs during our site visits, but are now asking all VPK programs to submit the tracking log for each VPK classroom for monitoring.

As a reminder, you do not need to track the substitute hours when a substitute is used for an assistant/secondary teacher, only when the substitute is replacing the VPK lead instructor.

Please submit your forms to Sue Morrison at smorrison@elcpinellas.net by Friday, May 13, 2011.

VPK Assessment Tool Kits

The Florida Center for Reading Research has developed a VPK Assessment Tool which aligns with the VPK Standards. The purpose of this assessment is to provide teachers with valid and reliable feedback regarding children's progress in attaining the skills in the VPK Education Standards, so that teachers may use this information to inform instructional decisions in the VPK classroom.

This assessment is completely voluntary and serves as a tool to support VPK teachers. However, for those who are interested, the Department of Education (DOE) has opened another ordering window between April 25th and May 13th

It is also important to know that anyone ordering during this timeframe will not receive it in time to conduct the assessment before VPK ends for the 2010-2011 program year. It will include all the parts you need to conduct three assessments during your next VPK program.

Click here for Additional Information

Here is a sample of the discounts that were offered during the last ordering period:

LINKS

Memo from DOE

How to Order VPK Assessment Kit

How to Order Replacement Kit Materials

Understanding the VPK Assessment Scores:

AP1

AP2

AP3

VPK Kids Test Better!

The VPK Readiness Rates are in... Congratulations on a successful program during 2009-2010! All your hardwork has paid off. You are doing a great job preparing Pinellas Counties youngest students to enter kindergartern ready to learn. Keep it up!

The Florida Department of Education recently released its annual VPK Readiness Rates for the 2009-2010 program year. Children that completed VPK programs scored higher on the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS), meaning they were more prepared when entering kindergarten. In addition, studies show children that complete VPK programs on average score higher on the FCAT and are less likely to be retained in third grade.

According to the statewide FLKRS statistics, children that completed VPK programs in Pinellas County scored higher than children statewide. Click here to see local and statewide percentages.

Extended Hours for VPK Registration

To enroll children in VPK, please tell parents to contact Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas, Inc. at 727-547-5782 to schedule an appointment at the nearest service center. Parents must bring the child’s proof of age: original birth certificate and/or original shot record, and proof of residency: Florida’s driver’s license/identification card or current utility bill.

To accommodate schedules, Coordinated Child Care will offer extended hours for VPK registration on the following dates:

Pinellas Park Service Center located at 6500 102nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park, FL, 33782

• Saturday, April 30, 2011                 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 21, 2011                  8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Clearwater Service Center located at 1510 Barry Road, Suite G & H, Clearwater, FL, 33756

• Wednesday, May 11, 2011            5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 19, 2011                 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

For more information about VPK enrollment, please contact Coordinated Child Care of Pinellas, Inc. at 727-547-5782 or visit www.childcarepinellas.org.

Safety Alert

Please make parents aware that there has been an increase in auto theft in child care center parking lots nationwide. Thieves are targeting cars in search of valuables such as handbags, wallets and electronic devices. 

Don't let this happen at your child care facility. Advise parents to lock their vehicles and do not leave valuables unattended or in view while picking up or dropping off children at your center. In addition to these precautions, police say people should be aware of their surroundings and watch for suspicious activity anytime they leave their car.

Post safety alert flyers in your facility:
Safety Alert Flyer (Color)
Safety Alert Flyer (Black & White)