Become a School Readiness and/or Voluntary Prekindergarten Provider
The Early Learning Coalition of Seminole offers two ways to contract:
School Readiness Program
Voluntary Prekindergarten Program
School Readiness
School Readiness
What is School Readiness?
What is School Readiness?
The School Readiness (SR) Program provides curriculum-driven child care the children of working families, those who are attending career training or educational programs, families and/or children with specific needs. The Florida Department of Education, through the Division of Early Learning, oversees the program at the state level, while the Early Learning Coalition of Seminole administers the program locally.
Benefits to contract as a SR Provider:
Some Requirements to be a School Readiness Provider include, but are not limited to:
-
Preservice Training Requirements (required for ALL School Readiness Providers) - Use of a state-approved SR Curriculum
- Insurance coverage (liability, auto, and workers' compensation) with the ELC of Seminole and Seminole County government as a certificate holder and additional insured.
- Participation in E-Verify
- A Provider's Profile in the Division of Early Learning's Statewide Provider Portal (this information helps connect families with child care through Child Care Resource and Referral).
- Minimum Health and Safety Requirements
- Participation in State Approved Screening and Assessments
- SR Statewide Contract (Sample)
Voluntary Prekindergarten
Voluntary Prekindergarten
What is Voluntary Prekindergarten?
What is Voluntary Prekindergarten?
The Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program is a free Prekindergarten program available to all 4 year olds (by September 1st) in Florida, regardless of family income. The VPK program must have a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate with a focus on early literacy and early math skills. The School Year program must be 540 instructional hours, which is usually a half-day program, and the summer program must be 300 instructional hours.
Eligible Providers can set their own schedule of these VPK instructional hours, if they fall within the established parameters. VPK providers cannot require supplemental fees associated with the VPK program.
Benefits of Being VPK Provider Include:
Some Requirements to be a School Readiness Provider include, but are not limited to:
- Meet minimum qualifications and credentials for VPK directors and teachers.
- Use of a curriculum that is developmentally appropriate, supports learning gains through differentiated instructions, and is designed to enhance the progress of students attaining the State's performance standards.
- Insurance coverage (liability, auto, and workers' compensation) with the ELC of Seminole and Seminole County government as a certificate holder and additional insured.
- Participation in E-Verify
- A Provider's Profile in the Division of Early Learning's Statewide Provider Portal (this information helps connect families with child care through Child Care Resource and Referral.
- Minimum health and safety requirements Participation in state approved assessment tools
- VPK Statewide Contract (Sample)
VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) Education Program
VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) Education Program
The VPK Specialized Educational Services, or VPK SIS, takes place outside a traditional classroom setting and is designed for 4 year olds with special needs who have current individualized educational plans (IEP) from local school districts.
VPK SIS is available for age-eligible children with disabilities as evidenced by a current individual educational plan. The Department of Education approves SIS providers whose services meet statutory standards, maintains a list of approved providers, and notifies each school district and early learning coalition of the approved provider list.
VPK SIS providers with questions, contact the Coalition’s Child Development Specialist at: (407) 960-2478
Provider Onboarding
Provider Onboarding
Thank you for your interest in partnering with the Early Learning Coalition of Seminole to provide School Readiness (SR) and/or Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) services.
To begin the contracting process, please complete and submit the New Provider Request Form. Click “Apply to Be a Provider” below to get started.
If you are in the process of purchasing a center that has an existing ELC of Seminole SR and/or VPK contract with enrolled SR or VPK children, please contact Ketty Gonzalez, Compliance Manager, at kgonzalez@elcseminole.org.
2026-2027 Provider Orientation Sessions
| July | July 9, 2026 |
| September | September 10, 2026 |
| November | November 12, 2026 |
| January | January 14, 2027 |
| March | March 11, 2027 |
| May | May 13, 2027 |
