The Florida Department of Education announces the call for publishers’ submissions of comprehensive prekindergarten curricula for the 2010 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Curriculum Approval Process.

For the purposes of this approval process, a curriculum is defined as a set of written materials that

●      is replicable

●      addresses the use of materials, scheduling, arranging the environment, and interaction between children and adults, either separately or in combination

●      includes more than activity suggestions and more than theory and pedagogy

●      is aligned with the VPK Education Standards

●      is aligned with scientifically-based research.

Only comprehensive curricula will be reviewed for approval during this process. In order to be considered comprehensive, the materials submitted must stand alone and cover the VPK Education Standards in all eight domains. If ancillary or supplemental materials are required in order for a given curriculum to be considered comprehensive those additional materials must be submitted with the basic curriculum as a packaged set (i.e., “curriculum package”) and must be made available to providers as a complete curriculum at a set price.

For information on the 2008 Florida VPK Education Standards, see a list of standards and benchmarks at: http://www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/pdf/vpkedstandard.pdf or purchase the standards book from UNF/FIE at: http://www.unf.edu/dept/fie/PDF%20Folder/Support%20Materials%202009.pdf.

Information about the process, including policies and procedures, specifications, and deadlines, will be posted on the DOE/OEL website at in the near future at: http://www.fldoe.org/earlylearning/curric.asp. Questions related to this announcement may be directed to: Dr. Tara Huls, Program Specialist or Denise Bishop, Director of Program Standards and Professional Development at (850)245-0445 or by email: tara.huls@fldoe.org or denise.bishop@fldoe.org, respectively.