6M-8.620. Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Coordinated Screening and Progress Monitoring Program

(1) Definitions. As used in this rule:

(a) “Coordinated Screening and Progress Monitoring Program” is the statewide, standardized program implemented in all VPK programs as required by Section (s.) 1002.68, F.S. The progress monitoring results shall be used to identify student learning gains, index development learning outcomes upon program completion relative to the performance standards in early literacy and mathematics established under s. 1002.67(1)(a), F.S., and representative norms, and inform a private prekindergarten provider’s and public school’s performance metric.

(b) “Progress Monitoring One” (PM1) is the first test administration. For programs that have eighty-three (83) or more instructional days, PM1 must be administered in the first thirty (30) instructional days of the VPK class schedule beginning with the first VPK instructional day. For programs (including summer VPK) that have eighty-two (82) or fewer instructional days, PM1 is the first ten (10) instructional days of the VPK class schedule beginning with the first VPK instructional day.

(c) “Progress Monitoring Two” (PM2) is the second test administration. For school-year programs, PM2 must be administered in the period of time in a VPK class schedule where at least forty (40) percent and no more than sixty (60) percent of a program’s instructional hours have been completed.

(d) “Progress Monitoring Three” (PM3) is the third and final test administration. For programs that have eighty-three (83) or more instructional days, PM3 must be administered in the last thirty (30) instructional days of the VPK class schedule ending on the last VPK instructional day. For programs (including summer VPK) that have eighty-two (82) or fewer instructional days, PM3 is the last ten (10) instructional days of the VPK class schedule ending on the last VPK instructional day.

(e) “Test Administrator” is the qualified person who administers the progress monitoring to children enrolled in a VPK program.

(f) “VPK Class Schedule” is the approved VPK class calendar identified in the Class Registration Application ‒ Calendars (Form OEL-VPK 11B) in accordance with Rule 6M-8.300, F.A.C.

(2) Coordinated Screening and Progress Monitoring Administration.

(a) For school-year programs, each private and public school VPK program must administer PM1, PM2, and PM3, in accordance with s. 1008.25(9)(b)1., F.S. For summer programs, each private and public school VPK program must administer PM1 and PM3, in accordance with s. 1008.25(9)(b)2., F.S. Every program must provide a student’s performance results from the coordinated screening and progress monitoring to the student’s parents within seven (7) calendar days after the administration.

(b) Progress monitoring must be administered by qualified test administrators as defined in subsection (3) of this rule.

(c) Progress monitoring must be administered in English on an electronic device that is seven (7) inches or larger with audio capabilities, to individual students or small groups of two (2) to five (5) students. Student headphones must be used in small groups.

(d) Testing accommodations must be made in accordance with a student’s current individual educational plan (IEP) or 504 accommodation issued by the local school district.

(3) Qualified Test Administrators. Prior to administering progress monitoring, a qualified test administrator must:

(a) Be employed by a public or private VPK provider; and

(b) Beginning with the 2024-2025 program year, annually complete training designed to ensure the proper administration of the progress monitoring. Submit documentation of completed progress monitoring training and signed copies of the Test Administration and Security Agreement and Test Administrator Prohibited Activities Agreement to the VPK provider for uploading via the Provider Portal.

(4) Early Learning Coalition and School District Responsibilities.

(a) Each coalition and school district must assign a staff member to register and serve as the coalition or school district progress monitoring administrator.

(b) The coalition or school district administrator must access the available reports during progress monitoring windows to verify which VPK programs have administered the progress monitoring for PM1, PM2(school-year programs only), and PM3.

(c) Each coalitions must document attempts to notify VPK programs that have not administered the progress monitoring for PM1, PM2 (school-year programs only), and PM3.

(d) Each coalition must collect documentation to verify that each test administrator meets the requirements outlined in subsection (3) of this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(2)(n), 1002.79 FS. Law Implemented 1002.68(1), 1008.25(9) FS. History–New 3-31-15, Amended 7-28-16, 9-20-22, 11-21-23, 8-27-24.