Pursuant to Section 1002.69(1), Florida Statutes, the Department shall develop and adopt performance standards for students in the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program. The performance standards must address the age-appropriate progress of students in the development of the capabilities, capacities, and skills required under s. 1(b), Art. IX of the State Constitution, and emergent literacy skills, including oral communication, knowledge of print and letters, phonemic and phonological awareness, and vocabulary and comprehension development. The purpose of the rule development is to adopt revised Standards for students in the VPK Education Program.