Voluntary PreKindergarten
The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) is a free program for all 4 and 5 year-olds who reside in Florida and are 4 years old on or before September 1 of each year.
Why is VPK important?
VPK is designed to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten to help build the foundation for their educational success. Our program provides a play-based learning experience that supports the development of early literacy, executive functioning, and social emotional skills. According to the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener, children who participate in VPK are better prepared for success in school.
What are parents’ options?
Parents have the option to enroll in a school-year program that consists of three or more hours a day
instruction, or a summer program that is a full day. We also offer Specialized Instructional Services that takes place outside a traditional classroom setting to assist those with special needs.
All-day VPK options are also available to eligible families.
VPK Registration is now open for the 2021-2022 School Year.
For more information on our programs and how to register, look below.
Free for all 4-year-old in Florida
No registration fees
Parents choose where their child learns
Focused on reading, writing and social skills
Program Types
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
LENGTH
540 instructional hours, an average 3 -6 hours per day. Before and After care is available with most VPK providers.
SETTINGS
Private Child Care
Providers,
Public Schools,
and Head Start available
CLASS SIZE
4-20
children
INSTRUCTORS
Must have a minimum of a
Child Development Associate
or higher. An additional educator
is present in classes with
12 or more children
SUMMER PROGRAM
LENGTH
300 instructional hours, an average
of 6-8 hours per day. Before and After care is available with most
VPK providers
SETTINGS
Private Child Care
Providers, Public
Schools, and Head
Start available
CLASS SIZE
4-12
children
INSTRUCTORS
Certified Teacher or Bachelor’s
or higher degree in an early
learning field
FULL-DAY WRAP CARE SCHOLARSHIP
FOR
Non-working or low-income
families who may not meet
income or job requirements for
School Readiness scholarships.
SETTINGS
Provided by select
high-quality early
learning centers
throughout Pinellas
County.
LENGTH
Provides access to full-day, full-year scholarships for school-year and summer care. Available only to VPK-eligible children ages 4 – 5.
INSTRUCTORS
Certified teacher
or other degrees in an early
learning field.
VPK REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE
2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
How to Register
Complete VPK Registration online at Florida’s Early Learning Family Portal.
Any child who is four years old on or before September 1 is eligible for the upcoming program year.
For example, if your child was born between September 2, 2016 and September 1, 2017, your child is eligible for the 2021-2022 School Year VPK program.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to register online, you must be able to upload the required documents individually.
Once you submit or resubmit the VPK application form, it will be processed within 10 business days. You will receive confirmation as to whether your application has been approved or rejected by email to the email address list on the application form. The time-frame to process a VPK application is the same as the Pinellas County School Board student reservation system.
This information is for those families who have also applied separately to the Pinellas County School Board VPK group in order to have their child attend VPK at a school board site. If you have any questions regarding the Pinellas County School’s VPK process please contact them directly at 588-6513 for assistance. If you have any other VPK questions concerning your Family Portal application please contact the VPK team at 400-4411.
Thank you!
Registration Resources
2021-2022 VPK Hourly Payment Rate.
2021-2022 VPK Hourly Payment Rate.
Step by Step App Guide
Step by Step Application Guide
Step by Step App Guide
Step by Step Application Guide – Spanish
One-Sheet Application Guide (English)
One-Sheet Application Guide (English)
One-Sheet Application Guide (Spanish)
One-Sheet Application Guide (Spanish)
VIDEO: How to Apply for VPK
VIDEO: How to Apply for VPK
VIDEO: Why VPK?
VIDEO: Why VPK?
VPK Family Portal
Visit Your Family Portal
Get School Listing from CCR&R
Get School Listing from CCR&R
View VPK and School Readiness Registration Guide and FAQ
VPK and School Readiness Registration
Guide and FAQ
VIEW VPK HANDBOOK
View VPK Handbook (FL OEL)
VPK Flyer
VPK Flyer
(Select title for more information)
FAQ’s
WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN APPROPRIATE CAUSE TO DIS-ENROLL A CHILD?
The following are examples of appropriate reasons for dis-enrolling your child: medical reasons, job transfer, and changing home address.
IF A PARENT CHOOSES TO NOT ENROLL THEIR CHILD IN VPK WILL IT PRESENT A PROBLEM WHEN THE CHILD ENTERS KINDERGARTEN?
No, participation is completely voluntary. Many parents choose to provide school readiness activities at home.
DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO ATTEND A VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM?
No, participation is completely voluntary.
CAN CHILDREN ATTEND MORE THAN ONE VPK SESSION?
A child may only attend one state paid VPK session either during the school year or summer session.
CAN CHILDREN CROSS COUNTY LINES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VPK PROGRAM?
Yes, the law only requires the child to be a Florida resident. Parents/Guardians must register their children for VPK in the county that they are planning to attend in. Example: if the child resides in Pinellas County but would like to attend VPK in Pasco County, the parent must register for VPK through the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.
WILL THERE BE AN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE?
Enrollment is continuous but after a certain date in the school session enrollment may stop and then children will be considered for another session.
HOW DO I CHECK THE STATUS OF MY ONLINE VPK APPLICATION?
All VPK online applications will be processed in the order they were submitted. Please allow time for the ELC staff to review your application and process it in order for you to receive your certificate.
- If you have not received an email you should check your SPAM email as occasionally the VPK online emails are directed there.
- You can also log back into your account to see the status of your application.
- If then you are unable to locate any communication regarding your application you may call our VPK Online Specialists at 727-400-4411.
HOW CAN I ENROLL MY CHILD?
Parents or Legal guardians can register here.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) PROGRAM?
- Any child who is four-years-old on or before September 1st
- The child who is a Florida resident
