Voluntary PreKindergarten
Florida’s free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program is designed to prepare all four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. All children who turn 4 years old on or before September 1st and reside in Florida are eligible. Families do not have to meet income criteria to participate in this program.
Parents have the option of enrolling children in a school-year program that is typically a half-day or a full-day summer program. Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) which takes place outside the traditional classroom setting are available for 4-year-olds with special needs.
VPK 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.
Program Types
SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM
LENGTH
540 instructional hours, average 3-6 hours per day. Before and after care is available with most VPK providers
SETTINGS
Private Childcare
Providers
Public Schools
Head Start
CLASS SIZE
4-20
children
INSTRUCTORS
Must have a minimum of a
Child Development Associate
(CDA) or higher. A second adult
is required for classes of 12 or
more children
SUMMER PROGRAM
LENGTH
300 instructional hours, average
6-8 hours per day. Before- and
after-care is available with most
VPK providers
SETTINGS
Private Childcare
Providers, Public
Schools, and Head
Start
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 degree in an early
learning field.
How to Register
All VPK Registration is done online via the Florida’s Early Learning Family Portal.
Any child who is four years old on or before September 1st is eligible for the upcoming program year.
For example, if your child was born between September 2, 2015 and September 1, 2016, your child is eligible for the 2020-2021 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
Step by Step App Guide
Step by Step Application Guide
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)
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 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.
