Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK)
VPK prepares four-year-old children for kindergarten through quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instructional periods, manageable class sizes and quality instructors. The Coalition certifies all VPK providers.
There is no charge to parents for the VPK instructional hours, and the parent chooses the provider that the child is to attend. The number of instructional hours and the specific times per day varies by provider.
VPK classes may begin at the start of the school year, in January and a condensed summer session, depending on location. In Marion County, school-year VPK classes are provided through licensed private and faith-based centers, licensed family child care homes, as well as several public elementary school sites. The summer classes are available predominately through public elementary school sites as well as several private child care sites. Registration is through the Coalition office. Staff will provide parents with a list of certified VPK providers to choose from.
To find a VPK Provider, Click on the link below:
VPK registration is now open for the 2023-2024 school year, summer 2024, and 2024-2025 school year. Inquire with your current provider to see if they are planning to offer VPK this fall.
Find VPK Fact Sheets here:
VPK Fact Sheet for Families (English)
VPK Fact Sheet for Families (Spanish)
Questions and Answers
Q. How old are children who enroll in VPK?
A. Children who turn 4 years old on or before Sept 1 of the program year are eligible to attend VPK. In addition, children born between Feb 2nd and September 1st may attend VPK either that Program year or postpone attending until the following program year as long as the child has not yet been admitted to kindergarten. You can find a chart by clicking HERE.
Q. What documents will I need to register my child for the VPK Program
A. Proof of your Child’s Age and Proof of Florida Residency – See a list of approved documents here: VPK Eligibility Documents List
Q. Where can I find more information about the VPK Program and what a parent needs to know?
A. The VPK Handbook goes over Parent Rights and Responsibilities and reviews what a VPK Parent needs to be aware of prior to enrolling their child into a VPK Program. Find the document here: VPK Parent Handbook
Q. What are my options if my child has special needs?
A. A child who has a disability as evidenced by a current individual educational plan (IEP) and is age-eligible for VPK becomes eligible for specialized instructional services (SIS). The Department of Education approves SIS providers whose services meet statutory standards, maintains a list of approved providers, and notifies each school district and early learning coalition of the approved provider list. Find the VPK SIS Fact sheet here: VPK SIS Fact Sheet
You will find more information on VPK at https://www.fldoe.org/schools/early-learning/parents/vpk-parents.stml