VPK: Everything You Need to Know!
Voluntary Prekindergarten education (also known as VPK) is designed to prepare young children for kindergarten and beyond, focusing on social skills, literacy, and numeracy. Here is everything you need to know about VPK.
Florida was one of the first states in the country to offer free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds regardless of family income. Since the program began in 2005-06, more than 2.6 million children have benefited from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK). Data collected by the Florida Department of Education shows that children who participate in VPK are much more ready for kindergarten than children who do not participate in VPK.
Parents can select from one of several program options available in different educational settings from private and public providers and specialized instructional services providers. Providers have flexibility to structure daily hours per week to meet the required number of instructional hours.
Who is eligible for Florida VPK?
To be eligible for Florida VPK, children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current school year.
If their fourth birthday falls February 2 through September 1 in a calendar year, parents can postpone enrolling their child in VPK that year and wait until the following year when their child is 5.
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How to Apply for VPK?
Parents must:
- Apply for services in the Family Portal
- Read about Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards
To learn more about eligibility criteria, contact your county’s early learning coalition or call the Child Care Resource and Referral Network at 1-866-357-3239.
Help Me Grow:
The Heart of Florida United Way has a Early Intervention Program for children 0-8 years old. This program is FREE for parents!
Originally published on July 1, 2024. Updated on July 6, 2025.
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