Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten

A constitutional amendment passed by Florida’s voters in Nov. 2002 required a voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) program for all four-year-old children by fall 2005. House Bill 1-A was signed into law by Governor Bush on January 2, 2005, creating a program designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The program allows a parent to enroll his or her eligible child (four years old by September 1 and residing in Florida) in a VPK program. The VPK program is FREE for eligible children; regardless of family income. The program is voluntary for children and providers.

For Families
To sign up your child for the VPK program contact the VPK Enrollment Specialist in your area.
Collier, Glades, Hendry & Lee Counties	(239) 935-6100
Orange County	(407) 532-4254
Osceola County	(407) 846-5311
Seminole County	(407) 532-4422
Want to learn more about the program?  Visit  http://www.floridajobs.org/VPK/index.html for more information.

For Providers Interested in Offering the VPK Program
Each private provider must be a licensed child care facility, a licensed family day care home (registered homes are not eligible), a licensed large family child care home, or a nonpublic school or faith-based child care provider that is exempt from licensure. Each private provider must also:

• OPTION 1. Be accredited by an accrediting association that is a member of the National Council for Private School Accreditation (http://www.ncpsa.org), the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (http://www.citaschools.org), or the Florida Association of Academic Nonpublic Schools (http://www.faans.org);
• OPTION 2. Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation; or
• OPTION 3. Be a licensed child care provider and demonstrate to the early learning coalition that the provider meets the VPK program requirements, including, but not limited to, credentials and background screenings of instructors, minimum and maximum class sizes, director credentials, and developmentally appropriate curriculum.

For a public provider to deliver the school-year VPK program, a school district must be approved by the Department of Education as reducing the district’s average class sizes and having sufficient educational facilities and capital outlay funds. Once approved, each eligible school district shall choose which public schools may offer the program, and those schools are required to register with the local early learning coalition.

Every school district is required by law to deliver the summer VPK program for every eligible child wanting to participate.

Unlicensed family day care homes and informal child care providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

Interested in offering the VPK program to your families? For provider registration information please call:
Collier, Glades, Hendry & Lee Counties	(239) 935-6100
Orange County	(407) 532-4155
Osceola County	(407) 846-5311
Seminole County	(407) 532-4429