WHAT IS VPK?

The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) was implemented in 2002 in order to give ALL of Florida's four-year-olds access to a quality prekindergarten educational experience. The VPK program is FREE to families and does not have any income requirements or restrictions.

The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) is designed to prepare Florida 's children for kindergarten and develop the skills they need to become good readers and successful students. VPK includes standards for literacy skills, strict accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes and qualified instructors. Parents have the option of enrolling children in a school-year program that consists of 540 instructional hours, OR a summer program, consisting of 300 instructional hours. The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County administers the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program at the local level which includes registering child care providers and providing applications and information to parents.

PARENTS HAVE CHOICES

Parents, you have two program choices for enrolling your child in VPK: 1) a 540-instructional hour school year program OR 2) a 300-instructional hour summer program.

2013 SUMMER VPK

Parents, the Coalition is currently accepting enrollments for 2013 Summer VPK. The list of approved providers for the summer program is available by clicking HERE. Please note that the list will be updated frequently as providers are approved.

ELIGIBILITY

• • • If your child was born September 2, 2007 - September 1, 2008 and DID NOT attend a School Year VPK program, they are eligible to participate in the 2013 Summer VPK Program.
    • If your child was born September 2, 2008 - September 1, 2009, they are eligible to attend the 2013-2014 VPK School Year Program.
      

2013-2014 VPK SCHOOL YEAR PROGRAM NOW ENROLLING!

Parents, the ELC of Hillsborough is now accepting enrollments for the 2013-2014 School Year VPK program at all of its VPK registration locations. Parents or legal guardians MUST conduct registration for VPK in person. Currently, registration CANNOT be completed online, by fax or phone, or at a child care facility. For complete instructions on what you need to bring with you to register, click here.

ELIGIBILITY

A child is eligible for VPK for the 2013-2014 School Year VPK or the 2014 Summer VPK program if the child is four years old on or before September 1, 2013.

• If your child was born between September 2, 2008 - September 1, 2009, they are eligible for the 2013-2014 School Year VPK Program.
• If your child was born September 2, 2008- September 1, 2009, they are eligible for the 2014 Summer VPK Program if they DID NOT participate in the 2013-2014 VPK School Year Program.