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.

2011-2012 VPK School Year Program

Parents, the School Year VPK Program is 540 instructional hours. Class sizes do not exceed 20 students, and instructors must have a minimum of a Child Development Associate for the school year program (now referred to as the Birth to Five Florida Child Care Professional Credential).

In Hillsborough, the School Year VPK Program is offered by over 300 Approved VPK Providers throughout the county. However, the VPK School Year Program is not currently offered in any Hillsborough school district elementary schools.

Parents or legal guardians only, MUST register their children for the program in person at a VPK Registration Location. Registration cannot be completed online or by fax or phone, or at a child care facility.

ELIGIBILITY

A child is eligible for VPK for the 2011-2012 school year or summer program if the child is four years old on or before September 1, 2011.

• If your child was born September 2, 2006 - Sept. 1, 2007, they are eligible for the 2011-2012 School Year Program.
• If your child was born September 2, 2006- September 1, 2007, AND did not participate in the 2011-2012 VPK School Year Program, they are eligible for the 2012 Summer VPK Program.

Children may participate in the VPK program once. Once a child is eligible to enter kindergarten, they are no longer eligible to participate in VPK. If you aren't sure our child's eligiblity or if you have more questions about VPK, please call (813) 740-4713.

To find a registration location near you, see our Quick Links section to your right. Also, to read in detail about the VPK Program, download the VPK Parent Handbook, also located to your right in the Quick Links section.

2011-2012 VPK Summer Program

Parents, the VPK Summer Program is 300 instructional hours. In Hillsborough, the VPK Summer Program is offered in a limited number of public elementary schools and private child care facilities. As with the VPK School Year Program, parents or legal guardians only, MUST register their children for the program in person at a VPK Registration Location. Registration cannot be completed online or by fax or phone.

The Coalition is currently accepting registrations for the 2011-2012 Summer VPK Program. However, we will not have a list of participating schools and programs for sometime. Please bookmark this page and return toward the end of spring to check for participating approved VPK providers!

ELIGIBILITY

A child is eligible for VPK for the 2011-2012 school year or summer program if the child is four years old on or before September 1, 2011.

• If your child was born September 2, 2006- September 1, 2007, AND did not participate in the 2011-2012 VPK School Year Program, they are eligible for the 2012 Summer VPK Program.

Children may participate in the VPK program once. Once a child is eligible to enter kindergarten, they are no longer eligible to participate in VPK. If you aren't sure our child's eligiblity or if you have more questions about VPK, please call (813) 740-4713.

2012-2013 VPK School Year Program

The Coalition is NOT currently accepting registrations for the 2012-2013 VPK School Year Program. The Coalition anticipates that it will be to accept registrations in early to mid-March 2012. We strongly encourage parents to bookmark this page and check for detailed information. Or, 'Like' us on Facebook where we will also announce when we are accepting registrations.

ELIGIBILITY

A child is eligible for VPK for the 2012-2013 school year or summer program if the child is four years old on or before September 1, 2012.

• If your child was born September 2, 2007- Sept. 1, 2008, they are eligible for the 2012-2013 School Year Program..