The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) was implemented in 2002 in order to give all of Florida's four-year-olds access to a free, quality prekindergarten educational experience. The VPK program is free to families and does not have any income requirements or restrictions. Families can enroll their four-year-old in the 540- instructional hour School Year Program OR the 300-instructional hour Summer VPK Program.

In 2004, the Florida Legislature enacted legislation to implement the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program, in accordance with the State Constitution. VPK is designed to better prepare Florida's young children for successful entry into kindergarten by focusing on early literacy. This legislation assigns responsibilities for the day-to-day management of the program to the Agency for Workforce Innovation; licensing and credentialing to the Department of Children and Families; and the creation of standards, curriculum, and accountability to the Department of Education. All three agencies are working together to provide leadership and support to the local early learning coalitions, school districts, and public and private providers to ensure the successful implementation of effective prekindergarten education programs for Florida's four-year-old children.

WHO CAN BECOME A VPK PROVIDER?

A VPK 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.

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

For more information please contact us.

CHILD ELIGIBILITY

VPK is open to all children who reside in the state of Florida and who are four years old, but not yet turning five years old by September 1st of the enrolling school year. 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.  Providers should refer parents to this web site or the Coalition to answer any questions regarding their child's eligibility.

REGISTRATION
Parents or legal guardians of eligible children may register their children for VPK at various locations and times around Hillsborough County. Parents/legal guardians MAY NOT register at a child care center or child care home. For details on how to register, please direct parents to the VPK parent information page of this web site. For a list of VPK registration locations to give to your interested parents,click quick link to the right.