What is Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)?

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) is a legislatively mandated program designed to prepare every four-year-old in Florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success.  The VPK program gives each child an opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life with quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes, and qualified instructors.  All eligible four-year-olds are entitled to participate in one of the available program options.  Two programs are offered annually and eligibility is determined as follows:

• If you reside in Florida and have a child who turns 4 years of age by September 1, 2007 that has NOT already participated, your child is eligible for the VPK summer program that consists of 300 instructional hours and begins in May 2008.

• If you reside in Florida and have a child who turns 4 years of age by September 1, 2008 that has NOT already participated, your child is eligible for the VPK school-year program that consists of 540 instructional hours and begins in the Fall of 2008.

How to Enroll

Step 1 – Complete a preliminary VPK Child Application (English / Spanish)
*Please note that this is a preliminary application process and does not replace the requirements of meeting with a Coalition representative to determine your child's eligibility.

Step 2 – Visit an enrollment site to submit and/or complete a VPK Child Application with your proof of Florida residency and proof of your child's age as follows:

1. Proof of Florida Residency
   Bring one  of the following documents that includes the name and address as stated on your child's VPK Child Application to the enrollment site to verify Florida residency:

• Florida Driver's License or Florida Identification Card

• Property Tax Assessment showing a homestead exemption

• Utility bill

• Residential Rental Agreement or receipt from rental payment

• Recent pay stub

• Military order showing that the child's parent is a service member assigned to duty in Florida when the child would be attending the VPK program

• Homeless Shelter Affidavit

• NOTE: If none of the above information is available, an affidavit of residency sworn to by the parent, accompanied by a letter from a landlord or property owner which confirms that the child resides at the address shown on the affidavit, may be accepted.

• NOTE: P.O. Box addresses and cell phone bills are not acceptable forms of proof of residency.

2. Proof of your Child’s Age
   Bring one of the following documents to the enrollment site to verify your child's age.

• An original or certified copy of the child’s official birth certificate; hospital certificate not acceptable.

• A passport or certificate of arrival in the United States showing the age of the child.

• An insurance policy on the child’s life that has been in force for at least two years, which reflects the child’s birth date.

• An original or certified copy  of the child's certificate of baptism or other religious record of the child's birth, accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the child's parent.

• An immunization record indicating the date of birth, signed by a public health officer or by a licensed practicing physician.

• A valid military dependent identification card showing the date of birth.

• NOTE: If none of the above information is available, an affidavit of age sworn to by the parent, accompanied by a certificate of age reflecting the child’s birth, signed by a public health officer or by a licensed physician which states that the physician has examined the child and believes that the age as stated in the affidavit is substantially correct may be accepted.

VPK ROUND-UPS
9:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.

If you cannot attend one of the VPK Round-Ups listed above, please call the Osceola County VPK Hotline at (407) 846-5311 for an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

:: Who will be providing VPK services during the school year?
Private and public providers participate in the VPK program and families are encouraged to research the VPK programs and choose the provider that best meets their needs. Click here to search for participating VPK providers in your area.

:: When does the program begin?
School-year programs can begin VPK instruction on or after the uniform start date of the public school district’s program year and must end instruction the following June 30. Summer programs cannot begin instruction before May 1^st and must end before the start of the following public school program year.  Families should contact the provider of their choice for individual program information.

:: How many hours per day will my child attend the VPK program?
The school-year VPK program consists of 540 hours of instructional time. We encourage you to contact the VPK provider of your choice to inquire about individual program details. VPK providers have flexibility in structuring the hours per day and days per week to meet the required instructional hours. For example, if a program is 180 days (similar to a school-year calendar), it would offer 3 hours of instruction each day to meet the 540-hour requirement. A Provider could also choose to offer a 6 hour-per-day program for 90 days. Providers may consider other options, including offering a morning or afternoon program or having a program for 2 or 3 days a week instead of every day.

:: Are there additional costs for my child to attend?
The school-year VPK program provides 540 hours of instructional time FREE to families. Additional child care services provided outside of the VPK hours will be a cost to families. You should speak with your selected VPK provider to inquire about child care rates.

:: Is transportation available?
No. Florida law specifies that families are responsible for transportation to and from the VPK program.

:: How many children will be in a classroom?
During the school-year VPK, the minimum requirement is four (4) children and the maximum is 18. There must be a teacher for every 10 children. For example, a classroom of 11 or more children would have two teachers.

:: What are the qualifications of the VPK teachers?
At least one teacher must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and must have completed a 5-hour emergent literacy training course. Click here to find out more about teacher credentials. (http://www.floridajobs.org/VPK/FAQs.html)

:: Am I required to enroll my child in a VPK Program?
No, the program is voluntary.

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