Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) is designed to prepare every four-year-old 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 quality standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes, and qualified instructors. All four-year-old children residing in Florida are entitled to participate in one of the VPK program options.

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Highlights of the VPK Program:
The VPK program is FREE for all children who are four years old on or before September 1 and reside in Florida. The program offers high quality standards including:

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• Qualified instructors

• Age-appropriate curricula with a strong emphasis on early literacy skills

• Manageable class sizes

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VPK Program Options:
The VPK program is offered in a variety of settings including private, public and charter schools, private child care centers, and specialized instructional service providers.

 

Parents may choose from one of the following program types:

• A school year program that includes 540 instructional hours. In this program type, class sizes do not exceed 20 students and instructors have a minimum of a National Child Development Associate Credential or Florida Child Care Professional Certificate.

• A summer program that includes 300 instructional hours. In this program type, class sizes do not exceed 12 students and instructors must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.

• VPK Specialized Instructional Services are provided outside of a traditional classroom setting to 4-year-old children with special needs who have current Individualized Educational Plans (IEP) developed by their local school districts.