Voluntary Prekindergarten - Early Learning Coalition of Duval

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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)

Register for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is Florida’s free prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds residing in Florida. VPK gives children a jump start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language, and social skills. Children who complete a quality VPK program arrive at kindergarten better prepared than those who do not attend a prekindergarten program.

Is my child eligible for VPK?

To be eligible for VPK, the child must live in Florida and be four years old on or before September 1 of the current school year. For example, if your child was born between September 2, 2019, and September 1, 2020, your child is eligible for the 2024 – 2025 VPK school year.

Effective July 1, 2016, a Florida law lets parents whose children are born between February 2 and September 1 of the calendar year postpone enrolling their 4-year-old until the following year when the child is five years old.

How do I register for VPK?

Registering your child for the VPK program is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Step 1 – If you do not have an existing account, create a new account in the Family Portal.

Step 2 – Complete the online VPK application and upload proof of Florida residence and child’s age.

Step 3 – Once your VPK registration is processed, you will receive an email indicating the certificate of eligibility is approved. Bring the certificate of eligibility to the VPK provider of your choice.

What are the VPK options?

School Year ProgramSummer ProgramSpecialized
Instructional Services
540 Instructional Hours
(three or more hours a day)		300 Instructional Hours
(six or more hours a day)		Based on rates of specialists
Class size 4 to 20Class size 4 to 12Individual or small group settings
Often times follows the Duval County Public School year scheduleOften times begins in June and is a two month programCustomized
Instructor must have a minimum of a Child Development Associate (CDA) or higherInstructor must be a certified teacher or bachelor’s degree in an early learning fieldFDOE has approved the following professionals to be VPK SIS providers
A second instructor is required in
a class size of 12 or more students.

What should I expect from VPK?

VPK is free for eligible children. Providers are not permitted to charge a registration fee or require families to agree to any additional services or wrap-around services as a condition for enrolling in VPK. Providers can charge fees for programs or care that is not part of the VPK program, such as late charges, field trips, extended days, or wrap-around care.

VPK programs must deliver high-quality instruction including:

  • A curriculum that is developmentally appropriate with a focus on early literacy skills.
  • A program that prepares children to be ready for kindergarten based on standards adopted by the Florida Department of Education.

Help me find a VPK provider

VPK Providers – AlphabeticalClick Here
VPK Providers – Zip CodeClick Here
Summer 2024 VPK ProvidersClick Here

Can I transfer my child to a different VPK provider?

Parents may transfer their child to a different VPK program ONLY under specific conditions:

  • Parents may apply for extreme hardship.
  • The child has not completed more than 70% of the available VPK hours.
  • Log into the Family Portal. Select “re-enrollment” under VPK application. Follow instructions provided.

VPK Resources and Tutorials

VPK Parent HandbookClick Here
Division of Early Learning – VPK InformationClick Here

Questions? Call CCR&R at 904-208-2044

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Your registration information is being reviewed. You will be contacted within 48 business hours.

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