Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)

 

Increased Emergent Literacy Training Requirements for VPK Teachers

Learn More

 

If your program meets the following, you may be eligible to offer Voluntary Prekindergarten:

  • Each 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 one of the following:
  • OPTION 2 - Hold a current Gold Seal Quality Care designation.
  • 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.

The VPK program places no limit on the number of children served by each provider. It is each provider’s decision of how many children to serve.

The VPK program is FREE for eligible children, regardless of family income. Providers are not permitted to charge a registration fee or require parents to agree to any additional services. State law does not, however, prohibit a provider from charging registration fees for programs or care that are not part of the VPK program. Florida law specifies that each parent is responsible for the transportation of his or her child to and from the VPK program. Some VPK providers may offer transportation services, and families are encouraged to explore these options before choosing a VPK provider. Florida law prohibits VPK providers from discriminating against children or their parents on the ground of race, color, or national origin, including the refusal to admit a child to the VPK program.

In order to be a VPK provider, you are required to enter into an agreement with the Early Learning Coalition as well as attend an orientation session. Please contact our Quality Department to learn more.

Approved Providers

Providers must complete the approval process to be eligible to offer VPK classes for each VPK school year.

80/20 Attendance Policy

Attendance is now reimbursed using the "80/20 Rule". For more information on the 80/20 Rule, see these Frequently Asked Questions and examples.

Useful Links