Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)
VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN (VPK)
In Florida, VPK is a free preschool program for all 4-year-olds, regardless of income.
Using a quality curriculum and engaging activities, trained VPK teachers prepare your four-year-old for kindergarten and beyond. A wonderful opportunity for your child to build language, reading, math, science, critical thinking, and social skills– all while having fun with new friends!
Children have access to ONE of the following options:
School-Year Program: 540 instructional hours, typically morning hours
Summer Program: 300 hours of instruction hours
Specialized Instructional Services program (SIS): hours vary based on services provided. SIS is for children with special needs who have current individual educational plans (IEP), typically developed with the local school district. Learn more about VPK SIS (English) and VPK SIS (Español)
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for VPK or VPK-SIS, your child must:
- Reside in Florida
- Turn 4-years-old on or before September 1 of the program year. Your child can attend VPK as a 5-year-old, depending on birthdate and if they have never attended VPK before.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Parents can apply for VPK beginning January 1 of the year the child turns 4
- VPK registration is ongoing. Child can enroll anytime during the program year
PROVIDERS
In Sarasota County, there are a variety of VPK provider options:
- Private, community-based childcare center
- Faith-based childcare centers
- Public school sites
- Head Start sites
- Licensed family childcare homes
Need a list of VPK providers?
For a customized list of VPK providers in Sarasota County, contact our Childcare Resource & Referral (CCR&R) specialists.
Call 941-954-4830 x106 or email: info@elcsarasota.org
Otherwise, CLICK HERE for a complete list of all VPK providers for the 2024-2025 school year.
CLICK HERE for additional information on VPK Registration 2024-2025
HAGA CLIC AQUI para obtener información adicional sobre el registro VPK 2024-2025
CLICK HERE for additional information on VPK Registration 2025-2026
HAGA CLIC AQUI para obtener información adicional sobre el registro VPK 2025-2026