The state of Florida was one of the first states in the United States to offer free pre-K for all four year olds, regardless of a family’s income. The program officially launched back in 2005 and has widely been considered a success. Students are often much more prepared for kindergarten after they participate in VPK than students who stay home. Here are some key things parents should know about VPK in Florida.
What is VPK?
VPK stands for Voluntary Prekindergarten. The Florida Department of Education sponsors it as a way to provide free early childhood education to students before entering Kindergarten in the state of Florida. It is free for children to attend, parents need to decide that they want to enroll their child and find a provider they feel comfortable with.
How to Apply for VPK
To apply for VPK in Florida, parents must apply for services using the state’s Family Portal. You will need your child’s social security number, proof of Florida residency, and birth certificate. Once you apply, you can get your Certificate of Eligibility and bring it to the VPK provider of your choice.
Eligibility for VPK
Children must live in Florida and be four years old on or before September 1st of the current school year. For children whose birthday is between February 2nd and September 1st, parents can opt to postpone their child’s enrollment to the following year, when they will be 5 years old.
Summer vs. School Year Program
There are many different types of VPK programs that parents can choose from. One of the primary differences is the type of year. For children enrolled in a summer VPK program, 300 instructional hours are covered and classes must not exceed 12 students. For the school year program, it covers 540 instructional hours. Classes can have 11 students with just the teacher, or up to 20 if there is also an assistant available.
Students with Special Needs
For students with identified special needs, they can take part in the VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) Education Program. Your student will need a current Individual Educational Plan (IEP) to participate. A variety of professionals, such as speech language pathologists and occupational therapists, are approved to be SIS providers.
Benefits of Completing VPK
The state of Florida has conducted research into the benefits of completing VPK. According to its data, some of the benefits of completing VPK include:
More Prepared for Kindergarten
Children who complete an approved VPK program are more prepared for kindergarten than students who do not participate in VPK. This is due to the fact that students have time to learn about the process of going to school, such as following directions and waiting in a line, and learning about key concepts that they’ll need to know in kindergarten. This includes learning their colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.
Many of these concepts are taught in kindergarten. By attending VPK, your child can be ahead in already knowing these concepts. This can make learning how to read easier since they will have a solid foundation of understanding letters. Compared to their peers who stayed home and did not participate in VPK, they will have a much easier time mastering the kindergarten-level material.
Have Better School Attendance Rates
The state of Florida has found that students who attend and complete a VPK program have better school attendance rates in general when compared to other students. This could be attributed to having a stronger foundation for school at a younger age or perhaps having stronger social ties with peers. Regardless, there seems to be some link between school attendance rates and VPK completion.
Children who complete VPK tend to have stronger social skills than those who don’t. VPK provides valuable opportunities for social interaction at a relatively young age. For children who did not attend daycare, this could be the first opportunity that they have to socialize and make friends. It is reasonable to expect that having an earlier chance to do this will empower them to have better social skills for life.
Better Prepared to Advance to the Next Grade
Students who complete VPK are much better prepared to advance to the next grade. Even if children do not master all of the kindergarten concepts in the year they attend VPK, they will already have some exposure to the concepts by the time they’re in kindergarten. In some ways, this can be a competitive advantage, as peers who do not go to VPK will be exposed to these concepts for the first time in kindergarten.
More Likely to Graduate High School
Florida’s VPK program has been around for almost 20 years. This means that several groups of the state’s first VPK attendees have graduated from high school at this point. Using this data, we are able to see that children who completed VPK are more likely to finish high school than those who didn’t.
This is likely because they start off in school with the skills needed to be both comfortable with the school environment, and successful in skills development. VPK can make the transition into school easier by giving them the most fundamental skills needed for learning development. The result is better performance through an adjustment period, laying a strong foundation for their school experience for the coming years. By enrolling your child in VPK, you’re giving them the best chance to finish their primary education.
Connect with Providence Children’s Academy to Learn More About Our VPK Enrollment
VPK offers young children an incredible opportunity to get a head start in their academic journey that can help them reach their full potential. We specialize in developing the skills your child needs to succeed academically and in life. Let us help your child get a head start in life with our VPK program. Contact Providence Children’s Academy at (954) 570-6914 or use our online enrollment form to learn more about our VPK program or after-school care.