ELCLC

What is VPK?

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a free program aimed to prepare four-year-old children for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. VPK is available to all four-year-olds born on or before September 1 who reside in Florida, regardless of family income.

15-16 VPK Provider Booklet

Parents may enroll their child in one of the following program options:

School Year Program

• 540 instructional hours
• Class sizes not to exceed 20 students
• Instructors must have a minimum of a Child Development Associate for the school year program (Now referred to as the Birth to Five Florida Child Care Professional Credential.)
• Typical class begins in late August for 3-4 hours per weekday

Summer Program

• 300 instructional hours
• Class sizes not to exceed 12 students
• Instructors must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
• Typical class begins the following June for 6-7 hours per weekday

SIS Program (Specialized Instructional Services Education Program)

The SIS Program takes place outside a traditional classroom setting and is for 4-year-olds with special needs who have current individualized educational plans from their local school districts. To learn more about the SIS Program click here:VPK Specialized Instructional Services Education Program

The school year VPK program begins each year in August and consists of 540 instructional hours. The summer VPK program starts in June and consists of 300 instructional hours. Children who participate in the summer VPK program must be eligible for kindergarten the school year immediately following.

VPK programs may be administered by public, private, and faith-based providers who meet the State eligibility requirements. VPK providers determine their own program hours and days in order to meet the 540 or 300 hour requirement. For example, if a program is 180 days, it would offer 3 hours of instruction each day to meet the 540-hour requirement. A provider could also choose to offer a 6 hour-per-day program for 90 days. Check with your VPK provider of choice to determine which program best suits your child’s needs.

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 hours. In many cases, children can remain at the VPK site all day but parents are responsible for paying for the hours outside of the VPK program. Transportation is not covered for VPK.

To Register For VPK in Lake County (2016-2017 Program Year)

As of June 1, 2016, parents can register online for the 2016-2017 VPK Program by clicking the ‘Family Portal’  button on our home page. To redirect to the Family Portal now, click the following link: www.elclc.org/family portal.     Parents who register online will receive an email when the application has been approved and the Certificate of Eligibility is ready.

Parents are strongly encouraged to register for the VPK Program online. If you are in need of one on one assistance please contact (352) 435-0566 to schedule an appointment with an ELCLC VPK Team  Member.  Parents choosing to walk in without an appointment may experience long wait times.

There is no urgency unless a VPK provider is unable to reserve a place for a child. If a parent or guardian is choosing a school based VPK provider (as opposed to a private or faith-based VPK provider), the COE cannot be submitted to the Lake County School Board until they open their enrollment period. Note: The VPK application must be completed, in full, by a parent or guardian with whom the child lives. Identification is required to validate child age and residency.

Documents Needed to Establish Eligibility

Proof of child’s age (One of the following preferred):

• Birth Certificate – An original or certified copy. (Hospital birth records are not acceptable)
• Valid passport or certificate of arrival in the US showing child’s date of birth.
• Immunization Record – Indicating child’s date of birth and signed by a public health officer or licensed Practicing physician (Form DH680 – must include parent name)
• Valid military dependent ID card showing the child’s date of birth
• Insurance policy on the child’s life that has been in force for at least two years which reflects the child’s date of birth

Proof of Residence (One of the following preferred):

• PO BOXES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE
• Valid Florida Driver’s License or identification card
• Current Utility Bill (such as water or electric, within the last 6 weeks, must have parent residence on the bill)
• Current Pay stub (within the last 6 weeks, must have parent residence printed on the pay stub)
• Signed and dated lease or rental agreement for the current calendar year
• Current Paystub (within the last 6 weeks)
• Documentation from a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter
• Cable or cell phone bill not accepted

Selecting a VPK Provider

Parents or guardians of eligible children will receive a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the Early Learning Coalition to take to the VPK provider of their choice. Once a provider has been selected and the child becomes enrolled in a specific VPK class, the provider uses the certificate to confirm registration back to the Early Learning Coalition. To see a list of certified VPK providers in your area, please use our review our VPK Provider Profile.

There are restrictions on changing providers once you begin a program. If you wish to change VPK providers, please contact the Early Learning Coalition for information on this process.