Voluntary Pre-K Program (VPK)

EARLY LEARNING CENTER

Voluntary Pre-K Program (VPK)

In 2004, the Florida Legislature enacted legislation to implement the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Education Program.  The VPK program will better prepare Florida’s young children for successful entry into Kindergarten by focusing on early literacy and oral language skills.  VPK is a voluntary and high quality entitlement program for all children who are four on or before September 1^st of the school year and who reside in Florida.  There is no income qualifier.  Public, private, and faith-based may be eligible to deliver the program.

Learning to read and learning to write are among the most important tasks and achievements of young children today.  Research shows that children who learn to read early and well in their elementary school education read more independently, achieve more in content areas such as math, social studies, and science, and are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.  Our mission is to prepare children for kindergarten with an emphasis on early literacy and oral language skills along with providing children with experiences that help them get ready to read once they reach elementary school.

Some important facts and answers to questions you may have:

• A school-year program consists of 540 instructional hours.  The VPK schedule can include lunch, snack, and playground time.
• We can still teach a faith-based curriculum, have Chapel, prayer, and devotionals as long as parents are notified at registration that we are a faith-based school.
• VPK providers are paid according to attendance verification form signed by the parent on the last school day of each month.  This is mandatory!
• There can be no more than 18 children in a classroom. 
• We can continue to use our existing curriculum.
• We will be monitored by the Early Learning Coalition to assure compliance with the requirements of the law. 
• The coalition must be notified by the school of any withdrawals within 24 hours.

Early Learning Coalition of Duval

6850 Belfort Oaks Place

Suite 102

Jacksonville, Fl. 32216

904-208-2040

www.elcofduval.org

If you have questions, please feel free to call me or Ms. Joanie at 249-0124 or the coalition at the above number.

Thank you for placing your precious child with us and we look forward to a great year together!

Blessings,

Lynne Tyndall

Minister of ELC