Registration now open for voluntary pre-kindergarten
Registration is currently under way for both the summer and fall Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program.
Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida CEO Susan Block said around 75 percent of eligible children are enrolled in the VPK program throughout the four county coalition of Hendry, Glades, Lee and Collier County.
“Hendry, Glades and Lee are providers that start their school year program in August. Collier, many providers wait until October,” she said.
At the last report, Block said they had 6,644 children in the four-county area with a peak in November with more than 6,900 VPK students. During the 2021-2022 year, Early Learning Coalition reported 7,464 children attended 260 different VPK programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades Counties.
“Attending VPK prepares students for the kindergarten experience”” Early Childhood Learning Services Director Mary Grace Romo said. “Students who have had pre-k typically transition to kindergarten ready to learn.”
Florida is among one of the few states in the nation that offers a free pre-kindergarten experience with the idea of prepared students being ready for kindergarten.
“Those who complete VPK and those that do not is significant in terms of how we measure readiness,” Block said.
The first Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program began during the 2004-2005 school year and has been running steadily ever since.
Block said 49 percent of children enrolled in VPK are ready for school, which she said is rather low.
“It’s something we really want to encourage families to consider to get their child ready for school,” she said.
There are roughly 180 providers in Lee County, with the school district being among those offering locations.
For the summer VPK program, the school district’s locations include Sunshine Elementary School, 601 Sara Ave., Lehigh Acres, and the Early Childhood Center, 3650 Michigan Ave., Suite 4, Fort Myers, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“Each classroom has a one-to-12 adult-child ratio,” Romo said. “Opening a classroom is contingent on having 12 students and available teaching staff.”
The district also has a fall program, with two types of VPK programs, with applications currently being taken for the 2023-2024 school year. Romo said the district is able to serve 900 students during the fall, depending on filling all teacher vacancies.
The summer VPK program consists of 300 hours, while the fall program has 540 hours.
The district is looking for teachers with a bachelor’s degree, or hire in early core elementary education with a Florida teaching certificate in pre-k/primary, or preschool birth to 4, she said.
“Our Head Start/VPK program is for income eligible families and focuses on school readiness in combination with comprehensive services available for families and children. Families who meet low-income requirements, receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Social Security Income (SSI), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families are eligible for Head Start,” Romo said. “Head Start offers comprehensive services such as health, social services, mental health, and family engagement.”
The other VPK program is Title I/VPK and is open to families zoned for a Title I school, which also serves families that qualify as low-income.
“This program focuses on school readiness and family engagement,” Romo said.
The School District of Lee County Pre-K centers include:
Cape Coral
• Caloosa Elementary Head Start, 620 Del Prado Blvd.
• Skyline elementary Head Start, 620 S.W. 19th St.
North Fort Myers
• J. Colin English Elementary Head Start & Early Head Start, 120 Pine Island Road.
• Tropic Isles Elementary Head Start, 5145 Orange Grove Blvd.
Fort Myers
• Early Childhood Center Head Start, 3650 Michigan Ave.
• James Stephens early Learning Center Head Start, 1333 Marsh Ave.
• Villas Elementary Head Start, 8385 Beacon Blvd.
Lehigh Acres
• Harns Marsh Elementary Head Start, 1800 Unice Ave., N.
• Lehigh Elementary Head Start, Early Head Start & Title 1, 200 Schoolside Drive.
• Mirror Lakes Elementary Head Start, Title I & Migrant, 525 Charwood Ave., S
• Sunshine Elementary Head Start & Title I, 601 Sara Ave.
Bonita Springs
• Bonita Springs Elementary Head Start & Early Head Start, 10701 Dean St., S.E.
• Spring Creek Elementary Migrant Pre-K, 25571 Elementary Way
Estero
• Pinewoods Elementary Head Start, 11900 Stoneybrook Golf Drive.
The only requirements to participate in the VPK program is the child has to be a Lee County resident and proof of age of the child turning 4 years old on, or before, Sept. 1.
“The registration process is very simple. People can go online and register. They can walk into our office for support to move that application along,” Block said.
There was an upgrade three years ago to the rules for children whose birthday is late, or have not already completed the VPK program are still eligible, she said.
“Its not a mandatory program. Families can choose to send their child to VPK. There is no charge for the program itself,” Block said. “We want VPK children enrolled before the start of the program. If a provider has space, they are likely to still enroll a child. This is the perfect time of the year to enroll.”
The VPK program, by statute, is developmentally appropriate focusing on pre-academic skills, such as language skills, mathematics, emotional and social skills.
“This year, in order to teach VPK, there are certifications surrounding emergent literacy because we know how important that skill set is setting them up for kindergarten,” she said. “Those teachers have been trained on how to support the development of emerging literacy skills.”
Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is the manager of the VPK program, Block said, the administrative arm for the state.
“When parents apply, they apply through the online portal. They can upload proof of residency and birth and the Coalition approves that request for the VPK certificate,” she said. “Parents, or guardians go through specific providers to enroll with a certificate in hand.”
Families can apply for the VPK voucher at vpkswfl.org, or visit the Early Learning Coalition, 2675 Winkler Ave., Suite 300, Fort Myers, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com