Five-year-old Marlaina Paulding likes playing in the tents in her VPK classroom at Felix A. Williams Elementary School in Martin County. She likes learning the alphabet and numbers, and the Spanish ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The cost of child care is on the rise and research shows it’s largely due to the pandemic. But in Florida, there is the option of free volunteer pre-kindergarten, also known as ...

VPK is an optional state program funded by the Florida Department of Education.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla — Enrollment for voluntary pre-kindergarten this fall is now open, but local programs are still seeing fewer students enroll than before the pandemic. VPK enrollment for early ...

In an effort to stop bad behavior before it starts and improve student achievement, Brevard Public Schools is looking to expand its voluntary prekindergarten program. The district already serves more ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thousands of Florida kids who go to voluntary prekindergarten, or VPK, are not ready for kindergarten, according to the state. In Florida, 4- and 5-year-olds have free access to ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered changes to the state's VPK program. The Florida Department of Education said they released the 2017-2018 Voluntary Pre-k (VPK) readiness rates, ...

On May 15, the Florida Department of Education released the 2017-2018 Voluntary Pre-K readiness rates, and statewide, only 58% of children who participated in VPK were ready for kindergarten. In ...

Families enrolled in the Florida’s Voluntary Pre-kindergarten program will soon have more flexible options for their 4-year-olds. The Florida Department of Education and the Office of Early Learning ...

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A local elementary school was recently recognized for the exceptional quality of its VPK program. Cedar Grove Elementary School earned the highest Voluntary ...

MIAMI — Enrollment for Miami-Dade County Public Schools' early childhood and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs is open, but the deadly is approaching fast. MDCPS has launched its "Ready, Set, ...

Florida's first voluntary prekindergarten program began in 2005. The program is free for all 4-year-olds. School-readiness test scores show VPK prepares children for school. This story was updated to ...