Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc. (4C)

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Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)

Parents want the best for their children — good grades, college, and a career. It all starts with a strong foundation of learning. Your child’s brain goes through the most important growth and development by age 5. Children who attend high-quality preschool do much better when they reach kindergarten. It can make a huge difference in their success throughout life.

That’s why it is important that your child attend Voluntary Prekindergarten. VPK is free of charge to all 4-year-old children in Florida regardless of family income. The high-quality learning opportunity builds a strong academic structure. VPK uses educational materials for specific stages of your child’s development to prepare them for school.

Voluntary Prekindergarten began as an amendment passed by Florida voters in November 2002, then signed into law in January 2005 with its implementation in August 2005. Together, with the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, 4C provides these services to eligible families. The program is enriched with early learning activities, experiences, and high curricula standards to fit each child’s developmental needs. Participation is completely voluntary.

Eligibility Requirements

Voluntary Prekindergarten is free for all children who are 4 years old on or before Sept. 1, reside in Florida, and who are not participating in the Gardiner Scholarship Program. Parents whose children are born from Feb. 2 through Sept. 1 of a calendar year may choose to enroll their child in VPK in either the school year their child turns 4 or the next.

ENROLL FOR VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN

Program Options

Parents can choose from one of the following programs:

  • School-Year Program: Provides 540 instructional hours, with class sizes of 20 or fewer students. Instructors must hold a Birth through Five Florida Child Care Professional Credential and meet standard background screening requirements.
  • Summer Program: Provides 300 instructional hours, with class sizes of 12 or fewer students. Instructors must hold a Bachelor’s degree and meet standard background screening requirements.
  • Specialized Instructional Services Program (SIS): For children with special needs and/or disabilities that have an established Individualized Education Plan (IEP); VPK funding is allocated for an IEP service(s); hours will vary.

For more information, visit the Florida Early Learning VPK website

Where Can Your Child Attend VPK?

Public, private, and faith-based providers may be eligible to deliver the program depending on whether they meet the minimum standards required in law. A private prekindergarten provider may establish and use criteria to determine whether to admit a child for services in the school-year or summer programs. Criteria must be objective and apply uniformly to all children. Florida law prohibits VPK providers from discriminating against children or their parents on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, including the refusal to admit a child to the VPK program.

Florida law also prohibits providers from requiring enrollment into other services as a condition of VPK enrollment. VPK is free for eligible children, regardless of family income. Providers are not permitted to charge a fee (registration, supplies, etc.) or require parents to agree to any additional services as a condition for enrolling their child in a VPK program. State law does not, however, prohibit a provider from charging registration fees for child care provided before and/or after the VPK program. Providers may also charge late fees for children not picked up at the end of the VPK program. Make sure you understand the policies of the program you are considering before your child attends.

How to Enroll

Parents must use Florida’s Early Learning Family Portal to enroll a child in VPK.

Learn how to sign up for VPK in Orange County – English | Spanish | Creole

Here are videos to help you become familiar with the process:

  • Video: Create a Family Portal account.
  • Video: VPK child application process.

You can call the VPK Hotline at 407-532-4500 for additional information.

ENROLL FOR VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN

Readiness Rate

The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate is a measurement of how well a Voluntary Prekindergarten provider prepares 4-year-olds for kindergarten. VPK Standards describe what 4-year-old children should know and be able to perform by the end of the VPK program. To find out more information regarding the VPK Readiness Rate and to search for individual provider readiness rates, click here.

FAQ   |   Grievance Policy   |   Submit Grievance/Complaint

School Readiness
Get help paying for child care with School Readiness financial assistance.
CLICK HERE

Voluntary PreKindergarten
Is your child eligible for Voluntary PreKindergarten? VPK is free for 4-year-old children living in Florida.
CLICK HERE

Child Care Resource & Referral
Find quality child care with Child Care Resource & Referral.
CLICK HERE

Head Start
Put your child on the path to prosperity with Head Start and Early Head Start.
CLICK HERE

Job Opportunities
Looking for a career in early childhood education.
CLICK HERE

SAY THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

  • Florida Department of Children and Families
  • Florida Division of Early Learning
  • elc orange
  • Early Learning Coalition of Osceola County
  • Orange County Government
  • Osceola County
  • City of Orlando
  • City of St. Cloud, Florida
  • Florida Department of Health
  • Office of Head Start
  • hfuw
   
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FAMILIES

  • Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
  • School Readiness (SR)
  • Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)
  • Early Head Start (EHS) / Head Start (HS)
  • Neighborhood Centers for Families (NCF)
  • Child Growth & Development (ASQ)
  • Family Resources
  • PROVIDERS

  • Education & Training
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  • Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R)
  • Child Care Food Program (CCFP)
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  • OUR VISION

    “4C is the leading family
    resource agency in Florida.”

    OUR MISSION

    "4C's mission is to be a community leader in providing high quality services that improve the lives of children and families."

    OUR VALUES

    • Uncompromising Integrity
    • Excellent Fiscal Responsibility
    • Mutual Respect for Each Other
    • Exceptional Customer Service
    • Results-Based Management
    • Continuous Quality Improvement

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