Voluntary prekindergarten registration is open

NICEVILLE, Fla. — The Okaloosa County School District is reminding parents of four-year-old children that voluntary prekindergarten registration is open for 2022 summer and 2022-2023 school year programs.

Florida offers free prekindergarten (VPK) to all 4-year-olds. Children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year to be eligible.

If a child’s fourth birthday falls Feb. 2 through Sept. 1 in a calendar year, parents can postpone enrolling their child in VPK that year and wait until the following year when their child is five years old.

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a state program designed to prepare children in Florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success.

VPK gives each child an opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life with quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes and qualified instructors, according to the announcement by the school district.

All eligible children are entitled to participate in one of three VPK program options.

The VPK mission is to ensure that all children are intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically ready to enter school and ready to learn.

The VPK program fully recognizes the crucial role of parents as their child’s first teacher.

Register through the Florida Division of Early Learning Family Portal: https://bit.ly/FamilyPortalLogin

Need more info? Reach out for local support here: https://bit.ly/ELCOffices