Welcome to ELC Broward’s VPK program page
Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) is a free program to prepare 4-year-olds for success in kindergarten and beyond. It helps prepare your child to be strong readers and successful students by focusing on literacy skills-building, accountability, learning materials, manageable class sizes, and qualified instructors' expectations.
To register for VPK, click here
How do I qualify?
• Parents/guardians must be Florida residents.
• Children must turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of the current school year.
How much does it cost?
The VPK program is FREE to Florida families and has no income requirements or restrictions.
Have a question we didn’t answer? Don’t hesitate to call us at 954-377-2188. We have staff who can help Spanish and Haitian Creole speaking families with the online application. We are eager to help!
PRE-KINDERGARTEN VOLUNTARIO GRATUITO PARA NIÑOS DE 4 AÑOS VIDEO (VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL)
VIDEO PRE-KINDERGARTEN VOLONTÈ GRATIS POU MOUN 4 AN ( VÈSYON KREYÒL)
To learn how to apply for VPK, watch these
VPK Application Tutorial Videos.
Parents have the option of enrolling children in one of the following VPK programs:
- School-year Program: 540 instructional hours and a class size of 20 or fewer students. At a minimum, instructors must hold a Birth through Five Florida Child Care Professional Credential and complete special training on early literacy and performance standards.
- Summer Program: 300 hours of instruction and a class size of 12 or less. Instructors must hold a bachelor's degree.
- Specialized Instructional Services program (SIS): hours vary based on services provided. SIS is for children with special needs who have current individual educational plans (IEP) developed with Broward County Schools. Learn more about VPK SIS.
VPK Child Care Provider Listing:
Looking for a certified childcare provider in your area? View our VPK Child Care Provider Listing. This list is updated on a monthly basis.
Listings of Providers for the 2024 Summer season will posted when available.
Search for VPK providers in Broward County and view by their profile:
Search for VPK providers in Broward County and view their profile:
To find information about VPK providers, including class scores, hours of operation, and the latest inspection reports, please visit the DCF Provider Search tab click here.
This link will take you to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) Provider Search and Profile. To locate a provider, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Enter a Zip Code, City or County to produce a list of childcare providers in that area –OR– Enter an Address, Provider Name or License # to select a specific child care provider
Step 2: Providers offering VPK will have the VPK logo listed to the right under the “Programs” heading
Step 3: For detailed information, click on the childcare provider name, then click the tabs: “About Provider”, “VPK”, or Services
Search for VPK Readiness Rates on the Division of Early Learning’s Readiness Rate Website:
To search for VPK Readiness Rates, click here to access the Division of Early Learning’s Readiness Rate website. To locate a provider, please follow these steps:
Step 1: To conduct a “Standard” search, to the right of the screen, enter the Provider Name.
Step 2: To conduct an advanced search, select “Advanced”. This will allow you to search for a provider by city and/or zip code
Step 3: To view the detailed report of the VPK provider’s readiness rate, click “View Report”
You may also obtain a customized VPK Provider Listing from one of our certified Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Specialists. To do so please call 954-377-2188 and request CCR&R services.
To be eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program or VPK Specialized Instructional Services (SIS) program, your child must reside in Florida and reach the age of 4 on or before September 1 of the program year or the following program year. Your child remains eligible until kindergarten admittance, or unless they reach the age of 6 years by February 1 of any program year.
VPK Registration is currently open; registration began January 1, 2023 for the 2023-24 school year.
To register your child for VPK, simply visit the Florida Division of Early Learning (DEL) Family Portal to create an account and complete an application.
- New users: Register for an account.
- Returning users: Enter your username and password. Complete the application and upload documents.
- You will need a valid Email address to use as your Username. If you do not have one, please set up a free Gmail account at google.com/gmail.
- You will need these required documents:
- Proof of Child’s age
- An original or certified copy of the child's birth record filed according to law with the appropriate public officer; or
- An original or certified copy of the child’s certificate of baptism or other religious record of the child’s birth, accompanied by a notarized affidavit stating that the certificate is true and correct, sworn to or affirmed by the child’s parent; or
- An insurance policy on the child’s life which has been in force for at least two years; or
- A passport or certificate of the child’s arrival in the United States; or
- An immunization record signed by a public health officer or licensed practicing physician; or
- A valid military dependent identification card or a federal or state government issued identification card.
- If no supporting documents listed above are available, a coalition may accept a parent’s notarized affidavit of the child’s age accompanied by a letter on official letterhead signed by a public health officer or physician stating that the child’s age shown in the affidavit is true and correct.
- Proof of Florida Residency (Ex. Florida Driver’s License or current utility bill)
- Utility bill, cable, internet, home or cellular phone bill dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted; or
- Pay stub dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted; or
- Residential rental agreement or receipt from rental payment dated within 12 months of the date the child application is submitted; or
- Government-issued document; or
- Military order showing that the child’s parent is a service member in the United States Armed Forces and is assigned to duty in Florida when the child attends the VPK program; or
- Federal government order showing that the child’s parent is a federal employee assigned to work in Florida when the child attends the VPK program; or
- If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-7., above, are available, a coalition may accept a notarized affidavit from the child’s parent accompanied by a letter from a landlord, property owner, or property lease which confirms that the child resides at the address shown in the affidavit; or
- If no supporting documents listed in subparagraphs (2)(b)1.-8., above, are available for a child who is experiencing homelessness as defined in Section 1003.01(12), F.S., a coalition shall document residency based on other supporting documents showing that the child who is experiencing homelessness and resides in Florida (for example, but not limited to; letter from a homeless shelter, homeless referral, student residency questionaire issued by the local school district or notarized statement from the child’s parent).
Once you submit your application, you will receive an Email verifying your application status within 24 to 48 hours during peak season (January through March), and within 20 days during non-peak season (April through December).
For a printable version of the information on this page, download our VPK Registration Flyer: VPK 2022-2023 Registration Flyer
There are a few points of information to consider:
- If the child has not attended the VPK program yet and their date of birth falls between February 2nd and September 1st, they qualify for a VPK Postponement.
- If the child has attended the VPK program, then a VPK Re-enrollment must be submitted along with required documentation to determine if the child is eligible to be re-enrolled in the subsequent program year.
- A child may only re-enroll in a subsequent program year if:
- The child attains the age of 4 years old between February 2 and September 1 of his or her initial program year of eligibility; and,
- The child has not yet been admitted to kindergarten; and
- The child is granted a re-enrollment
No, you may use your child's VPK certificate for EITHER the school year or the summer, but not for both.
When applying for a School District VPK Program OR a private early learning center, a parent must first apply for the VPK Certificate of Eligibility through the Florida Office of Early Learning (OEL) Family Portal.
Once the certificate is obtained, the parent may choose to enroll their child at a School District VPK program or a private early learning center.
- To apply for a private early learning center, parents simply brings their VPK Certificate to an approved VPK provider.
- To apply for a School District VPK program, parents must apply online through the Head Start/Early Intervention Department website.