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For families with children, education before kindergarten is an important issue. Studies have shown how a quality preschool curriculum can set children on the pathway to success, and some states like Florida have adopted statewide initiatives. VPK Tampa is the Tampa, Florida based program that allows children to learn and be successful in kindergarten.
What is VPK?
VPK, also known as the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program, is an initiative established in Florida that allows parents to enroll preschool age children in a school-like program. VPK works on a school voucher system. Families receive a voucher that allows for one free year of enrollment in the program for each child in the household. With this voucher, a family can choose a program that fits their family’s needs and expectations, but it can only be used for a child that is four or five years of age. Since enrollment is based on the age of the child, legislation has recently extended the birthday requirements for four-year-olds. Now, if a family chooses to delay placing their child in the VPK program, they can now do so, and this can lead to their child entering kindergarten as an older student.
VPK Benefits for Parents
Along with the voucher that provides free enrollment, families are not required to pay any registration fees for this program. Families also get the choice of enrolling their child in a school-year based program or a summer-only program, opening up options for families with specific schedule needs. Another major benefit of Florida’s VPK program is that families are also allowed to choose which school their child will attend. School choices can be:
- Public schools
- Private schools
- Faith-based schools
- Licensed Childcare Facilities
By enrolling a child in this voluntary educational program, a family can instill an early love of learning in their child, and as they grow, this early focus on basic skills, both academic and social, can lead to a more well-rounded and mature student.
