How does free VPK work in North Port?
Florida pays for a year of prekindergarten for every 4-year-old. Here is how the voucher works and how to use it.
The short answer
Every child who lives in Florida and turns 4 on or before September 1 gets a year of Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) free, paid by the state, with no income requirement. You apply online for a VPK certificate, bring it to an approved provider like Kindergarten Prep, and the program itself costs you nothing.
What VPK actually is
VPK is Florida's school-readiness program for the year before kindergarten. The school-year option runs alongside the regular school calendar; a shorter summer option exists for families who miss the fall start. Classes follow state early-learning standards, so your child arrives at kindergarten knowing how a classroom works.
Getting the voucher: three steps
- Apply on the Florida Early Learning family portal. You will need proof of your child's age and Florida residency.
- Receive your child's VPK certificate, the voucher itself.
- Bring the certificate to the approved provider you choose. We are a VPK provider and we handle the paperwork with you at enrollment.
Stuck on the application? Bring it to your tour. We help families through it all the time, in English or Spanish.
What it covers, and what it does not
The voucher covers the VPK program hours in full. Care before and after those hours is separate, which is why our weekly rates are posted openly on the enrollment page: you can see exactly what a full day costs with the voucher applied before you ever visit.
Why families do VPK with us
Kindergarten Prep has taught North Port children since 2008. VPK here leads straight into our kindergarten through 2nd grade classrooms, taught a level above Florida standards, and English, Spanish, and Russian live in our classrooms every day. Your child does not just get a free year of pre-K: they get a school that already knows them on the first day of kindergarten.
More parent guides
Preschool vs. daycare
They are not the same thing. What each one gives your child, and how to choose.
Kindergarten readiness
What Florida kindergartens actually expect, and how to build it before the first day.
Near Wellen Park
A few minutes up US-41: an established community school for Wellen Park families.
Come see a classroom in action
The best way to choose a school is to stand in it. Tours take twenty minutes, and your child is welcome to come along.