FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 2, 2024)—Registration for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is now open for summer programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry, and Glades Counties. The free educational program is available to 4-year-olds who reside in Florida, regardless of family income.
Voluntary Prekindergarten gives children a jump-start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language, and social skills. Certified teachers teach VPK classrooms focusing on school readiness and social and emotional well-being. By developing the early skills children need to become strong students, they are more likely to be successful in school.
ELC
To be eligible, children must live in Florida and be four years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year. Through Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, parents can register their qualifying child to attend 540 hours of preschool during the regular school year, or 300 hours of summertime preschool. In 2022-23, Early Learning Coalition reported 7,464 children attended 260 different VPK programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades Counties.
To register, families must first apply for a VPK voucher online at VPKSWFL.org. Individuals can also visit the Early Learning Coalition office, located at 2675 Winkler Ave., Suite 300 in Fort Myers, for assistance from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office provides free kiosks, and no appointments are needed.
To learn more about summer VPK, visit VPKSWFL.org or call (239) 935-6100.
About Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida
Supported by a Florida Department of Education grant, the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida exists to enhance the quality of children’s lives by providing families, early childhood educators, caregivers, and community partners in Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties with opportunities to impact the future positively. To learn more or to donate, visit ELCofSWFL.org or call (239) 935-6100.