PINELLAS COUNTY — This school year, 25 Pinellas public schools will provide free full-day Voluntary Prekindergarten programs. It’s an incredible expansion of this important educational opportunity. Last school year, just six Pinellas schools offered the free full-day program.
VPK is a state-funded program that prepares children for kindergarten. Children must be 4 years old on or before Sept. 1 of the school year they are enrolling. At all VPK programs, children attend free for three hours each day, Monday through Friday.
This school year, more elementary schools will offer free full-day, six-hour VPK programs. At other sites, parents can extend the VPK day three hours by paying a weekly tuition of $65.
Apply now. Space is limited
There is still time to apply for VPK for the 2021-2022 school year. But please note: VPK programs are popular and have limited availability. For more details, registration information and VPK sites, please visit www.pcsb.org/vpk.
To attend VPK, students must have a Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition. To apply for the certificate, please visit www.vpkpinellas.net.
Learn more
Prekindergarten programs prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. All Pinellas Early Childhood Education programs offer developmentally appropriate activities that build on children’s emerging talents and strengths.
Learn more about all Pinellas Early Childhood programs at www.pcsb.org/early. If you have questions, please call 727-588-6513.
