Enroll your child in Voluntary Prekindergarten

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – It is not too late to give your child a jump start on their educational journey by enrolling them in Voluntary Prekindergarten.

Voluntary Prekindergarten, or VPK, is a state-funded educational program that provides free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds in Florida.

Those who qualify are all children who are 4 years old by September 1 of the current school year and are eligible for VPK in Florida.

“If they sign up for VPK through the Early Learning Coalition and receive their certificate of eligibility, they can take that certificate or course to the school districts, but also child care programs and faith-based programs,” said Lindsay Holmes, the Education Services Director.

Holmes also said children who go to VPK learn critical thinking skills, and social skills, and learn how to be a part of a larger community as well as have the experience of what would be a structured classroom environment.

For more information on what parents need to know about VPK enrollment, visit the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida website at elcnwf.org/vpk/ , or contact the Coalition’s Childcare Resource and Referral team for assistance.

For questions about the VPK program or how to find the VPK provider, contact 850-747-5400.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.