Voluntary Pre-K Celebrates 5th

January 10, 2011

Florida’s four-year old voluntary prekindergarten program is celebrating its fifth birthday this school year.

“For five years now results have shown us that when children participate in a VPK program, even partially, they enter kindergarten better prepared for success,” said Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “I’m excited that the latest To the Core segment highlights this and all that VPK has done to give our children a focused head start on their future education.”

Cynthia R. Lorenzo, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, added: “Since its inception, the VPK program has provided Florida’s four-year-olds with a rich learning environment, which is critical to creating a talent pool of future leaders who will thrive in the classroom and in the workforce. We are grateful for the many successes of the VPK program over the past five years and remain committed to preparing our youngest Floridians for a lifetime of learning success.”

Established in 2005, Florida’s VPK program is jointly administered by the Department of Education, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and the Department of Children and Families. The program provides funding for 4-year-olds to attend prekindergarten in order to better prepare them for entrance into kindergarten. For more information on VPK, including local provider contact information, click here.

Pictured: VPK students at Bratt Elementary enjoy a little outside learning during an early December snow flurry. Submitted photo, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News