Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) in Florida

Last verified: October 2026

What is Florida VPK and who qualifies in Broward County?

Florida VPK, short for Voluntary Prekindergarten and sometimes called free pre-K, is a state-paid early learning program for any Florida resident child who is four on or before September 1. It does not depend on income.

Broward County Public Schools describes the eligibility rule on its VPK page, and the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County (ELC Broward) runs the program locally.

How does a Broward family sign up for VPK?

A parent applies for a Certificate of Eligibility through the state's Family Portal, uploads proof of the child's age and Florida residence, and then gives the certificate to the chosen provider. Birth certificates and utility bills are the documents Broward schools name as examples.

ELC Broward has a VPK section and a Child Care Resource and Referral service to help narrow providers.

Do Broward private schools and church preschools offer VPK?

Many do, because VPK is delivered by public schools, private schools and child care centers alike. Of the Broward schools in the directory, 199 list pre-K as their lowest grade.

Ask each one whether it is a VPK provider, which hours it offers and what extended-day care costs, because aftercare is not covered by VPK.

Does a child stay at the same school after VPK?

Often yes. A child who finishes VPK in a private school's pre-K class can continue into kindergarten there on the Private School Scholarship, funded at $8,494 in Broward for 2026-27 if the school participates.

Check the participation flag on the school page first; a VPK provider is not automatically a scholarship school.

What is VPK in Broward, and how does it differ from School Readiness?

VPK is a free part-day pre-K year for four-year-olds with no income test, while School Readiness is income-based child care with a copay.

Check my eligibility →