VPK vs. Pre-K in Florida: What's the Difference?

"Pre-K" is a general name for any program that serves children in the year or two before kindergarten, while VPK is Florida's specific free prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds. VPK has state rules: a child must live in Florida and be 4 on or before September 1, and the program provides either 540 school-year or 300 summer instructional hours at no cost to the family. Many VPK classrooms are also called pre-K classrooms, so the real difference is about funding, eligibility and hours rather than a completely different kind of class.

What "pre-K" usually means

Pre-K is an everyday term, not a single program. Families and schools use it to describe classes for preschool-age children who are getting ready for kindergarten. A pre-K class might be run by a private preschool, a child care center, a faith-based school or a public school, and each program sets its own schedule, age range and cost.

Most pre-K classrooms share similar goals. Children listen to stories, explore letters and numbers, build with blocks, make art, play outdoors and practice getting along with a group. The details, including how many days a week children attend and whether the program charges tuition, depend entirely on the provider.

What VPK means

VPK stands for Voluntary Prekindergarten. It is a state program, so the basic rules are the same for every family in Florida. According to the Florida Department of Education:

• VPK is free for 4-year-olds who live in Florida and are 4 on or before September 1, regardless of family income.
• Children with birthdays from February 2 through September 1 may enroll the year they turn 4 or wait until the following year.
• The school-year program provides 540 instructional hours, and the summer program provides 300 instructional hours.
• Parents apply through the state's Family Portal.

VPK programs generally focus on the skills children use in kindergarten: early literacy, early math, and social and emotional skills such as following routines and working with other children. For a fuller explanation, read What is VPK?

The main differences

Here is how the two compare on the questions families ask most often.

• Cost. VPK instructional hours are free for every eligible child. Other pre-K programs set their own tuition.
• Eligibility. VPK has a firm age cutoff and requires Florida residency. Other pre-K programs set their own age ranges.
• Hours. VPK is defined by the state as 540 school-year hours or 300 summer hours. Other pre-K programs choose their own schedules.
• Sign-up. VPK takes two steps: a state certificate of eligibility, then registration with the provider you choose. Other pre-K programs usually require only the provider's own enrollment.

Where pre-K and VPK overlap

In many schools, the VPK class is the pre-K class. A provider may run a classroom for 4-year-olds in which the VPK hours are covered by the state, and families who need a longer day pay for the additional time. The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County notes that most VPK programs offer full-day options for an additional cost, and that financial assistance is available for eligible families.

So when you see a school list both "pre-K" and "VPK," ask what each label covers there. The answer is often simpler than it looks.

Questions to ask when you compare programs

Whether you are looking at VPK, tuition-based pre-K or a combination, these questions help you compare fairly:

1. How are the VPK hours scheduled across the week, and when does the program start and end?
2. Is a longer day available, and what does it cost?
3. What does a typical morning look like for the children?
4. How do teachers share a child's progress with families?
5. What do you need from me to register, and when?

You can also look into a provider's licensing record. In Pinellas County, the Pinellas County License Board handles child care licensing, and families can review a facility's inspection reports and licensing history.

Which option is right for your child

For most families with an eligible 4-year-old, VPK is worth using simply because the instructional hours are free. The bigger decisions are which provider fits your child and your schedule, and, for children with birthdays between February 2 and September 1, whether to enroll this year or next. Visiting a few programs, watching how teachers talk with children, and asking how the day is structured will tell you more than any label.

Visit New Horizons

New Horizons Country Day School, at 2060 Nebraska Ave. in Palm Harbor, offers preschool and Florida VPK. To learn how our VPK program is arranged this year, call the office at (727) 785-8591 or visit New Horizons for a tour.