Parents should first complete the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program Child Application, Form AWI-VPK 01. This application can be downloaded at the State of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation website (see Resources). The registration application can also be obtained through the early learning coalition of any Florida county and comes with instructions.
The registration application must be submitted to the early learning coalition of the county in which the child will attend VPK. At the time the application is submitted, parents must show proof of Florida residency and the child's age. The application provides a list of acceptable documentation to prove residency and age. Some examples of documentation of the child's age include the child's birth certificate or immunization record. Proving Florida residency can be done with the parent's Florida driver's license or a utility bill. A more comprehensive list can be obtained through an early learning coalition.
Submit the completed application and photocopies of documentation proving age eligibility and Florida residency. The state agency administering the VPK program recommends keeping a copy of the completed application for your records. After the application is processed, the child receives a certificate of eligibility.
The certificate of eligibility will be used to enroll the child in the VPK program chosen by the family. The Florida Department of Education provides statistics to the public on all VPK programs through its VPK readiness rate website (see Resources). This website allows parents to access VPK readiness rate reports and identify low performing providers in their area. Parents will choose from either a summer VPK program or a school-year program. Once an available VPK provider is selected, parents will attend an enrollment orientation before the program begins. Additional information may vary from county to county and can be obtained through that county's early learning coalition. The State of Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation website contains a directory of all early learning coalitions in the state.