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CONTENTS OF THE CATALOG |
SEARCH/BROWSE THE CATALOG |
SEARCH/BROWSE THE STATE PROJECT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS
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CSFA State Fiscal Year 2026-2027
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CSFA Number:
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48.108
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State Project Title:
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Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Education Program
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Agency:
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Department of Education and Commissioner of Education
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Program:
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Early Learning
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Budget Entity:
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48220400 Early Learning Services
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Specific Appropriation:
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GAA #85; $433,773,635.00; FY 2026-27
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Appropriation Category:
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107007 (G/A-VPK Program)
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Related CFDA Code:
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N/A
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Authorization:
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Chapter 2026-2328, L.O.F
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Objectives:
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Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a constitutionally and legislatively mandated program designed to prepare every four-year-old in Florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The program allows a parent to enroll his or her eligible child in a free VPK program. All eligible four-year-olds and young five-year-olds are entitled to participate in one of the VPK program options (School Year, Summer or Specialized Instruction Service). The program is voluntary for children and providers; however, the school district must provide for the admission of every eligible child within the district whose parent enrolls the child in a summer prekindergarten program delivered by a public school under s. 1002.61, F.S.
Public and private providers may be eligible to deliver the program depending on whether they meet the minimum standards required in law.
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Types Of Assistance:
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Grants
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Applicant Type:
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Local Government and Non-Profit
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Restrictions:
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Each child who resides in this state who is four years old on or before September 1 is eligible for the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program during that program year or the following program year. The child remains eligible until the child is admitted to kindergarten, or unless he or she will have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year under s. 1003.21(1)(a)1, F.S.
The VPK program includes three different options for parents:
(1) A school-year program consisting of 540 instructional hours; and
(2) A summer program consisting of 300 instructional hours.
(3) A specialized instructional services program for children with disabilities with individual educational plans.
VPK providers have flexibility in structuring the hours per day and days per week to meet the required instructional hours. For example, if a program is 180 days (similar to a school-year calendar), it would offer 3 hours of instruction each day to meet the 540-hour requirement. A provider could also choose to offer a 6 hour-per-day program for 90 days. Programs must be developmentally appropriate and the state will only pay for instructional hours (activities such as napping do not qualify for funding). Providers may consider other options, including offering a morning or afternoon program or having a program for 2 or 3 days a week instead of every day.
Each provider must meet requirements set forth in Part V of Chapter 1002, Florida Statutes. Each private provider must be a licensed child care facility, a licensed family day care home (registered homes are not eligible), a licensed large family child care home, or a nonpublic school or faith-based child care provider that is exempt from licensure. Each non-licensed private provider from the list above must also meet additional accreditation restrictions. Unlicensed family day care homes and informal childcare providers are not eligible to participate in the program.
To deliver the school-year VPK program, each district school board shall determine which public schools in the school district are eligible to deliver the VPK program. Every school district is required by law to deliver the summer VPK program for every eligible child wanting to participate.
The Florida Department of Education's Office of Early Learning shall administer the accountability and operational requirements of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program at the state level. Each Early Learning Coalition shall administer the program at the county or regional level.
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Procedures:
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Pre-Application Notice:
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N/A
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Application Procedures:
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N/A
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Award Procedures:
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Early Learning Coalitions established pursuant to Section 1002.83, Florida Statutes, will administer the VPK program locally. Funding will be based on a base student allocation per full-time equivalent student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program as provided in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and shall be equal for each student, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in a private or public prekindergarten program. The GAA may have a separate base student allocation per full-time equivalent student for the summer and school-year programs.
Each county's allocation per full-time equivalent student in the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program shall be calculated annually by multiplying the base student allocation provided in the GAA by the county's district cost differential provided in s. 1011.62(2), F.S. Each private prekindergarten provider and public school shall be paid in accordance with the county's allocation per full-time equivalent student. An attendance policy shall be established for funding purposes.
Administrative expenditures are to be kept to the minimum necessary for efficient and effective administration of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. Each Early Learning Coalition may retain and expend no more than 4 percent of the funds paid by the coalition to private prekindergarten providers and public schools as discussed under s. 1002.71(7), F.S. Funds retained by an Early Learning Coalition under this subsection may be used only for administering the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program and may not be used for the school readiness program or other programs.
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Deadlines:
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None.
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Other: |
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Information Contact:
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James Lincoln Finch
Supervisor
Financial Administration and Budget Services
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Email: James.Finch@del.fldoe.org
Phone: (850) 717-8638
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Web Address:
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http://www.floridaearlylearning.com
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Associated Subjects:
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Education-Pre-K/Primary
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