Florida’s school-year Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program is coming to an end and now is the time to prepare this year’s VPK “graduates” and their families for the transition to kindergarten. VPK is not a requirement to enter kindergarten, but data show that children who participate in VPK are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn.
The first step in the transition is to sign up your child for kindergarten! Pre-registration is under way so contact your local school’s office of admissions for more information.
Once registered for kindergarten, join your school’s contact list for important updates – like when the program will host an orientation where you and your child can see the classroom and visit the teacher. Even before then, you can inspire excitement about kindergarten by driving the route to school, talking about meeting the new teacher and new friends and describing what the first day may be like.
The Division of Early Learning provides the following tips and resources to help you prepare for the transition to kindergarten.
How to Prepare for Kindergarten Registration
Locate a School Your local school district will explain the enrollment process for your selected school and requirements for school choice options.
Bring Documents Needed for Kindergarten Registration
- Proof of residency (a copy of your driver’s license)
- Proof of your child’s age (an official copy of your child’s birth certificate)
- Copy of Individual Educational Plan or 504 Plan (if applicable)
- Proof of current State of Florida immunization records and a physical (dated within two years)
- Any standardized test results
What to Expect in Kindergarten
Want to know more about what your child will learn in kindergarten? The Florida Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for Kindergarten will help you prepare to support your child’s learning progression and communicate with your child’s teacher about classroom instruction, locate resources to support your child’s learning at home and understand how the B.E.S.T. standards are essential for shaping your child’s critical thinking, literacy and mathematical skills.
Parent Guide for Kindergarten English Language Arts Standards
Congratulations 2024 VPK Graduates
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) 2023-24 school-year graduates are now ready and on their way to kindergarten. Find resources on the Division of Early Learning’s website to continue supporting your child’s learning during the summer and as they transition to kindergarten. How do you plan to celebrate your VPK graduate?
Use #VPKGraduation2024 and tag us!
