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A preschool class learns about construction. | Polk County Public Schools
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5-minute read
Parents of 3- and 4-year-olds take note: Online applications are now open for free Head Start, voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) and special needs preschool programs in Polk County Public Schools.
If this seems earlier than usual, it is. In previous years, PCPS didn’t start accepting early childhood applications until March. The district moved the date up to Jan. 27 this year because of “the intensity of the work and the number of requests that we get,” Lori Allen, senior director of Foundational Learning at PCPS, said. “Usually, it’s a mad rush … This is working much better.”
Why it matters:
Of the 7,815 students who entered kindergarten in Polk County schools last year, only 44% were “kindergarten-ready” based on a screening done in the first 30 days of school.
Children who get high-quality early childhood education typically develop better language and social skills and have fewer behavioral problems once they enter school.
Some studies suggest the benefits of pre-K continue into middle school and high school.
“There isn’t a better way to create a foundation for lifelong success than getting children involved in high-quality preschool programs,” Superintendent Fred Heid said in a video encouraging parents to enroll their children.
Limited spaces: Allen said there is no firm closing date for applications because the district will do multiple rounds of selection until every available seat is filled. However, for the best chance of getting a spot in their preferred school, Allen said parents should submit their applications by the end of March.
That’s the “priority window” for the first round of selections, which will happen in April, with acceptance letters likely going out in May. Parents will have a certain amount of time to enroll their child, or the space will be offered to someone else.
“Just because you don’t get into the first sort doesn’t mean you’re not getting in,” Allen said. However, spaces are limited.
PCPS spokesman Kyle Kennedy said more than 2,500 students are enrolled in the district’s early childhood programs this year, but another 1,200 did not get spots and were waitlisted.
More options
Public schools are not the only providers of voluntary pre-kindergarten. Many private childcare centers, charter schools, Montessori schools and faith-based schools also offer it — however, they have their own applications and deadlines. Contact each school directly to make sure they accept VPK certificates as payment.
Full-day vs. half-day: The Polk County Public Schools website has one early childhood application for four different programs. Allen said district staff sorts the applications carefully, figuring out which programs families qualify for based on their incomes, whether children have special needs, which elementary schools children are zoned for and the parents’ location preferences.
Some programs get extra funding, so PCPS can offer a full day of preschool at no cost to parents. Others are only a half-day, so parents who want wraparound care must pay for it.
“We get the same information from everybody,” Allen said. “Then we vet them through the process to see if they’ll qualify for a free program before we go to parent pay. If there’s any way we can provide it at no cost, we try that first.”
Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes school readiness for children under the age of 5 from low-income families. Children enrolled through Polk County Public Schools can get two years of free full-day preschool, including health, social and other services. The program places a significant emphasis on parental involvement.
Children in foster care, homeless children, and children from families receiving public assistance (TANF, SSI or SNAP) are categorically eligible, regardless of income. For others, eligibility depends on family income relative to poverty guidelines.
Voluntary Pre-K for 4-year-olds
VPK is a free statewide program for all 4-year-old children in Florida, regardless of income. It’s a half-day program that provides 540 hours of instruction over a 180-day school year. Any child who will be 4 years old by Sept. 1 is eligible.
Parents must get a VPK Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition and submit it with their application. Those whose children turn four between Feb. 2 and Sept. 1 can choose to wait a year and enroll the child when they are 5. Most sites offer optional wraparound care for a fee.
Title 1 Pre-K for 4-year-olds
The federal government provides extra funding for schools with a high percentage of low-income students under Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Almost every elementary school in Polk County is classified as a Title 1 school, except for Valleyview Elementary and Davenport Elementary. However, only about half qualify for Title 1, Part A funding for preschool programs that serve low-income, at-risk populations.
Children who are not eligible for Head Start but live in Title 1, Part A zones can get full-day pre-kindergarten from the school district through a combination of VPK and federal funds. As long as families live in the zone, household income does not matter.
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Pre-K for 3- to 5-year-olds
Children from 3-5 years of age who have a disability or learning delay qualify for free, full-day ESE prekindergarten. Qualifying conditions include speech or language impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, vision or hearing loss, intellectual disabilities or traumatic brain injury.
Students in ESE Pre-K receive speech therapy, language therapy and other services to prepare them for school. Unlike VPK, families can enroll in ESE Pre-K any time of year.
If you suspect your child might have a disability and are not already receiving services, call Child Find at 863-535-6486. Your child must be screened by Child Find, evaluated by ESE Pre-K and found eligible for services by the staffing committee. All children in ESE Pre-K get individualized education plans (IEPs) with specific goals and services.
VPK by the numbers
A VPK student at Southwest Elementary School, March 2024 | PCPS
Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2002 guaranteeing free universal preschool for 4-year-olds.
This year, the state allocated $2,953 per child enrolled in VPK. Locally, that funding is managed by the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County. Its CEO, Marc Hutek, said the ELC began issuing VPK certificates of eligibility in the first week of January.
“So far, 1,300 people have applied, and we’ve approved more than 800,” Hutek said Friday. “It’s pretty quick. We’re processing 300 to 400 a week.”
For the 2024-25 school year:
6,185 VPK certificates of eligibility were issued in Polk County.
4,408 students enrolled in VPK.
There are 63 public school sites and 119 private sites offering VPK.
36.5% of students (1,610) attend VPK in public elementary schools.
63.5% of students (2,798) attend at private childcare centers, charter schools, Montessori schools or faith-based schools.
Not all students who enroll in VPK complete it. In the 2023-24 school year, 3,559 children completed at least 70% of the hours. That was 78.5% of those enrolled.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Cindy's reporting for LkldNow focuses on Lakeland city government. Previously, she was a crime reporter, City Hall reporter and chief political writer for newspapers including the Albuquerque Journal and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. She spent a year as a community engagement coordinator for the City of Lakeland before joining LkldNow in 2023. Reach her at cindy@lkldnow.com or 561-212-3429.
