Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) is a legislatively mandated program designed to prepare every four-year-old in Florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The VPK program gives each child an opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life with quality programs that include high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes and qualified instructors.
The Office of Early Learning oversees the program at the state level. Our Coalition implements the program in St. Lucie County by contracting with eligible public and private child care providers through an online application process, through the Office of Early Learning here:
http://www.floridaearlylearning.com/providers/forms-for-providers
VPK providers have flexibility in structuring the hours per day and days per week to meet the required instructional hours:
School Year Program – 540 instructional hours. Class sizes not to exceed 20 students with a teacher and an assistant. Instructors must have a minimum of a Child Development Associate for the school year program (now referred to as the Birth to Five Florida Child Care Professional Credential).
Summer Program – 300 instructional hours. Class sizes not to exceed 12 students with one teacher. Instructors must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.
Upcoming Events
27mar9:00 am11:30 amFeaturedKidmania-to-Go March 27, 2021A Drive Through Event

Event Details
Port St. Lucie families can join us on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Keiser University Parking Lot
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Event Details
Port St. Lucie families can join us on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Keiser University Parking Lot at 9400 SW Discovery Way, Port St. Lucie, from 9 am- 11:30 am for a Parking Lot Drive-Through Event, with free books, drive through grab and go bags, and take home reading and STEM activities. Stay in your car & let us bring the take-home fun to you! There will be more than fiteen different stations to stop at, all in one parking lot. Geared for families with children birth through age 10. YOU MUST REMAIN IN YOUR CAR!
Free learning activities, books and fun to-go for the family, are all on the featured menu for the upcoming ELC Kidmania-to-Go Drive-Through event scheduled Saturday, March 27, from 9-11:30 AM at the Keiser University Parking Lot. The Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie County continues to adjust their free family events due to the pandemic.
The parking lot event will bring take-home fun, along with a little library of books, right to each family’s car, with more than 15 different stations available to stop at, all in the Keiser University’s Port St. Lucie campus parking lot, with exciting books and activities for children to take home, geared for families with children birth through age 10.
At our last drive-through event, the favorite station was hosted by the STEM GEMS, our teacher training group, who not only provided a to-go baggie with instructions and materials to build a catapult, but actually catapulted bags into the car windows, much to the delight of the children. Curious George was another crowd favorite, as the popular mascot greeted families as they drove through the stations. Both will be back for this event, along with KIDVision’s Miss Penny (of virtual field trip fame) and Port St Lucie Utility’s Miss Jenny
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am - 11:30 am EST
Location
Keiser University PSL Campus
9400 SW Discovery Way
Organizer
Early Learning Coalition of St. Lucie Countyin partnership with St. Lucie Schools and ALPI 5000 Dunn Road