Duval County parents of 4-year-olds are encouraged to register for Florida’s free voluntary prekindergarten (VPK) program for the 2026-27 school year.
VPK helps children build the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond, and it’s available at no cost to families.
Families can choose from more than 350 VPK providers in Duval County, offering flexible options to fit different schedules and learning environments. Registering early gives parents the best opportunity to visit multiple VPK programs before selecting the one that best suits them. The ELC of Duval will provide a list of quality VPK programs at their parents’ request or go to elcduval.org/i-am-a-parent/voluntary-prekindergarten-vpk.
Why VPK matters:
According to Angel Carro, president and CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Duval, “VPK is one of the most powerful investments we can make in a child’s future. VPK builds the early literacy, social and learning skills children need to succeed. It sets children up for school and life.”
Registration for the 2026-27 school year opened on Jan. 1 through the Division of Early Learning’s Family Portal. The application takes about 10 minutes to complete, and only two documents must be uploaded: proof of the child’s age and proof of Florida residence. For more information, go to elcduval.org or call 904-208-2044.
The Early Learning Coalition of Duval is a nonprofit organization that helps more than 19,000 families register for VPK, obtain financial assistance with childcare costs, and connect them with community resources.
