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Pre-K programs for children age 3 or 4

by September 1, 2021

The application period for 2021-2022 school year opened December 1^st, 2020 and continue to be accepted. See descriptions for program options below.

What program options are available to children and families?

OPTION 1: Full Day Program FREE Head Start Pre-K

Requires the pre-approval of families meeting federal guidelines. Children in foster care and families experiencing homelessness or house-sharing (living “doubled-up” due to the family’s loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason), children with disabilities, receiving public assistance (TANF or SSI), or earning below the Federal Poverty Guideline are encouraged to apply. 

                                                              OPTION 2: Full Day Program
                                     VPK combined with Parent Pay Option

This option combines a 3-hour VPK program with an additional 3.5 hours to make a full academic day. Parents are responsible for the additional fees associated with this option, $480 per month payable at the beginning of each month. Spaces are limited, enrollment is first come first served. This program is available for children age 4 on or before September 1st of the applying school year. 

                                                              OPTION 3: Half Day Program
                                      FREE VPK at Sabal Palm Elementary
                                            4095 18th Avenue NE, 34120 

3-hour Morning and Afternoon sessions available. Spaces are limited, enrollment is first come first served. This program offered at Sabal Palm Elementary, and is available FREE for children age 4 on or before September 1st of the applying school year.  

Step 1 New Families CLICK HERE TO START YOUR PRE-APPLICATION 

           Families that have applied for other children in a previous school year CLICK HERE TO RE-APPLY   

Step 2 Please visit elcofswfl.org to apply for 2021 - 2022 Florida State Child Eligibility Certificate (VPK Voucher - Eligible 4 years old only) opens January 1, 2021. 

*To better assisit your child please visit Ages & Stages Questionnaires

 https://www.asqonline.com/family/f0ad0a  English  

• The early years are the learning years. Research suggests the most important growth and development in the brain happens by the age of five. A child’s ability to be attentive and to follow directions emerges in the early years. Structured early learning in Pre-K helps foster these abilities for later success in school and in life
• Pre-K prepares children to be ready for school. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood education programs develop better language skills, score higher in school-readiness tests and have better social skills and fewer behavioral problems once they enter school. They are also better prepared for kindergarten, especially in the areas of pre-reading, pre-math and social skills
• Pre-K enhances what a child learns at home and promotes a love of life-long learning
• The goal of our programs is to ensure children enter kindergarten fully ready to learn and succeed. Collier County Public Schools provide an environment rich with child-initiated active learning experiences for children. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate and can be modified for individual four-to-five-year-olds that have skills at either end of a developmental continuum.