THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF

Voluntary pre-kindergarten (vpk): a legislatively mandated, statewide program designed to prepare every four-year-old and younger five-year-olds in florida for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success. The vpk program gives each child an opportunity for preparation to perform better in school and throughout life through participation in vpk. Providers contract to assure high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curriculum, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes, and qualified instructors. The early learning coalition of southwest florida supports the vpk program in collier, glades, hendry and lee counties by contracting for voluntary pre-kindergarten services and supporting the development of high quality vpk providers. The program is available for four and five-year-old children in 262 sites serving 7,726 children in our 4-county region.