Early Childhood Education

  • Pinellas County Schools offers Prekindergarten for 3-year-olds (PreK3) and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) for 4 year olds at school sites across the county! 

    Watch The ABCs of PreK and VPK to find out more about VPK opportunities.

     

    Applications for 2025-26 VPK and prekindergarten opportunities are OPEN from November 21 - December 9, 2024! 
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  • Pinellas County Schools offers several early childhood education opportunities to prepare students for kindergarten and beyond. All programs offer developmentally appropriate activities that build on children’s emerging talents and strengths.

    Learn about VPK

    Learn about PreK3

     

    • Families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals according to the annual Florida Income Eligibility Guidelines will qualify for free full-day VPK.
    • PreK3 and full-day VPK will be discounted for children of all full-time PCS employees at our elementary school sites. Our Employee and Community Preschool sites at Largo and Countryside high schools will also offer a discount to full-time PCS employees.

    Questions? Call Early Childhood Education: 727-588-6513

    ¿Preguntas? Llame a Barbara al 727-623-4414 o llame a Ericka al 727-588-6415

    Prekindergarten for 3-year-olds (PreK 3)

    • Learn about PreK 3
    • Serves children who are 3 years of age on or before September 1 of the school year.
    • Follows the regular school calendar
    • Full-day program
    • Located at many elementary schools

    Voluntary Prekindergarten for 4-year-olds (VPK)

    • Learn about VPK
    • Serves children who are 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the school year.
    • Follows the regular school year calendar
    • Summer programs also available
    • Full- and half-day programs available
    • Located at many elementary schools

    Prekindergarten Exceptional Student Education (ESE)

    Community Preschool

    • Serves children who have reached the age of 3
    • Follows the regular school year calendar with some modifications by location.
    • Full and half-day programs available
    • Located at several high schools
    • Learn more about Community Preschool

    Lew Williams Center For Early Learning

    Kindergarten

    • Serves children who are 5 years of age by September 1 of the school year in which they are enrolling
    • Follows the regular school year calendar
    • Full day program
    • Located at all elementary schools
    • Learn more about Kindergarten

    Early Childhood Resources

    • Learn more about Before and After Care programs, agencies and services that support young children and resources available for you and your child.