VPK Program

2026-2027 PK3 and VPK Seat Availability as of August 12, 2026

 

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) is a free, state-funded program provided in conjunction with the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County to ensure a strong start in kindergarten and beyond. Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year when they are enrolling in VPK. 

VPK provides developmentally appropriate activities in literacy, language, science, social studies, math, health, safety, art and music. VPK helps children develop the skills they need to be strong readers, improving their chances of success in school. Most classes have 18 to 20 students and are staffed by a certified teacher and a child development associate. Some classes are blended to include students who receive exceptional student education services. Follow your child's development using the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for FOURS.

Questions about VPK? Call 727-588-6513

How to apply for VPK

• For children who are four years old on or before September 1

• Free three-hour program with an option to extend to the full school day
• Hands-on, play-based learning aligned with Florida Early Learning and Development Standards
• Encourages exploration, creativity, and critical thinking
• Focus on early literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills
• Programs at most elementary school sites across Pinellas County

VPK families must apply for a certificate of eligibility with the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County starting January 1, 2026. Please visit the Early Learning Coalition and complete the online application for the Certificate of Eligibility. For additional information about the certificate, please call the Early Learning Coalition at (727) 400-4411.

• Extend VPK to the full school day. Children attending the full day will have a weekly tuition of $125.00/week at elementary school sites. VPK full day tuition at the Little Packers program will be $150.00/week.
• Tuition assistance will be available for families that qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. This initiative will extend VPK to the full elementary school day for children whose families qualify. To qualify, families must complete the school lunch application. The application will be available in August prior to the start of the program year. Families qualifying for reduced lunch will have a reduced rate of weekly tuition set at $30.00. Families qualifying for free lunch will have tuition waived for full school day enrollment. 
• There will be a non-refundable registration fee of $100.00 to be paid online during enrollment for full day VPK. To secure your child's seat, you must pay the registration fee and complete the enrollment process at the school. The only sites that will not require a registration fee are Campbell Park Elementary, Fairmount Park Elementary, Kings Highway Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Maximo Elementary and Melrose Elementary. 
• Free full-day VPK is provided at six sites. Tuition and registration are free at these sites. See schools listed in italics on the table below.
• Full-day VPK will be discounted at elementary school sites for students who have a parent and/or legal guardian who is a full-time benefit-eligible PCS employee. Our Employee and Community Preschool site at Largo High School will also offer a discount for students who have a parent and/or a legal guardian who is a full-time benefit-eligible PCS employee. The PCS employee discounted rate will be $50.00/week at elementary school sites and $90.00/week at Largo High School. 
• For more information about tuition payments through brightwheel, click here: PCSbrightwheel.pdf

2026-2027 VPK Sites

Anona Elementary	Melrose Elementary*
Azalea Elementary	Mildred Helms Elementary
Bardmoor Elementary	Mt. Vernon Elementary
Bauder Elementary	New Heights Elementary
Bay Point Elementary	North Shore Elementary
Bear Creek Elementary	Northwest Elementary
Belcher Elementary	Oakhurst Elementary
Belleair Elementary	Oldsmar Elementary
Blanton Elementary	Orange Grove Elementary
Brooker Creek Elementary	Ozona Elementary
Campbell Park Elementary*	Perkins Elementary
Curlew Creek Elementary	Pinellas Central Elementary
Cypress Woods Elementary	Pinellas Park Elementary
Dunedin Elementary	Plumb Elementary
Eisenhower Elementary	Ponce de Leon Elementary
Fairmount Park Elementary*	Rawlings Elementary
Forest Lakes Elementary	Ridgecrest Elementary
Frontier Elementary	Safety Harbor Elementary
Fuguitt Elementary	San Jose Elementary
Garrison-Jones Elementary	Sawgrass Lake Elementary
Gulfport Elementary	Seminole Elementary
Highland Lakes Elementary	Seventy-Fourth Street Elementary
High Point Elementary	Sexton Elementary
Kings Highway Elementary*	Shore Acres Elementary
Lake St. George Elementary	Skycrest Elementary
Lakeview Fundamental	Skyview Elementary
Lakewood Elementary*	Starkey Elementary
Lealman Avenue Elementary	Sunset Hills Elementary
Leila Davis Elementary	Sutherland Elementary
Little Packers @ Largo High	Tarpon Springs Elementary
Lynch Elementary	Walsingham Oaks K-8
Maximo Elementary	Westgate Elementary
McMullen Booth Elementary	Woodlawn Elementary

 

*Free full-day programs