Who qualifies for free VPK in Duval County and how many hours is it?
A child who lives in Florida and is four on or before September 1 qualifies, and the school-year program is 540 instructional hours (usually at least three hours a day) while the summer program is 300 hours. Parents of children born February 2 through September 1 may wait a year.
Providers cannot charge a registration fee or require extra services for VPK, though they may charge for late pickup, field trips, extended days and wrap-around care.
How does a Jacksonville parent enroll a child in VPK?
A parent creates a Family Portal account, completes the VPK application, uploads proof of Florida residence and the child's age, and receives a certificate of eligibility by email to hand to the chosen provider. The Early Learning Coalition of Duval, at 904-208-2044, handles questions and publishes provider lists alphabetically and by ZIP code.
Many of the 88 Duval private schools whose grades begin at pre-K are also VPK providers, but the state directory does not say which; ask the school.
Can a child stay at the same Jacksonville school after VPK?
Often yes. A child who finishes VPK at a private school that runs through kindergarten can continue there on the Private School Scholarship ($8,409 for K-3 in Duval) without switching campuses, provided the school participates and the family has applied in the usual window.
Can a Duval family combine Voluntary Prekindergarten with other funding?
Usually yes with school-based and diocesan aid, but a student holds only one Step Up scholarship at a time, so the combination is a layered plan and not two awards. Complete the funding check and an advisor maps the layers for your child.
| Question | It is | It is not |
|---|---|---|
| What is covered? | 540 school-year or 300 summer instructional hours | A full-day, year-round child care bill |
| What does it cost? | Free for eligible children | Free aftercare, trips or extended hours |
| Who runs it locally? | The Early Learning Coalition of Duval and VPK providers | The public school district only |
| Is it income-based? | No, age and residency only | Limited to low-income families |