To further ongoing efforts to prepare children for successful entry into kindergarten, the Osceola School District will begin a digital learning voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) program for children who turned four on or before September 1, 2020, and who are not currently attending a VPK program.  The State of Florida has recently granted the district permission for the first time ever to offer three hours of virtual instruction with certified instructors on school days as part of its free VPK program.  The digital half-day VPK program will begin on January 13, 2021, and continue through the remainder of the second semester of the school year.

While face-to-face learning remains the best option for our littlest learners to acquire both academic and social skills, our new digital option may be a perfect alternative for children who haven’t benefited from a VPK program yet. High-quality preschool programs like ours help equalize what children have the chance to learn, preparing all children for success in the classroom and beyond and having a particularly powerful impact on children from low-income households.

Dr. Debra Pace

Superintendent, School District of Osceola County

Parents are encouraged to register for the Osceola School District’s half-day digital VPK program by visiting its Early Childhood Learning Program website at https://www.osceolaschools.net/vpk, clicking on “Enrollment 20-21”, and following the outlined steps. When filling out the application on Part 4, choose “Digital Learning.”  Orientation will be provided at the Early Childhood Learning Center, located at 1200 Vermont Avenue in St. Cloud when parents complete the registration process.