Palm Beach County School Leaders Emphasize the Importance of Voluntary Early Childhood Education

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida. New data shows that only about half of Palm Beach County kindergarten students were considered “kindergarten ready” when they entered elementary school this year.

This happens when parents of Florida 4-year-olds enroll their children in Voluntary Preschool or VPK for the next school year.

SPECIAL COATING: Education

At Kiddie Haven Preschool, just west of Lake Worth Beach, voluntary preschool is more than just letters and numbers.

“It’s also about social skills, meaningful relationships and interactions,” said preschool director Odalis Gonzalez. “They are exposed to the diversity that surrounds them and they see the world from a different perspective.”

Gonzalez said the VPK experience is critical in preparing little minds for what’s to come.

“The environment we create promotes self-respect and curiosity. Children overcome difficulties every day,” Gonzalez said.

Children at Kiddie Haven Kindergarten follow a schedule to prepare them for this Kindergarten. VPK covers three hours a day, but parents can sign up for more.

“We would like the state to consider providing a full-time VPK. And personally, I would like them to start funding three-year-olds as well,” said Erica Whitfield, a member of the Palm Beach County School Board.

Whitfield wants to increase funding to expand preschool opportunities.

Reports show that only about 50% of kindergarten students in the Palm Beach County School District were deemed “Kindergarten Ready” based on testing at the beginning of the school year.

Some schools, according to Whitfield, were below 20%.

“That’s where we see the biggest gap in our system is the kids who participated in pre-K and those who didn’t, and how different they are when they come in and continue to be different,” Whitfield said. “We always play catch-up with those kids who didn’t have those opportunities.”

Whitfield added that the district is working to strengthen relationships between early childhood education providers and nearby elementary schools.

The Palm Beach County Early Learning Coalition is dedicated to helping parents find the right VPK for them and complete the enrollment process.

The coalition is urging parents of four-year-olds to register with the VPK now as places fill up fast for next year.

Erin Gallagher, vice president of communications and planning for the Palm Beach County Early Learning Coalition, said they have a team ready to talk to parents about what they’re looking for in quality child care.

Gallagher said enrollment at VPK has recovered to pre-pandemic levels at over 12,000 students a year.

“Going to kindergarten is a big step not only for our 4-year-olds, but also for their families and caregivers. Therefore, we are very pleased that our numbers are back to normal levels,” said Gallagher. “We know there is still a group of kids who don’t attend VPK for various reasons every year and we certainly understand that. We would like to see this number continue to grow, so we encourage all families to count this next year for their child.”

To receive a VPK voucher to enroll your child, you can visit the Early Learning Coalition website at Click here.

You can call the Early Learning Coalition Child Care Resource and Referral Center at 561-514-3300 to speak with someone who can help you find a child care center that is right for you and your family.

The current enrollment is for children who will be 4 years old by September 1, 2023. You will need proof of your child’s age and residence in order to redeem the voucher online from the ELC website.

For more information about what your child needs to know, both socially and academically, when starting kindergarten, see Click here.