Last verified: October 2026
What does VPK give a Pinellas four-year-old?
A free pre-K program: 540 hours during the school year or a 300-hour summer option, at an approved private or public provider.
The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, based in Clearwater, oversees VPK and School Readiness providers in the county. Families request a certificate of eligibility through the state's Family Portal and take it to the provider.
Can VPK happen at a private school?
Yes, if that school is an approved VPK provider; 64 of the Pinellas K-12 private schools in the state file report pre-K enrollment, and many of them offer VPK.
That matters for planning. A child who does VPK at a parish or Christian school can move into kindergarten there on the $8,643 K-3 award without changing buildings.
VPK and School Readiness are not the same program
| Feature | VPK | School Readiness |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Every 4-year-old | Working families under income limits |
| Cost | Free core hours | Sliding-scale copay |
| Ages | Pre-K year | Birth to 12 |
| Covers aftercare | No | Yes, at participating providers |