Early Childhood Programs

Early Childhood Learning Programs

Polk County Public Schools’ early childhood learning programs are designed to support all families as they take their critical first steps in planning their child’s education. PCPS offers multiple options tailored to your child’s needs.

Benefits

A fundamental principle of early childhood development and education is to provide all children with a safe, nurturing, engaging, enjoyable, and secure learning environment to help them gain the awareness, skills, and confidence necessary to succeed in their present environment and to deal with later responsibilities in school and life.

Each child is treated as an individual in an inclusive community that values, respects, and responds to diversity. The varied experiences provided by the Head Start, Title One, and VPK programs support the entire continuum of children’s growth and development including physical, social, emotional and cognitive.

What to Expect

Our early learning classrooms have low student-to-teacher ratios and are staffed by highly qualified instructors with appropriate degrees and state DOE/DCF certifications. We offer programs such as Head Start, Title One, VPK, and ESE classrooms to ensure we meet the needs of every child.

Instructors will direct activities and provide consistent daily routines that will offer children opportunities for exploration and learning. Our instructors use research-based techniques to support students’ socialization and language growth. We promote good health and safety habits with consistent supervision and maintain high program standards.

Need Help?

Celeste Stewart
Director, Preschool Programs

(863) 648-3051

[email protected]

Important Information for Pre-K Applicants

If you have already submitted an online application or are a returning parent, do not submit another online application. Instead, email [email protected] with:

  • Your child’s name
  • Date of birth
  • Your phone number
  • The school you want to apply to, or your home address, so we can find your school zone

Before starting a new pre-application, have these documents ready to upload:

  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Parent/guardian photo ID
  • Two proofs of address
  • SNAP, TANF, SSI or income documents (1040 tax return or paystubs)
  • VPK Certificate (for children age 4 by September 1) — sign box 18 and date box 19

Additional documentation is needed, if you have:

  • Child’s physical exam (must include lead and hemoglobin results)
  • Immunization record

SUBMIT A PRE-APPLICATION ONLINE

ENVIAR UNA SOLICITUD PREVIA EN LÍNEA

IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS:

After submitting your application, you will receive a follow-up email from School Messenger within 24 hours. This email will include important next steps that must be completed in order to continue processing your application.

If you do not see this email in your inbox, please be sure to check your spam or junk folder.

Sites & Program Types

Head Start (Ages 3-4)

Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes school readiness for children under the age of 5 from low-income families through education, health, social and other services. Income guidelines apply, and a significant emphasis is placed on parental involvement. Head Start is currently offered at 26 sites and serves 942 students throughout Polk County.

  • Serves 3–4-year-olds
  • Federally funded, designed to meet the needs of families below the poverty line, with four eligibility categories:
    • Income
    • Foster care
    • Homeless
    • Public assistance
  • Parents are encouraged to get VPK certificates, but are not required.

ESE PreK

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Prekindergarten services are provided to children from 3-5 years of age who meet the criteria for any of the following disabilities as defined by the Florida Department of Education and in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA): developmental delay, language impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, deaf or hard of hearing, dual-sensory impairment, intellectual disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, traumatic brain injury, speech impairment, visual impairment.

  • Must have an active IEP.
  • Will be placed in an inclusion or separate classroom according to the IEP.
  • Must have a VPK certificate if aged four by September 1st of the current year.

Title I PK

Title 1 PK is a federally funded program for 4-year-old children residing in select Title 1 school zones. Parents must submit the child’s VPK Certificate of Eligibility issued by the State of Florida with Polk County Public Schools’ PK application. Title 1 PK is currently offered at 22 sites throughout Polk County and serves 472 students.

  • Must be four (4) by Sept 1st of the current year.
  • Must have a VPK certificate.
  • Must be zoned for the school they are enrolled in (unless prior HS student, homeless, migrant, or foster care).

Voluntary PreK (Age 4)

Voluntary Prekindergarten, or VPK is a no-cost statewide program for all 4 year-old children for 3 instructional hours per day. Extended parent pay option available at many locations. Children must be four years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year to be eligible. Parents must submit the child’s VPK Certificate of Eligibility issued by the State of Florida with Polk County Schools’ PreK application. VPK is currently offered at 22 sites throughout Polk County and serves approximately 550 students.

  • Must be four (4) by Sept 1st of the current year.
  • Must live in the state of Florida.
  • Must have a VPK certificate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)