To sign up your child for the VPK program contact the VPK Enrollment Specialist in your area.
Orange County
(407)532-4254
Osceola County
(407)846-5311
Seminole County
(321)832-6407
Want to learn more about the program? Visit Florida’s Office of Early Learning for more information.
There is much confusion among parents, as to what “VPK” really is. Many are under the misconception that a VPK student is in a special classroom with a special curriculum geared just for 4 year olds. While this might be the case for many preschools, it’s not for Montessori schools. The Montessori classroom is composed of a mixed age group of students, usually 3 years to six years old.
The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten(VPK) Program is a state funded program for all four year old regardless of income. The state of Florida’s goal for this program is to offer educational opportunities for students prior to entering Kindergarten. The state requires that the program foster physical and academic readiness for kindergarten. Achievement of these goals are tested upon completion of the program. The goals are met within the Montessori environment and without deviating from the Montessori method. All four year olds in the Montessori classroom receive equal educational opportunities, whether or not they are registered in the VPK program.
The state of Florida’s guidelines for VPK students mandates that a child must be four years old by September 1st in order to be eligible for the August school year. Due to state enrollment-based requirements, Orlando Montessori Bilingual Academy offers limited spaces in the VPK program on a first-come, first-served basis with priority placement given to current OMBA Students. Over-enrollment of the VPK program would alter the balance of students that is
essential to the optimum functioning of the Montessori multi-age environment.
Parents interested in the VPK program must apply and be accepted through the state of Florida.
Parents are advised to check availability of spaces in their child’s classroom as acceptance in the VPK program by the state of Florida does not guarantee availability in the VPK program at OMBA.