Schools and Education Five Manatee District Schools Set to Offer Free Summer VPK Classes

BRADENTON — Five Manatee County Public Elementary Schools will offer free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten programs (VPK) this summer from June 10, 2015 to August 13, 2015. The five district schools that will offer the free Summer VPK are Abel Elementary, Manatee Elementary, Moody Elementary, Oneco Elementary and Tillman Elementary.

The summer VPK program is for all children who were four-years old by September 1, 2014, who are residents of Florida and who were not enrolled in VPK during the 2014-2015 school year. Daily hours for summer VPK are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and breakfast and lunch are included at no cost.

Parents interested in enrolling their child in the Manatee County Public Schools summer VPK program can

do so beginning the week of April 20 through April 24 at the District’s Office of Student Assignment,

located at 1400 1st Ave. East, Palmetto.

To enroll students in the summer VPK program, parents need to follow the two steps below:

1) OBTAIN A 2015 VPK SUMMER CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY (COE): Go to the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) website at www.elc-manatee.org and click on “Register for VPK”. You will need to upload your child’s birth certificate and proof of Florida residency to obtain a COE. The ELC can take up to five days to process your COE application. For additional information contact the ELC at 941-757-2900.

2) REGISTER FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT’S 2015 SUMMER VPK: During the week of April 20 through April 24 complete the VPK registration process at the Public School District’s Office of Student Assignment, located at 1400 1st Ave. East, Palmetto. Office hours are 8:30 AM-4:00 PM.

Be sure to bring all required paperwork (VPK Certificate of Eligibility, child’s birth certificate, a current certificate of immunization and a current physical examination certificate).

To learn more about Summer VPK contact: MCPS Department of Early Learning at 941-209-7540 ext.

2111 or www.manateeschools.net.