Free and funded preschool in Florida
Some preschool programs in Florida are paid for with public money. Each one has its own rules about who qualifies, how many hours are covered and how to apply. Funded programs have a limited number of places, so qualifying does not mean a place is open.
Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK)
Free to eligible children. The state pays for the VPK programme itself; the family portal describes VPK as a free educational program for 4-year-olds. A school-year programme delivered by a private provider must comprise at least 540 instructional hours. The sources reviewed do not address what a provider may charge for care outside the VPK hours, so ask your provider about any wraparound care.
Who qualifies: A child who resides in Florida and will have attained the age of 4 years on or before 1 September is eligible during that school year or the following one. The eligibility section sets no income requirement. Eligibility ends when the child is admitted to kindergarten, or on reaching age 6 by 1 February.
Places: Being eligible does not guarantee a place. Public schools must admit all eligible children who apply to a summer programme, but school districts may limit the number of students admitted to a school-year programme based on available space.
How to apply: Apply to your early learning coalition through the state's single point of entry, the Early Learning Family Portal. Applicants in Lake County are directed to a separate application system. Apply with Early learning coalitions, under rules set by the State Board of Education
From FreePreschool.us, checked against official sources Sep 2026.
Florida School Readiness Program
Subsidised, with a family copayment. This is a subsidy, not a free programme. Coalitions must implement a parent sliding fee scale that increases in relation to family income. Coalitions may waive the copayment for at-risk children and in defined hardship circumstances, including homelessness and while a parent takes part in a Head Start or Early Head Start programme.
Who qualifies: Enrolment follows a statutory priority order rather than a single income cut-off. The highest priorities are children under 13 in families receiving temporary cash assistance subject to federal work requirements, and at-risk children younger than 9. Children from birth to kindergarten age in an economically disadvantaged working family come next. 'Economically disadvantaged' means a family income that does not exceed 55 percent of the state median income.
Places: School readiness is not an entitlement. Coalitions enrol eligible children contingent upon the availability of funds, and if funding becomes insufficient children are disenrolled in reverse priority order.
How to apply: Apply online through the Early Learning Family Portal, the same state entry point used for VPK. Applicants in Lake County are directed to a separate application system. Apply with Early learning coalitions, under rules set by the State Board of Education
From FreePreschool.us, checked against official sources Sep 2026.
Florida public preschool special education for children with disabilities (IDEA Part B, Section 619)
Free to eligible children. This is part of the public school system's special education provision. Ask your school district what is provided for your child at no cost following evaluation.
Who qualifies: Children with disabilities who have attained the age of 3 years are eligible for admission to public special education programmes and for related services. The State Board of Education adopts the rules that govern identification and eligibility criteria, so whether a particular child qualifies is decided by evaluation, not by income.
Places: Eligibility is established by statute for children with disabilities aged 3 and over, rather than by available places; what services a child receives is decided through evaluation.
How to apply: Contact your local school district and ask for an evaluation for preschool special education services.
From FreePreschool.us, checked against official sources Sep 2026.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start (ages 3 to 5) and Early Head Start (pregnancy to age 3) are free for eligible families. Most families qualify through income, and some through other circumstances such as homelessness or foster care.
Child care programs that take part, by city
Listings marked Head Start come from federal Head Start data, and listings marked "Free VPK hours" from Florida records. Call the provider to ask whether a place is open.
- Saint Augustine (45)
- Boca Raton (40)
- Coral Springs (39)