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Child Care Facility ✓ Licensed

Kids Discovery 2

Mary Esther, FL · Okaloosa County
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 1.0 (1 review)
2265 W Highway 98, Mary Esther, FL 32569
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Quick Facts

Capacity
242 children
Type of Care
Full-Day Care, Half-Day / Part-Day Care, Before School, After School, Drop-in / Hourly
Subsidized Program
Participates

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Free and funded programs

Free VPK hours (Voluntary Prekindergarten)
Florida DCF / Division of Early Learning (CARES provider search), as of Sep 2026.
Accepts School Readiness (child care financial assistance; a family copay may apply)
Florida DCF / Division of Early Learning (CARES provider search), as of Sep 2026.

Taking part in a program does not mean a place is open. Call the provider to ask about current availability.

VPK: who qualifies and how to apply
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.
Cost: 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.
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 (opens in new tab)
From FreePreschool.us (opens in new tab), checked against official sources Sep 2026.
School Readiness: who qualifies and how to apply
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.
Cost: 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.
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 (opens in new tab)
From FreePreschool.us (opens in new tab), checked against official sources Sep 2026.

About Florida's free preschool programs

Contact Information

📞 (850) 243-5794
2265 W Highway 98
Mary Esther, FL 32569
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✓ Licensed Child Care Facility
Active License
License Number
C01OK0160
Licensed Since
2022
Active Through
Apr 21, 2027
Issued By
Florida Department of Children & Families
Licensor
Donna Woodard
District Office
Judicial Circuit 1 <br/> 160 Governmental Center <br/> Pensacola, FL 32502

Reviews

1.0
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
1 review
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0
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0
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1★
1
Stacie
2023-07-28 23:40:24
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

This daycare allows their employee Myra who works in the one year old classroom to date the father of two children enrolled in the daycare. The employee was allowed to be on the list to pick up my children when I was not made aware of it. My daughter said she picks them up alone and takes them to her home where their father picks them up later. When I spoke to KD, I was told they have no professional ethics policy with their employees. I explained I was not comfortable with an employee picking up my children and I was told I could take her off the list, but their father could just put her back on. I will be filing a complaint. No child should be picked up and taken to a daycare worker’s home without consent from both parents. My daughter has also told me that her daddy and Mama Myra sleep in the same bed with both my children. This is completely unethical for a business to allow this of their employees and claim “it is normal.”

72 out of 148 think this review is helpful Was this helpful?  Yes  No

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Review Policy: ChildcareCenter.us does not actively screen or monitor user reviews, nor do we verify or edit content. Reviews reflect only the opinion of the writer. We ask that users follow our review guidelines. Providers are welcome to respond to parental reviews, however we ask that they identify themselves as the provider.

About the Provider

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Quality child care……a topic being discussed every day by caring and concerned parents. But where do you go to find it? At the dawn of a new century, the expectations for a child’s future are as high as a flying balloon and parents have risen to the challenge by demanding the best. The best facilities, the best equipment, and the best educational programs for their children. Kids Discovery is owner operated with the owner available for support and guidance to teachers and help for parents as needed. Parents should get maximum value for their investment in superior child care. At Kids Discovery our services are offered to everyone, regardless of race, creed, sex, religion or national origin. Every child is special.
Additional Information: Provider First Licensed on: 1/7/02;

Hours of Operation

  • Monday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Tuesday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Wednesday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Thursday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Friday6:30AM to 6:00PM
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed

Inspection/Report History

Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.

Inspection Date Has Violation
2026-07-31 No
2026-03-24 No
2025-12-03 Yes
2025-07-17 No
2025-03-18 No
2024-11-25 No
2024-07-29 No
2024-04-04 No
2023-12-19 No
2023-08-07 No
2023-08-03 Yes
2023-04-11 No
2023-03-15 Yes
2023-01-13 No
2022-04-05

If you are a provider and believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.

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