Five-year-old Marlaina Paulding likes playing in the tents in her VPK classroom at Felix A. Williams Elementary School in Martin County. She likes learning the alphabet and numbers, and the Spanish ...

Malcolm McKey and a dozen other voluntary pre-kindergarten students sit crisscross applesauce in their Lincoln Park Primary classroom Wednesday afternoon and clap in unison as they count to 20. The ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Thousands of Florida kids who go to voluntary prekindergarten, or VPK, are not ready for kindergarten, according to the state. In Florida, 4- and 5-year-olds have free access to ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The cost of child care is on the rise and research shows it’s largely due to the pandemic. But in Florida, there is the option of free volunteer pre-kindergarten, also known as ...

For years I’ve driven across Brevard County and seen signs that say “free VPK.” I’ve often wondered, what exactly is VPK? I know it stands for voluntary prekindergarten, but what exactly is it? When I ...

On May 15, the Florida Department of Education released the 2017-2018 Voluntary Pre-K readiness rates, and statewide, only 58% of children who participated in VPK were ready for kindergarten. In ...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla — Enrollment for voluntary pre-kindergarten this fall is now open, but local programs are still seeing fewer students enroll than before the pandemic. VPK enrollment for early ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered changes to the state's VPK program. The Florida Department of Education said they released the 2017-2018 Voluntary Pre-k (VPK) readiness rates, ...

Hunter Geisel is a digital producer at CBS Miami. Hunter has previously produced digital content for local and national outlets, covering several topics from breaking news and current events to ...

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A local elementary school was recently recognized for the exceptional quality of its VPK program. Cedar Grove Elementary School earned the highest Voluntary ...

Florida's first voluntary prekindergarten program began in 2005. The program is free for all 4-year-olds. School-readiness test scores show VPK prepares children for school. This story was updated to ...