VPK - Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program
AYA proudly participates in the Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) program, which is available to children in K4.
Eligibility and Program Details: Any Florida resident student who turns four by September 1 is eligible to apply for funding to cover a portion of their tuition and fees. The VPK program at AYA operates as a full-day program from 7:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday and Friday from 7:50 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. PART-TIME VPK IS NOT OFFERED.
Our full day program includes VPK from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies (QAIS) is from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. thus providing a comprehensive educational experience for 4-year-olds.
The Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program is specifically designed to prepare Florida's children for kindergarten, focusing on developing essential skills that lead to successful learning and reading. VPK provides rigorous standards for literacy skills, ensuring children receive appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes, and instruction from qualified educators. Parents have the flexibility to enroll their children in a year-long program that consists of 540 instructional hours, promoting a well-rounded and engaging learning experience. Local administration of the Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program, including registration of childcare providers and distribution of applications and information to parents, is facilitated by the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County.
We are dedicated to fostering a nurturing and stimulating environment that cultivates young learners, preparing them for a successful academic journey. For more information and enrollment details, please contact our school registrar.
VPK registrations will be conducted online/electronically ONLY!
Eligibility
VPK is available to all children residing in the state of Florida who are four years old. To be eligible for the program, your child must be four years old by September 1st of the academic year you are applying.
Please note that children may participate in the VPK program only once. Once a child is eligible to enter kindergarten, they are no longer eligible to participate in VPK. If you have any doubts about your child's eligibility, please contact the Hillsborough County VPK Office at (813) 740-4713.
Registration
To enroll your eligible four-year-old child in AYA's VPK program, parents/legal guardians must follow these steps:
STEP 1 – Complete the Child Application Form (AWI-VPK Form 01) and provide proof of your child's age/date of birth. Acceptable documents include:
- Birth record or certificate
- Passport
- A certificate of arrival in the US showing the age
- A valid military-dependent ID card
- A shot/immunization record indicating the date of birth signed by a public health officer or licensed practicing physician
STEP 2 - Register your child with the Early Learning Coalition in the county where the VPK program will be attended. For example, if your child will attend VPK in Hillsborough County but resides in Pasco County, you must register with the Hillsborough County Early Learning Coalition.
STEP 3 - Bring the completed Child Application Form (AWI-VPK Form 01), along with proof of age and proof of Florida residency, to a VPK registration location. Meet with a representative of ELCHC who will verify the information. Upon verification, you will receive a VPK Certificate of Eligibility.
STEP 4 - Finally, deliver the VPK Certificate of Eligibility (obtained in Step 3) to your chosen approved VPK provider, completing the registration process for your child.
Teacher/Child Ratio
At AYA, we maintain teacher/child ratios that meet the requirements set by the Hillsborough County Child Care Licensing, VPK, and FKC (Florida KidCare)
Licensing requires the following minimum adult-child ratios:
- Three-year-olds: 1:15
- Four and five-year-olds: 1:20
VPK-accredited centers require the following minimum adult-child ratios:
- Three-year-olds: 1:15 (group size of 20) w/FT Assistant available
- Four-year-olds: 1:10 (maximum group size of 18)