Page 27 - COVID Guiding Document

Back to School Risk Reduction Strategies

Modified Activities

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)

✓ The VPK and Head Start programs will continue to be offered in select elementary schools. The VPK and Head Start programs provide

options that engage students in developmentally appropriate learning in five program models. Information about program models,

eligibility requirements, and enrollment is located on the Department of Early Childhood Education website: https://

www.palmbeachschools.org/departments/early_childhood_education

• Parents/guardians continue to have the option to choose Distance Learning or Brick and Mortar instruction for their children in the VPK

program models.

• The District’s VPK program provides a minimum of 3 free VPK hours of instruction

each day. Parents of students enrolled in the VPK program have the option to

participate in enrichment hours to create a 6-hour or 10-hour seamless day,

depending on the program model type.

• All VPK programs offer enrichment hours up to 2:00 p.m., and when the District

opens for face-to-face learning, parent fees that have been waived will no longer be

waived. Select program models offer enrichment hours that are funded through

grants and special funding, which have specific enrollment eligibility requirements.

VPK Wraparound hours offered from 2:00 p.m. up to 6:00 p.m. are also available at

select schools.

• Parents have the opportunity to withdraw and transfer their children to another VPK

program if they choose to do so. (Early learning instruction began for District VPK and Head Start services on August 31, 2020, with the

first day of school. VPK instructional hours will seamlessly begin on September 21, 2020, with no change in services for students, with 3

hours and 17 minutes of VPK services provided each day.)

• Daily attendance is extremely important for VPK and Head Start students, and attendance will be recorded.

School District of Palm Beach County PAGE 27
ICSP Updated 2/9/21