Page 84 - FY24_Student AndFamilyHandbookEnglish_9-26_23

VIRTUAL EDUCATION
Policy 5.017

Florida provides virtual education as an educational choice in all public-school districts. The District’s Virtual Education
Program provides various options for online instruction.
▪ K-12 students have access to academically appropriate courses online. There are multiple virtual options for
students; the most current options at all levels can be viewed at www.palmbeachvirtual.org. Enrollment windows
are open a minimum of 90 days prior to the first day of each school year.
▪ Palm Beach Virtual School is available to support students with online enrollment and with questions regarding
the online education selections most appropriate for each student. Courses are available for full-time and
part-time enrollment for grades K-12, including a high school diploma program.
▪ The Palm Beach County School District provides an online course recovery solution in all middle schools and online
credit recovery courses in all high school and alternative schools. It is important to note that credit recovery
courses are not approved by the NCAA.
▪ For additional information, visit www.palmbeachvirtual.org or call 561-790-9820.

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN AND HEAD START PROGRAMS
F.S. § 1002.53

What is Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK)?
Florida was one of the first states in the country to offer free prekindergarten for all 4-year-old children regardless of
income. Data collected by the Florida Department of Education shows that children who participate in VPK are more
ready for kindergarten than those children who do not participate in VPK. Parent choice is a priority and parents can
select from several VPK program options available in a variety of educational settings offered by private and public-school
early learning providers.

Who is eligible for VPK?
To be eligible for VPK, children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before September 1 of the current school year.
If their fourth birthday falls from February 2 through September 1 of the current year, parents can postpone enrolling
their child in VPK that year and wait until the following year when their child is 5.

What are the VPK program options?
Parents may choose to have their children attend a VPK program offered during the school year or during the summer,
but not both. The school-year VPK program offers 540 free instructional hours and the summer VPK program offers 300
free instructional hours. Parents of age-eligible children with special needs have an option outside of a traditional
classroom setting – the VPK Specialized Instructional Services program (VPK-SIS).

How does the District offer the VPK program?
The District offers both the school-year and summer VPK programs in many, but not all elementary schools. The lead
instructors are certified teachers and most assistant instructors have a credential. The curriculum is aligned with the
Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards. The District’s school-year VPK program offers 540 free instructional
hours as a morning 3-hour session. Parents may choose to have their children attend enrichment hours that extend the
VPK program hours, creating a seamless 6-hour day. Some schools have funding sources that pay for the enrichment
hours and other schools offer the enrichment hours on a tuition basis.

The schools with free enrichment hours have restrictions, such as a high academic need and living in a Title I school’s
boundary area. VPK wraparound hours are offered from 2:00 PM up to 6:00 PM in some schools on a tuition basis. The

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