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Dr. Maria Vazquez: Open enrollment for voluntary pre-Kindergarten begins today. Stay tuned. I will share some important information on what you need to know.
Announcer: Welcome to Mondays with Maria, presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Hi everyone. Nancy Alvarez is back with me. Nancy, the last time we spoke about kindergarten registration and now we are enrolling our VPK students, which is also a nervous time for our parents.
Nancy Alvarez: It is. It's nerve wracking. Absolutely. We can't forget about our four year olds and for some it really is their first time away from home for a good part of the day.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Yes. And it can be emotional for everyone, but once they walk into the classroom, that love of learning really begins. Our program focuses on early reading, writing, math, and social skills.
Nancy Alvarez: So as we know there are different kinds of VPK programs. And it can be a little overwhelming for new parents who've never been through the process before. So let's talk about all three.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: So we have VPK program that runs all year. We have a VPK program that runs just for the summer and for students with special needs, we provide specialized services at both the year round and the one during the summer. And that includes one-on-one instruction or small group instruction.
Nancy Alvarez: It's so important right, that we serve those kids as well. VPK is a voluntary program Yes. Funded by the state of Florida and it's not at every elementary school, is that correct?
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Correct. We currently have a list of schools that offer VPK for the 24-25 school year on our website ocps.net.
Nancy Alvarez: Alright, let's talk about age requirements. All four year olds.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Yes. State law requires that a child be four years old on or before September 1st during that current school year, and parents must complete an online application through the Office of Early Learnings family portal. The link is on your screen. Familyservices.FloridaEarlyLearning.com.
Nancy Alvarez: Classrooms fill up quickly. Parents need to know that. So it's important that you not wait because you may have to be put on a waiting list and nobody wants that.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Yes. This is not open seating. They're limited seats. So parents, please don't delay register today. I can't wait to meet our new students for the 24-25 school year. Before we go, we want to remind you that it is also open enrollment for the Florida Prepaid College Plan.
Nancy Alvarez: Yeah. In fact, right now they have lowered prepaid plan monthly prices by up to 25% through April 30th. The prepaid plans are protected and offer flexibility in state or out. At public or private colleges and universities, trade and technical schools. And really it is worry free. You can cancel any time for a full refund or transfer to another family member.
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Thank you all for watching. Next week is spring break, so I will see you back March 25th for another Mondays with Maria. Be safe and enjoy some rest and relaxation so you can come back strong for the last quarter of the 23-24 school year.
Nancy Alvarez: Wow, the last quarter already?
Dr. Maria Vazquez: Yes. Have a great spring break.
Nancy Alvarez: See you soon.
Announcer: Mondays with Maria's presented by Addition Financial Credit Union, count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at Additionfi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit theslice.ocps.net. I'm your announcer Deivarsi Demezier, a senior at Apopka High School. Thanks for watching and have a great week.