Last verified: October 2026. Checked against Step Up For Students' 2026-27 award tables, handbooks and purchasing guides.
Who runs VPK in Lee County?
The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, which serves Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties, oversees local VPK and School Readiness providers. Parents get a VPK Certificate of Eligibility from the state's Family Portal, then give it to whichever provider they pick.
Can my child do VPK at a Fort Myers private school?
Yes, if that school is a registered VPK provider. Many Lee private schools enroll students from pre-K upward, but enrolling pre-K is not the same as offering VPK, so ask the school directly. A VPK child who stays on for kindergarten moves onto the state scholarship at the K-3 rate.
How many hours does VPK cover?
The school-year program is 540 instructional hours and the summer program is 300. Full-day care around those hours is the family's cost unless School Readiness applies.
| What it is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| Free for every 4-year-old | Income-tested |
| A set number of instructional hours | All-day child care |
| Offered by private and church providers too | Limited to public schools |