CRESTVIEW — Cheri Pittman, the Farmer Street Childcare Network director, wants North Okaloosa County residents to know about the free voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 4- to 5-year-olds.
Particularly since the start date is just around the corner.
VPK prepares kids for kindergarten with pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills. The program, which Florida established in 2005 after state voters approved it in 2002, can give children from any economic situation an educational advantage, Pittman said.
"Without this program, some children would enter kindergarten without having the opportunity to develop their social, emotional and education skills," she said in email.
VPK providers kick off this year’s program Aug. 19, the same day that Okaloosa County Schools start. Crestview has 10 VPK providers; Holt and Baker each have one, according to the Early Learning Coalition of Okaloosa and Walton Counties website.
Class sizes are limited, so Pittman suggests interested parents quickly sign up.
Free VPK registration is available 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday and Wednesdays.
To get started, North Okaloosa residents ─ who must provide proof of Florida residency and their child's birth certificate ─ can visit Okaloosa-Walton Child Care Services in Crestview, 804 N. Lloyd St., or call 689-7885.
North Okaloosa County VPK providers
Alpha & Omega Christian Learning Center, 114 Jones Road, Crestview
Phone: 398-8450
Childcare Network 132, 1040 Farmer Street, Crestview
Phone: 683-1680
Childcare Network 183, 405 Brookmeade Drive, Crestview
Phone: 398-8806
First United Methodist Church, St. Mark Campus, 2250 PJ Adams Parkway, Crestview
Phone: 682-5280
Kid's Discovery 3, 2101 P.J. Adams Parkway, Crestview
Phone: 423-0449
Montessori Children's House, 1374 East Chestnut Avenue, Crestview
Phone: 682-3869
Okaloosa County School District, Southside Center, 650 South Pearl Street, Crestview
Phone: 689-7211
Shoal River Learning Center, 5190 S. Ferdon Boulevard, Crestview
Phone: 682-4700
Sunshine Corner, 2110 3rd Avenue, Crestview
Phone: 306-3137
Wesleyan, First United Methodist Church, 599 Eighth Avenue, Crestview
Phone: 682-7319
Lil' Gators Learning Center LLC, 5800 Washington Street, Baker
Phone: 537-2100
Holt Academy, 422 Highway 90 West, Holt
Phone: 537-8299
FIND IT ONLINE
See elc-ow.org for more information on the free voluntary pre-kindergarten program.
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Free Okaloosa voluntary pre-k program begins Aug. 19