- November 16, 2024
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Kyla Bowman draws her impression of a germ.
Allie Lafollette and Jaidyn Ahmadi play with building blocks together.
Stephanie Jamison gives Samuel Ferreira a big high five for learning about germs.
Kyla Bowman shows off her mommy skills.
Danny Thorn busies himself with building a wall. Photography by Anastasia Pagello
Voluntary pre-kindergarten enrollment has shown a significant decrease of applicants within Volusia and Flagler counties this year. The number of children enrolled have decreased from 756 in Flagler and 3,787 in Volusia in the 2013-14 school year to 683 applicants in Flagler County and 3,346 in Volusia in 2015.
VPK was implemented in Flagler County in 2005. As of 2014, every public elementary school in Flagler County dedicated at least one classroom to the VPK program. Many other private organizations are also available in Flagler County who offer VPK services. The program is completely free of charge for the families. VPK children learn cognitive and social skills as well as emotional development.
Executive Director of Sunshine Academy of Flagler Dmitriy Shevchenko believes a classroom setting can benefit a child by consistently having class five days a week and at the same time every day.
Shevchenko, whose facility is on Old Kings Road, explained the importance of setting a basis for a child prior to starting kindergarten. The expectations of children have grown, so by the time they are in kindergarten they are expected to know the alphabet as well as shapes and colors. VPK provides an attentive one-on-one learning experience for the children with small class sizes and multiple teachers.
Schevchenko believes that enrollment numbers have noticeably decreased at Sunshine Academy from 53 students in 2013 to only 32 students currently because of the lack of awareness within the community.
“Families need to be aware of their options," he said. "VPK provides a free, safe and educational alternative to homeschooling. Placing children early on in a classroom setting instills important cognitive, social and emotional skills. It provides a chance for children to develop trusting relationships with their teachers as well as fellow classmates. The program paves the way for a child to achieve success in later years."
Families can choose between the 540-hour program held during the school year or 300 hours throughout the summer. With either option, the child goes to VPK for three hours a day for five days a week. A third option is also available through the VPK program for children to go to family child care homes. This allows the child to still be in a home setting while also benefiting from having other children to interact with.
D.J. Lebo, executive director of Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia, hopes to eventually see every eligible child receive an education through VPK.
VPK is administered through the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties. Guardians must obtain a VPK certificate of eligibility. To register visit elcfv.org/families/vpk/#registration. Guardians of the child must provide the child’s birth certificate or immunization record signed by a physician and proof of Florida residence through a driver’s license. A child is only eligible this year if they turn 4 on or before Tuesday, Sep. 1, 2015. All children are eligible for VPK regardless of household income.
