Percentage of Children Ages 4 and Up Enrolled in VPK
Current Value
71.00%
Definition
About This Indicator
Definition: The percentage of students in Sarasota County ages 4 and up enrolled in voluntary pre-kindergarten programs, out of the cohort of students entering kindergarten the following year. Due to the fact that some students may not attend kindergarten in the same school district as preschool, the values may have slight margins of error.
Source: The Early Learning Coalition and the Florida Department of Education
2025 Target: 75.68%
Story Behind the Curve
The percentage of children ages 4 and up enrolled in VPK was 71% in the 2014-2015 school year. This rate has decreased 4.6% from the 2011-2012 figure, and more recently has increased 3.2% from 2013-2014.
According to the Annie E. Casey foundation, “attending high-quality preschool can significantly contribute to the healthy development of young children, especially those who are in low-income families. Preschool attendance has long-term effects and important societal outcomes for students, such as: higher educational attainment, higher future incomes, reduced crime, and reduced teen pregnancy. Gaps in ‘school readiness”, which are impacted by access to high-quality early education, lead to future gaps in academic achievement. In the State of Florida, VPK is free for all 4 and 5 year olds. Barriers to enrollment may include lack of information about VPK programs, lack of access to childcare for pick-ups and drop-offs, and limited access to transportation to the VPK program.