|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) is reimagining its prekindergarten Magnet offerings with the launch of new Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Magnet programs.
These innovative programs provide specialized, high-quality learning experiences and will be accessible through the standard VPK Application process that opened Oct. 1. The new VPK Magnet programs offer innovative, well-rounded educational approaches, including Montessori, Reggio Emilia-inspired programming, and Global Education models. These three options provide students with a strong, specialized foundation and allow them to seamlessly continue with their Magnet program in kindergarten at the same school without reapplying.
Investing in early childhood education has a profound impact on long-term academic success, and M-DCPS is Your Best Choice for early childhood program offerings. Research highlights the significance of these formative years, with 80 percent of a child’s brain already developed by age 3 — and by age 5, that number rises to 90 percent. This period is essential for building early literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills.
Children who attend high-quality Pre-K programs are more likely to become strong readers, succeed in school, and graduate from high school and college.
The reimagined VPK Magnet offerings provide specialized approaches designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning.
The Reggio Emilia-Inspired VPK philosophy views the child as the protagonist of his or her own learning and is being offered at Venetian Parc Academy, our newest school, located in southwest Miami-Dade County. The curriculum focuses on the creativity of each child, allowing them to demonstrate their learning through various “languages” such as dance, arts drama or through other forms of expression.
The Montessori-Inspired VPK program, offered at three schools across the District, (Joella C. Good Elementary, Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary, and Scott Lake Elementary) encourages individualized learning and self-direction. Families can expect a “prepared environment” where the child is free to choose from specially designed, hands-on materials.
Our Global Education VPK offered at iPrep Academy provides a well-rounded, student-centered approach that emphasizes critical thinking and global awareness.
These specialized Magnet programs are offered in addition to our comprehensive range of standard early childhood options. Best of all, M-DCPS VPK programs are available at 212 schools throughout Miami-Dade County.
We have different types of VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) programs. VPK Title I, which is state-funded and free of charge for families for the full-day program from 8:20 a.m. until 1:50 p.m.
At non-Title I schools, VPK is free in the morning but there is the ability for students to access the full day through 1:50 p.m. with a nominal fee. The VPK inclusion model, is comprised of half of the class being students with unique abilities and the other half serving as role models.
We also have Head Start VPK and early Head Start (for 3-year-olds) for our income-eligible families. The application process for our Head Start and Early Head Start programs is through the district office. Families can call our office for assistance or go to the Head Start school of their choice. There are coordinators at the schools to assist parents with applications for Head Start.
To apply for VPK, parents can go to https://www3.dadeschools.net/home and go through the parent portal to log in with their Apple ID or a Google email. To be eligible for VPK a child must turn four years old on or before Sept. 1. On Oct. 1, VPK applications opened for the 2026-27 school year. Parents may apply for up to three different schools. Families must also obtain their Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by visiting VPKHelp.org and submitting the required documents. The COE application opens in January 2026.
Furthermore, we have early childhood education programs for children from birth to 4 years old in eight of our high schools. This program features high school students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) track earning their Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials through hands-on learning and practical experience working with young children while still in high school.
To explore all of these pathways and possibilities for families across Miami-Dade County Public Schools, visit https://mdcpsearlychildhood.net as well as https://yourchoicemiami.org.
Lynn Maceyras is Administrative Director, Office of Early Childhood Programs, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
ABOUT US:
For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. Miami’s Community Newspapers offers daily news, online resources, podcasts and other multimedia content to keep readers informed. With topics ranging from local news to community events, Miami’s Community Newspapers is the ideal source for staying up to date with the latest news and happenings in the area.
This family-owned media company publishes more than a dozen neighborhood publications, magazines, special sections on their websites, newsletters, as well as distributing them in print throughout Miami Dade County from Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, South Miami, Kendall, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Homestead. Each online publication and print editions provide comprehensive coverage of local news, events, business updates, lifestyle features, and local initiatives within its respective community.
Additionally, the newspaper has exclusive Miami community podcasts, providing listeners with an in-depth look into Miami’s culture. Whether you’re looking for local Miami news, or podcasts, Miami’s Community Newspapers has you covered. For more information, be sure to check out: https://communitynewspapers.com.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Michael@communitynewspapers.com or Grant@communitynewspapers.com.
