Summer VPK 2025

Prekindergarten

Summer 2025

Two programs are available to select students entering kindergarten in the Fall.

Option 1. Summer VPK

Locations: Emerald Shores, Fordham Early Learning, Shady Hill

IMPORTANT REMINDER: To be eligible for VPK in the Summer of 2025, children must be 5-years-old on or before September 1, 2025 and attending kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.

Applications are open and will remain open until seats are filled.

In order to be considered for a seat in the VPK Lottery, the following steps must be completed:

• Step #1: Obtain your child’s Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the online Parent Portal located on the Early Learning Coalition website:  https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/
• Step #2: Complete the New Student Online Enrollment (NSOE) process for Marion County Public Schools.

  Current MCPS Families: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedumarioncofl/skyportlogin

  New to MCPS Families: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedumarioncofl/skyenroll.w

  After completing the NSOE application, contact your base school’s guidance department, as they will process the application and assign your student with a Student ID#. 

• Step #3: Use your child’s Student ID # to complete the School Choice Application/VPK Lottery: https://applytomarionschools.com/
• First time users: create an account on the right side of the page.
  • Upload your signed and dated Certificate of Eligibility (DIGITAL SIGNATURES ARE NOT ACCEPTED). All other information on the certificate will be completed by the school district.
• Step #4: As applications are processed, offering emails will be sent out.  Offered seats must be accepted within ten days. 

Option 2: Summer Bridge Program

Locations: Fordham Early Learning Academy, Emerald Shores Elementary,

Shady Hill Elementary

WHAT IS THE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM?

Summer Bridge is a free program offered by the school district to help eligible exiting VPK students get ready for kindergarten by providing additional instructional support emphasizing foundational early literacy skills. Summer Bridge is offered in the summer before kindergarten. Your district’s Summer Bridge program includes:

• Qualified instructors
• Four hours of face-to-face instruction a day
• Small class sizes
• Developmentally appropriate instruction with a focus on emergent literacy skills

WHY SHOULD I ENROLL MY CHILD IN THE SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM?

The results of the final VPK FAST assessment indicate that your child may benefit from additional instructional support to get ready for kindergarten. The Summer Bridge program can help your child gain important skills so they can start kindergarten off strong.

• Step #1: Retrieve Statement of Eligibility for the Summer Bridge program which implies one of the following eligibility criteria have been met:
• Your child scored below the 10th percentile
• Your child did not participate in the assessment because they are a non-English speaker.
• Your child did not complete the practice questions so they could not move forward to take the assessment.
• Your child did not participate in the assessment because it was inappropriate

  This is required for enrollment.

• Step 2: Complete the New Student Online Enrollment (NSOE) process for Marion County Public Schools.

  Current MCPS Families: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedumarioncofl/skyportlogin

  New to MCPS Families: https://skyward.iscorp.com/scripts/wsisa.dll/WService=wsedumarioncofl/skyenroll.w

  After completing the NSOE application, contact your base school’s guidance department, as they will process the application and assign your student with a Student ID#. 

• Step #3: Use your child’s Student ID # to complete the School Choice application: https://applytomarionschools.com/ Upload the Statement of Eligibility to your application for approval.