The VPK program at Oakland Avenue Charter School (OACS) was first established on this campus in 2008 by a private provider to give children a strong foundation for school. In 2020, OACS began operating the program directly, continuing its commitment to early childhood education.
Our high-quality Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten classrooms are designed to develop essential pre-reading, pre-math, language, and social skills, setting students up for success in Kindergarten and beyond. By fostering these foundational skills at an early age, children are more likely to excel academically and socially throughout their school years.
About the VPK Program
The Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) is a free prekindergarten program for Florida residents who are 4 years old on or before September 1 of the school year they are enrolling for.
At OACS, our school-year VPK program consists of 540 instructional hours, running from 8:15 AM – 11:30 AM, funded through the VPK Voucher from the State of Florida.
We only offer a full-day VPK program from 8:15 AM – 3:15 PM, which includes VPK Wrap Care from 11:30 AM – 3:15 PM at an additional cost. During that time, the VPK Wrap Care program extends the VPK day with enriching activities in a structured and nurturing environment. OACS does NOT offer a half-day VPK option—all students are required to participate in the full-day VPK program.
VPK Wrap Care Schedule (11:30 AM – 3:15 PM)
- Lunch (11:30 AM – 12:00 PM): Children enjoy lunch while developing social and self-care skills.
- Cleanup/Restroom/Library Time 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM): A time to clean up after lunch, use restrooms and sit on mats with library books and start winding down.
- Quiet Time (12:30 PM – 2:00 PM): A calm, restful period where children can nap or enjoy quiet time and rest their minds and bodies while listening to soft music. This is state mandated for their age group.
- Flexible Learning Time (1:30 PM – 3:15 PM): Engaging activities such as arts and crafts, cooperative games, and center-based play foster creativity and social interaction.
For family convenience, OACS dismissal procedures allows VPK Wrap Care students to be picked up through the OACS car line, alongside any older siblings attending the school.
Benefits of Early Education and the VPK Program
- Critical Brain Development: The most significant growth and development in a child’s brain occurs before the age of five.
- Foundation for Learning: Early childhood education helps children develop key skills such as attentiveness and the ability to follow directions—essential for success in school and life.
- School Readiness: Children in high-quality early learning programs develop stronger language skills, score higher on school-readiness tests, and exhibit better social and behavioral skills when entering Kindergarten.
- Love for Learning: VPK enhances what children learn at home and fosters a lifelong passion for learning.
Why Choose the VPK Program at OACS?
Our VPK program uniquely prepares students for a seamless transition into Kindergarten at OACS by:
- Familiarizing students with the OACS campus, culture, and community.
- Introducing pre-cursors to the curriculum used in OACS Kindergarten through 5th grade, including:
- Heggerty Phonemic Awareness
- UFLI Foundations
- Orton-Gillingham (OG) Approach
- OACS Kindergarten standards and expectations
By choosing VPK at OACS, your child will gain an early advantage in literacy, math, and social skills—ensuring they are well-prepared for Kindergarten and beyond.
Enrollment
Click here Enrollment Enrollment for enrollment information.
For any other questions, please Contact OACS VPK Program.
