Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Apr. 23 that more than 13,000 families have joined the partnership between Florida’s Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program and the Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans within the first four months of its launch. The initiative allows families to apply for VPK and open a Florida Investment 529 Plan account at the same time, receiving $100 to begin saving for higher education.
The partnership aims to make it easier for families in Florida to start planning for their children’s educational futures from an early age. By combining early childhood education enrollment with college savings opportunities, state officials say they hope to encourage more parents to take proactive steps toward preparing for future academic expenses.
“We’ve kept our world-class public colleges and universities affordable for Florida residents, and our new partnership between the VPK program and Florida Prepaid is already helping thousands of families save for higher education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “More than 13,000 families have already taken the opportunity to create college savings accounts while applying for VPK in the four months since this partnership launched.”
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas said, “By connecting Florida’s VPK program with Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans, we’re making it easier than ever for families to start planning for their child’s future. Higher education opens doors to new opportunities, and this partnership empowers parents to take an important first step toward saving, helping ensure more Florida students are prepared for lifelong success.”
Kevin Thompson, Executive Director of the Florida Prepaid College Board, added: “For many families, the hardest part of saving for college is simply getting started. This partnership meets parents right where they are—at the very start of their child’s education—and makes that first step easier. By connecting VPK enrollment with Florida Prepaid, we’re helping families take action early and plan for the future from the beginning. It’s a simple but powerful idea: when families start early, more opportunities are within reach later.”
The Voluntary Prekindergarten program has served over 3.1 million children since its inception in the 2005-2006 school year with a goal of giving every child a strong educational foundation.
The Florida Department of Education operates from its headquarters in Tallahassee and oversees public education across all levels statewide. The department partners with parents, educators, and communities throughout Florida as described on its official website, working together to improve student achievement through comprehensive programs spanning K-12 schools through higher learning.
Support offered by the department includes academic resources as well as school choice options and professional training initiatives designed both for educators and students according to official information. Its focus remains on advancing student success across public schools while administering programs related not only to K-12 but also career development opportunities statewide as outlined online.
