PreK/Preschool info and help (Kissimmee, Trinity: licensed, best, teachers)

[jklivin]

Can someone give me some advice about your PreK system in Osceola County? This is so different from Ohio. We just had plain old "preschool" there. It was ages 3-kind age and was all private pay. It was also cheaper than what I have seen here.

I was planning on sending my daughter to preschool maybe 3 days a week next year. I feel like 5 days is way too much for her. I guess the state funded system if 5 days only? The private church schools I have looked at are more expensive than I wanted to pay. Are there other options I am missing?
Thanks

[cmj_fla]

There are a lot of private schools that have the VPK (as in the free program). I know that Trinity Lutheran, Most of the La Petites, Community Presbyterian Preschool in Celebration and many more. Here is a link to the schools that had it this year: http://www.elcosceola.org/FORMS/07-0...%20Profile.pdf

Although most (if not all) are going to be 5 days, it is only for 3 hours a day. IMO, I believe this is a perfect amount of time for their age. I have signed my son up for public Pre-school only because I got an early appointment and got to pick the school to send him and decided on Pleasant Hill Elementary. They give a choice of a morning or afternoon class. Here is the link to sign up for an appointment with the county: 0708info (http://www.osceola.k12.fl.us/depts/extday/0809info.htm - broken link)


One thing to keep in mind is that with the VPK program is that the teachers are not required to have a Teaching Certificate. I think you would get a better chance of getting a Certified teacher with the public schools than the private ones from experience.

If you can afford it, the best, best, best Pre-school around is the First United Methodist of Kissimmee. They have a 3 day program and one of the best teachers in Central Florida teaches it (pm me if you want her name). It's a little on the expensive side but cheaper than a 5 day program that isn't VPK. Here is a link to their site: First United Methodist School Kissimmee, Florida

I have done this 3 times now so I pretty much know this process inside and out. Let me know if you have any further questions and good luck!

[hunter530]

Just wanted to add as a VPK teacher you do have to have a CDA (Child Development Associate) a 2 yr degree. Also, you must have multiple specific to VPK 30 hr plus classes and multiple literacy classes as well as be trained in the Doors to Discovery literacy curriculum (4 hr class). Each teacher is required to have 25 in-service training hrs per school year which have to be done NOT during school hrs and be a licensed company. While anyone with a 4yr degree or teaching certificate can teach any age level; a teacher that has specifically taken their CDA in birth to 5 yrs and has met all the VPK training requirements will be much better equipped to teach 4 & 5 yr olds everything that is expected of them to learn in a 3hr program. You cannot just walk off the street & teach VPK.