VPK and K3
Florida Voluntary Preschool Program
Florida’s VPK program provides for 540 hours of school readiness instruction for any child who turns four years of age on or before September 1st of the current school year and enrolls in an approved program. A Certificate of Eligibility and all other necessary documentation must be received by our office before your child begins the VPK program. Lighthouse Christian Academy’s VPK program falls under the jurisdiction of the Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway, and, therefore, will follow all guidelines and requirements set forth by the coalition. Ms. Sherry Land has been with LCA since 2005. She works with our 3 year old children; with love and consistency, she prepares them for the VPK program.
The 3 year old Preschool and 4 year old VPK at LCA are learning classrooms and will follow the regular LCA school calendar
holidays, events, and policies.
LCA claims religious exemption from state licensure and exceeds the minimum requirements of health, sanitation, and safety (s.402.316(1), Florida statues). LCA staff also meet all necessary background screening requirements (ss.402.305, 402.3055, 435.04, and 435.05, Florida Statutes).
Admissions and Enrollment Policies
LCA admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to the students at the school. However, all children are accepted on a trial bases. We reserve the right to dismiss any child that we feel we cannot help in our type of specialty school. A student ‘s immunization card and health record are required as part of the admissions process. No student may begin preschool without the proper documentation on file. In order to enroll in our 3 year old program, students must turn three years of age on or before September 1st of the current school year. Also, your child must be completely potty-trained. No exceptions will be made. Our preschool continually strives to be excellent in all things. Not only are we monitored by several external organizations, but we are also committed to self-monitoring in order to assure compliance with state-approved licensing and accrediting agencies.
Important Information
Attendance:
Attendance for 3 year old Preschool: You are not required to bring a Dr. Note for absences in the K3 class, however please remember attendance is vital for your child success in this class.
LCA is graded on how well our students do in the K-5 entrance test, so the VPK program follows the same STRICT guidelines as all other grades.
* A student may not miss more than 20 days during a school year. A student may be asked to withdraw if the total absences exceed 20.
* There must be an excuse note on file for each absence. Please use the form designation for documenting absences. All excuse notes must be signed by a parent/guardian.
* If a student has more than seven absences in the same month, the absence must be excused by someone other than a parent, i.e. a doctor.
Contact Information:
It is imperative that you keep us up to date on any changes of cell phones/work numbers.
It is important that we be able to contact you, if necessary, while your child is at school.
Dress Code:
*Preschool students should be dressed in age and weather appropriate, comfortable clothing that they can handle themselves. Overalls and belts are discouraged because preschoolers have a very difficult time managing them and this leads to frustration and an increase in toileting accidents. Elastic-waist pants, shorts and skorts are best.
*Clothing should be neat and clean, but not clothing that is not ok to play in! Students will be exposed to many different play experiences including play-doh, painting, coloring, pasting, etc. Weather permitting, students will spend a portion of their day playing outside and is likely to get dirty.
*Shoes should be comfortable and completely closed in. For your child’s safety, sandals, flip flops, and shoes or boots that have a heel are not permitted.
Meals and Snacks:
All students must bring a morning snack to school. Students who stay past 11:30 will need to bring a packed lunch, but nothing that needs to be heated up. Hot lunches are available daily for purchase. Ask your teacher for more info.
Rest Time:
All preschoolers who stay past 11:30 AM will need a small pillow and blanket for rest time. These items must be small enough to fit inside your child’s cubby.
*VPK students staying past the 11:30 AM pickup time will be charged a $10 per day fee.
All preschool students must be completely potty-trained. Children still have mishaps so we require two complete change of clothes on campus.
3 Year Old Preschool Class
Tuition:
Our three year old program is a preschool; therefore, it is based on a 175 day school year. The annual school year tuition has been divided into 10 payments due the first of each month, August – May. All invoices must be paid within 10 days. Past Due account will result in suspension of an account until balance is made current.
Students must be three years old by Sept. 1st and FULLY POTTY TRAINED
Please choose one option:
* Full Time (5 days a week) – $375.00 a month, paid the first of each month.
* Part Time (3 days a week) – $325.00 a month, paid the first of each month. Part-time students are placed on a waiting list; these students are only placed in the class if space is available.
* Part Time (5 days a week, 8:00 am-11:30 am) – $325.00 a month, paid the first of each month. Part-time students are placed on a waiting list; these students are only placed in the class if space is available.
*** Full Time students will receive priority of spots available. Followed by Part Time students.
3 year old Preschool state required documents that must be returned with the application packet:
* Birth Certificate
* Physical (DH 3040)
* Immunization (DH 680)
4 Year Old VPK Class
In the spring of 2005, the governor of Florida signed a bill stating that the State of Florida will pay for 540 hours of instruction for any four year old who enrolls in an approved prekindergarten center. LCA offers a 175 day school year; therefore the state will pay for three hours of instruction per day.
You must register your child with the Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Gateway. Complete registration online at https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com or call 1-866-752-9770. Once you have registered with the Coalition, they will give you a Certificate of Eligibility. Private pay is available for the VPK class.
The Early Learning Coalition pays for instruction everyday until 11:30am. You can pick your student up promptly in the pickup line at 11:30am every day or you can leave your student for the remainder of the day for a $10 per day charge that will be invoiced at the end of every month. All invoices must be paid within 10 days. Past Due account will result in suspension of an account until balance is made current.
Please choose one option:
* 8:00 AM-11:30 AM – No Charge
* 11:30 AM-3:00 PM – $10. Daily Charge
*** Full Time students will receive priority of spots available. Followed by Part Time students.
VPK state required documents that must be returned with your application packet:
* Birth Certificate
* Physical (DH 3040)
* Immunization (DH 680)
* VPK Certificate
