I just saw an add in a local magazine that 15 local elementary schools are offering a program for 4 year olds in Marion County.

Here's the basics...

Certified teachers and support in all classrooms
runs June 11-August 6
parents must provide transportation (no buses)
Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm
Breakfast, lunch and snacks provided

contact the Elementary Education office @ 352-236-0575 for more info.

There are also a few private providers too that offer extended care during the whole week (Fridays too) You can go to the Early Learning Coalition of Marion county's website for a list of summer providers. Also, if anyone is interested in a shorter school day 8-2 Monday-Friday there is a private provider for that as well.

I heard that the elementary schools offering VPK are only available to those 4 year olds that will be 5 by Sept. 1st and ready for K (elementary school).
Has anyone else heard this? I would much rather my daughter go to an actual school for VPK, but she just turned 4 and will not be ready for school until next Sept.

Yes, that is correct and most elementary schools only offer summer VPK not year long. With year long your child gets 540 hours of school...in the summer 300. There are some great private providers out there. Some even have degreed teachers teaching during the school year. You can also check out scores on the Early Learning Coalition's website to see which ones are making the grade so to speak although not all providers have been participating long enough to get scores yet.

Also, If you attend the regular school year VPK program you can't also attend the summer program right after. Your child has to attend one or the other.

I wish the public elementary schools had this program during the regular school year.