Your child is about to begin an exciting time of learning.  The Walton County School District Prekindergarten Program is dedicated to providing a developmentally appropriate program for young children. This program is designed to provide a compatible environment, adult interaction, and active learning experiences that aid your child in developing the skills, habits and attributes that contribute to a successful school career.

The Walton County School District Prekindergarten program goals include:

• Providing a safe and nurturing environment that will meet the physical, emotional, social and cognitive domains of each individual child;

• Providing a wide variety of activities that will facilitate the construction of knowledge;

• Encourage children to act independently in their explorations of material and performance of activities;

• Provide tasks and activities that are developmentally and age appropriate;

• Provide a language-rich environment and multi-cultural environment;

• Provide challenging situations that encourage problem solving and develop critical and creative thinking.

Walton County School District strives to create safe, high quality educational environments where students can gain the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve family and personal goals. 

The Voluntary Prekindergarten Program has 2 program options:

• School Year VPK 540 Hours

• Summer VPK 300 Hours

Parents can choose one of the two VPK program types.  The school year and summer VPK program types deliver classroom instruction and are available to all eligible students.  VPK is voluntary and funded by the State of Florida.  It is not offered at every public school.

Age Requirement

Children must live in Florida and be 4 on or before September 1 of the school year they enroll.  Parents whose children are born between February 2 and September 1 of the calendar year may postpone enrolling their 4-year-old until the following year when their child is 5. 

Parents must complete an online application through the Early Learning Coalition of The Emerald Coast.   https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com

Enrollment Information 

Parents are required to enroll at their local public school.  Proof of residency and birth are required at application.

Summer 2026 and School Year 2026-2027

Please follow the directions below to apply for VPK.  The application process is with The Early Learning Coalition of The Emerald Coast.

• Visit https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com  select APPLY FOR VPK

• Create a new VPK application

• Fill in all required fields marked with a red *

• Upload requested documents

• Once your application has been reviewed and processed you will receive an email.  

• Check your email for Certificate of Eligibility and print it out.

Summer 2026 VPK Registration Dates: February 17 - 27, 2026
VPK 2026-2027 Registration Dates: March 2 - 13, 2026

Required documents for Registration:

• Certificate of Eligibility from Early Learning Coalition of The Emerald Coast

• Child’s Birth Certificate / Passport

• Child’s Social Security Card (recommended)

• Parent/Guardian Photo ID

• Proof of Florida residency No older than 30 days

• Current Florida Certificate of Immunizations (Florida form DH680) Health Department

• Current Florida School Entry Physical (no less than 1 year from date of entry)

Your application packet must have all documents present for placement consideration. 

No partial applications will be accepted. 

You must register at the campus your child will attend. 

If a classroom reaches the max capacity of students during the school year program and summer program, then parents have the option of being placed on a wait list.  Students from this list will be added to the class throughout the school year as openings arise.

Parents are required to sign the VPK Attendance Policy at the beginning of the year.  The VPK Program funding is based on student attendance.  The State of Florida requires parents sign the Child Attendance at the end of each month.

Please register at the campus you wish to attend.

Walton County School District VPK Program 26-27 School Year locations:

Bay School*
118 Gilmore Rd
Santa Rosa Beach, FL  32459 
850-622-5051   

Freeport Learning Center * 
360 Kylea Laird Dr
Freeport, FL 32439 
850-892-1293

Mossy Head School 
13270 Highway 90 West 
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433 
850-892-1290 

WISE Center- Summer 2026 only * 
555 Walton Road
Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 
850-892-1111

Paxton School  
21893 U.S. Hwy 331 North 
Paxton, FL 32538   
850-892-1230

DeFuniak Springs Learning Center- New VPK campus beginning 2026-27 school year
(register @ WISE for the new DeFuniak Springs Learning Center- opening in August 2026)
150 Sheldon Avenue
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
850-892-1111

*denotes summer VPK location

• SchoolPay -

  Use this to pay for after care

• Child Find PreK screenings -

  Developmental Screenings for children 3-5yrs