The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is accepting applications for Voluntary PreK (VPK) funding until 4 pm on Jan. 30.

The application period opened at 8 am on Jan. 2.  MDE will conduct the following Open Office Hours to explain the application process, starting this week:

MREA recommends that districts without VPK apply, in case this is the strategy that will continue to be used to grow access to early learning programming. There are no new dollars currently available for new VPK schools. Apply. 

MREA advocates for a change in the Minnesota’s approach to early learning that provides more equitable access statewide for children eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch (FRE).  Learn more.

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten serves 7,160 children throughout the state in 125 school districts and charter schools at 223 locations. Not all districts have Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten.