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Preschool Programs
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) PreK Program
The Prekindergarten (PreK) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Program is for children with disabilities and is operated through Sarasota County Schools. The ESE PreK program is available at multiple school sites. Students must be three years old and eligible for ESE to qualify for the PreK program. The school-based program operates during regular school hours, consistent with the school year calendar.
PreK Diagnostic Center
Please contact the PreK Diagnostic Center, if you have any questions or would like to refer a child for a free developmental screening and/or evaluation to determine if your child may qualify for services in Sarasota's ESE PreK Program! For more information on Child Find or to complete a Child Find Referral, please click the following link: Click Here
Early Learning / PreK Programs
General Education Early Learning Prekindergarten (PreK) programs are available at the following elementary school locations:
Alta Vista, Atwater, Brentwood, Cranberry, Emma E. Booker, Gocio, Taylor Ranch, Tuttle, Venice, and Wilkinson
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- Must live in Florida and reside within the districted school site zone.
- Attain the age of 4 years old on or before September 1st of the current school year.
- Must meet all registration, enrollment, and immunization requirements.
Priority consideration will be given to the following:
- Children of families participating in the free and reduced food & nutrition program: Click Here
- Preschool-aged children experiencing homelessness; and
- Children who are in a local institution or attending a community day program for neglected or delinquent children and youth (ESEA section 1115(c)(2)).
- Children in foster care, including ensuring the child(ren) remain in his or her preschool of origin unless a determination is made that it is not in the child’s best interest.
The enrollment period has started and continues until spaces are filled. Please contact your school’s registrar to have your child considered for the program.
Families will be notified as to acceptance into the program. Afterward, any remaining seats will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis and students will be added to a wait list once enrollment has been met.
All Early Learning/PreK programs follow the Sarasota School Year calendar and students are required to attend full-time to remain in the program. These programs are not Voluntary PreK (VPK). For more information on VPK, please see below and contact the Sarasota Early Learning Coalition (ELC) at 941-556-1600.
Voluntary PreK (VPK)
Florida was one of the first states in the country to offer free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds regardless of family income. Since the program began in 2005-06, more than 2.6 million children have benefited from the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK). Data collected by the Florida Department of Education shows that children who participate in VPK are much more ready for kindergarten than children who do not participate in VPK.
Learn more by clicking the following link: Click Here
Families may learn more about all available prekindergarten programs, availability of financial support and free Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) by contacting the Sarasota Early Learning Coalition (ELC) at 941.954.4830 or Click Here
Head Start Programs
Head Start and Early Head Start programs are free, federally funded programs designed to promote school readiness for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from families that meet income eligibility requirements.
Early Head Start programs support pregnant women and families with children younger than 3 years. Head Start programs serve children between 3 and 5 years old.
Learn more by clicking the following link: Click Here
Families may also wish to learn more about local Head Start programs by contacting Children First at 941.953.3877 or Click Here
Local Community Child Care/Early Education Ages 0-5
Early learning programs for children of all ages 0-5, are also offered in community-based preschools. For assistance in finding quality child care for children 0-5 in the community, please reach out to the Sarasota Early Learning Coalition (ELC).
The Sarasota Early Learning Coalition Family Services Office
By Telephone, E-mail, and
Scheduled Appointment:
Monday-Thursday
7:30am-5:30pm
Friday, 9-11am
Phone: 941-556-1600
Lobby hours:
9am to 4pm (Mon to Thurs)
Friday-by appointment as needed
1750 17th Street, Building L
Sarasota, Florida 34234
Located in The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
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Contacts:
Director of Prekindergarten (PreK)
Tracey Cardenas
tracey.cardenas@sarasotacountyschools.netAdministrative Assistant
TBA
(941) 927-9000, extension 31271Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Child Find Contact Information
FDLRS Child Find & Prekindergarten (PreK) Diagnostic Administrative Assistant (English & Spanish)
Eunice Domenech
(941) 927-9000, extension 31271
eunice.domenech@sarasotacountyschools.netFDLRS Suncoast Child Find Consultant
VACANT – Please contact Ramona Schweickhardt
(941) 927-9000, extension 34330
ramona.schweickhardt@sarasotacountyschools.netPrekindergarten (PreK) Team
Program Specialist, ESE PreK
Victoria Stillo-Gross
victoria.stillo-gross@Sarasotacountyschools.netProgram Specialist for Early Learning Curriculum and Instruction,
Lona Sims
lona.sims@sarasotacountyschools.netLiaison, ESE PreK
Amy Krukonis
amy.krukonis@sarasotacountyschools.netSocial Worker PreK
Renee Reynolds
renee.reynolds@sarasotacountyschools.netBehavior Specialist PreK
Sari Klein
sari.klein@sarasotacountyschools.netPsychologists PreK
Paula Lent
paula.lent@sarasotacountyschools.netSarah Cottrez
sarah.cottrez@sarasotacountyschools.netSpeech & Language Pathologists (SLPs)
Jacklyn Feltz
jacklyn.feltz@sarasotacountyschools.netTania Hill
tania.hill@sarasotacountyschools.netCarrie Radocy
carrie.radocy@sarasotacountyschools.netBilingual Speech & Language Pathologists (SLPs), (English & Spanish)
Filomena Gamez
filomena.gamez@sarasotacountyschools.netAlejandra Venesky
alejandra.venesky@sarasotacountyschools.netAudiologist Countywide
Dr. Tiffany Potter-King
tiffany.potter-king@sarasotacountyschools.netLocation:
- Sarasota County Public Schools
Maroon Awning, 1st Floor (Building 1970)
1960 Landings Boulevard
Sarasota, Florida 34231
Please arrive at the front of the building and enter through the black awning. Visitors are required to submit a photo ID and will be provided with a temporary badge upon entry.
- Sarasota County Public Schools
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Early Learning Resources
Florida Early Learning Developmental Standards and Professional Competencies
Florida Early Learning Developmental Standards and Professional CompetenciesFlorida Early Learning Developmental Standards (FELDS)
FELDSFlorida Department of Education Website on Early Education & Prekindergarten (ESE)
Birth Through Two Years (fldoe.org)
Ages Three Through Nine (fldoe.org)Florida Department of Education Early Learning Information Website
Early Learning (fldoe.org)Financial Assistance for Preschool through the Early Learning Coalition
Financial Assistance – ELC (earlylearningcoalitionsarasota.org)Prekindergarten to Kindergarten Registration and Resources
Registration / Kindergarten Information and Resources (sarasotacountyschools.net)