Every child in Palm Beach County deserves a strong start.
From birth through kindergarten, the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County is your partner every step of the way, helping families pay for child care up to age thirteen.
Whatever your family needs, we can help you find it.
From child care to free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK), ELCPBC partners with families across Palm Beach County. We help you find care that fits, understand your options, and prepare your child for kindergarten at every age.
VPK: Easy as 1, 2, 3.
Step 1: Check Eligibility
If your child turns four by September 1st and resides in Florida, they qualify for VPK.
Step 2: Apply Online
Register through the Family Portal in just a few minutes.
Step 3: Choose a Program
Pick the VPK provider that fits your family.
That is it. Your child is on the way to kindergarten readiness.
The first five years shape everything that follows.
90% of brain development happens before age five.
During the first five years, children build the foundation for learning, communication, relationships and lifelong success.
Strong families start with reliable child care.
When parents can count on child care, they can work, providers can keep their doors open, and children build the social skills they will use for life. Early learning is the foundation strong families are built on.
Early learning pays back.
Florida businesses and families lose an estimated $5.3 billion annually to child care challenges. High-quality early learning delivers up to a 13% annual return per child through stronger education, workforce, and health outcomes.
Early learning lifts the whole county.
When families can count on child care, they can work, their children learn and communities thrive. Early learning is the foundation strong families are built on.
The first five years of a child's life compound for a lifetime.
We remove the cost barrier to care.
35K+
We are where Palm Beach County turns first.
160K+
We chose readiness. The numbers followed.
79%
Voices from our community.
Early learning takes partners.
Every dollar goes where it matters most.
Every dollar invested in the first five years returns up to 13%, and helps thousands of Palm Beach County children start kindergarten ready. As the county’s largest nonprofit, ELCPBC puts roughly 97 cents of every dollar into the work.
Every Child Deserves a Strong Start.
Behind every service, every enrollment, and early learning classroom is a child with unlimited potential. We are increasing access to quality early learning experiences that help children arrive at kindergarten confident and ready to learn.