Voluntary Prekindergarten: Resources for Funded Programs

Verification process

The Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) application process now follows a four-year cycle for fiscal 2026–29. Legislative action secured permanent, ongoing funding for 12,360 VPK seats. 

For FY27, the second year of this cycle, DCYF implemented a verification process to confirm district allocations, including site and instructional calendar details. This survey also collects information required for an automatic Parent Aware rating. All districts and charter schools that applied in 2025 for FY26–29 funding must complete verification during this period. This includes both funded and unfunded programs seeking ongoing or new/expanded funding. 

• Verification Process Frequently Asked Questions: This document will be updated every Monday with questions received during the verification process.
• Verification Overview and Demonstration webinar: Watch the recording (password: VPK2027!) and review the slides. For your convenience, the recording is divided into key topics with corresponding timestamps:
  • Status of legislative updates for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 VPK funding – 3:18
  • Overview of the new FY27 VPK Verification Process for funded and unfunded programs – 5:59
  • Parent Aware Automatic Rating information and opportunities – 14:09
  • Demonstration of the VPK Verification Process Survey – 31:23
  • VPK General Program Information: Ranking, allocation, and funding/finance – 52:00
  • VPK General Program Information: Requirements, instructional design, and mixed delivery partnerships – 55:00
• Verification Open Office Hour: Review the slides.
  • February 3
  • February 12
  • February 17

Finance and funding

• FY 2024 VPK and SRP Revenue: This spreadsheet provides revenue calculations for Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness Plus programs that were funded during FY24 for the 2023–24 school year. Some of the calculations are based on state averages, so individual district numbers might differ slightly.

The application period for VPK funding is held on a 4-year cycle and is open to all school districts and charter schools with authorized preschool programs. The next application period will be in January 2029 for fiscal years 2030–33. Currently funded districts and charters wishing to receive ongoing funding or to be considered for new or expansion funding must also apply at that time. Please address questions to dcyf.vpk@state.mn.us.

Guidance and resource documents

• Eligibility Requirements for Preschool Funding Streams (PDF)
• Charter Schools - Provision of ECSE Services (PDF): This Q&A, a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Education's Early Childhood Special Education and Charter School teams, provides information regarding ECSE requirements and responsibilities for preschool-aged children enrolled in Minnesota charter schools.
• Voluntary Prekindergarten Implementation Checklist (PDF): This checklist gives month-by-month guidance reminders to help VPK programs stay on track with in managing their funding and statutory requirements.
• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten and School Readiness Plus UFARS Codes Memo (PDF): This memorandum outlines Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) expenditure coding for the Voluntary Prekindergarten and School Readiness Plus programs. Updated September 10, 2024.
• Voluntary Prekindergarten UFARS Codes Memo (PDF): This memorandum outlines Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting Standards (UFARS) expenditure coding for Voluntary Prekindergarten. Updated May 1, 2025.
• Voluntary Prekindergarten Achievement and Integration (AI) Memo (PDF): This memorandum is to outline the use of Achievement and Integration (AI) revenue for Voluntary Prekindergarten. Updated November 15, 2024.