Sarasota County's K-12, VPK school choice window opens next week. Here's how to apply
Sarasota County Schools will open its Controlled Open Enrollment, or K-12 School Choice, window from Feb. 3 to March 3. Students and families throughout Florida can apply to attend any public school in the district in the window as part of an ever-expanding school choice initiative that's gained state- and nationwide momentum.
Only schools with open seats will accept applications. Families can apply to the school of their choice via the Focus Parent Portal, and the district will notify families of school placements in April. The district will conduct a lottery for schools that receive more applications than there are available seats.
New Sarasota County schools on deck:Sarasota County School District officials explain construction plans, safety measures
The school district's voluntary prekindergarten school choice program will also accept applications in the same window. The optional VPK program includes instruction from 8:30-11:30 a.m. daily, and it's open to children who turn 4 years old by Sept. 1 and receive a VPK Certificate of Eligibility from the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County.
Families that submit a VPK choice application will be able choose their school site. The following are listed as school sites for VPK programs:
Alta Vista Elementary School
Atwater Elementary School
Brentwood Elementary School
Cranberry Elementary School
Emma E. Booker Elementary School
Englewood Elementary School
Glenallen Elementary School
Skye Ranch School
Taylor Ranch Elementary School
Toledo Blade Elementary School
Tuttle Elementary School
Venice Elementary School
Wilkinson Elementary School
More:Sarasota County's Pine View School students chat with space station astronaut by ham radio
Sarasota County's K-12 and VPK choice programs open their yearly application windows as school choice sentiment rises across the state and the country. President Donald Trump issued an executive order Wednesday directing the secretaries of Labor and Education to explore using federal funds to support school choice; Linda McMahon, his pending education secretary pick, has expressed support for school choice.
Florida has become a blueprint for school choice behind Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration and the universal school choice bill he signed in 2023. Since then, more than 1.4 million Florida students have used school choice programs, which include scholarships and stipends for students to attend schools outside their zoning.
Sarasota County families are only required to submit a school choice application if their student wishes to attend a public school other than the one they're zoned for. Enrollment in charter schools and private schools does not require a school choice application.
Contact Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @hmb_1013.
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