Choose Sarasota County Schools to Invest in Your Child’s Future

Guest Correspondence

Image courtesy Sarasota County Schools: Southside Elementary School

Each year at the beginning of February, Sarasota County Schools facilitates the kindergarten through 12th grade Controlled Open Enrollment/School Choice (K-12 School Choice) process. This enables families to apply for their child to attend a public school outside of their standard attendance zone for the upcoming school year.

Though most families decide to enroll at their zoned school, others apply for K-12 School Choice for the chance to have their child attend a different school with specific programs of interest. The K-12 School Choice enrollment window for the 2025-2026 school year opens on Monday, Feb. 3 at 8am. Families interested in applying must fill out an online application through the Focus Parent Portal, which can be found on Sarasota County Schools’ website (www.sarasotacountyschools.net).

Even if you are not considering applying for K-12 School Choice, I encourage all students and families to familiarize themselves with the programs and amenities their zoned school offers. Each of our traditional public, district-managed schools has its own brochure – available at www.sarasotacountyschools.net/o/scs/page/school-choice – highlighting its unique school culture and signature programs. Please do not hesitate to contact our principals and school administrative teams with any questions or to schedule a campus tour.

Another important upcoming school choice enrollment window, this one impacting our youngest learners. The Voluntary Prekindergarten School Choice (VPK School Choice) enrollment window will also begin on Monday, Feb. 3 at 8am. VPK is an optional state program funded by the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning.

Sarasota County Schools offers its own VPK program free of charge to families as either a 540-instructional hour school year program – 8:30-11:30am daily, with Extended Day options available from 11:30am until the end of the school day – or a 300-instructional-hour summer program. Families may choose between enrollment in either program, though only one may be selected for a given school year.

VPK School Choice availability is limited due to school capacity and requests are prioritized by set criteria. Though the program is voluntarily, I strongly recommend that all students who are eligible for our VPK program in the upcoming school year participate. It is a wonderful way for children to acclimate to a school environment, make new friends, and feel more prepared and excited to start kindergarten. To learn more about our VPK program – including student eligibility, which schools are participating in VPK School choice, and more – please contact the school district’s Early Learning department at (941) 927-9000, ext. 31267 or VPK@sarasotacountyschools.net.

Our school district prioritizes collaboration and is honored to work in concert with families to provide for the educational needs of our community’s children. I implore all families to thoroughly research their education options to ensure they find the ideal fit for their child. I am confident you will find our traditional public, district-managed schools to be at the top of your list.

Terrence Connor is Sarasota County Superintendent of Schools.

Image courtesy Sarasota County Schools: Southside Elementary School

« View The Saturday Feb 1, 2025 SRQ Daily Edition
« Back To SRQ Daily Archive

Read More

Cultivating Kindness in Philanthropy

Cultivating Kindness in Philanthropy

Phillip Lanham | Feb 15, 2025

Partnership and Collaboration Are a Hallmark of Leadership in Our Region

Partnership and Collaboration Are a Hallmark of Leadership in Our Region

Jacki Dezelski | Feb 15, 2025

New College Rising: A Defining Year for Free Speech and Growth

New College Rising: A Defining Year for Free Speech and Growth

Richard Corcoran | Feb 15, 2025

Will Sarasota Become a True University Town?

Will Sarasota Become a True University Town?

Jacob Ogles | Feb 8, 2025