HIPPY Program Ocala, FL
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters — a free Marion County Public Schools program that empowers parents to be their child's first teacher, building school readiness at home.
Yes, Marion County has a HIPPY program. HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) is offered free through Marion County Public Schools for children ages 3–5. Parents serve as their child's teacher using provided materials. Contact: (352) 671-4171 (Iris Starkes-Butler, Early Learning dept).
Free, Funded Program
HIPPY is a Title One program through Marion County Public Schools — there is no cost to participating families.
Parent-Led Learning
The parent IS the teacher. HIPPY provides curriculum and coaching so parents can confidently guide their child's early learning at home.
School Readiness Focus
Builds cognitive skills, early literacy, social-emotional development, and physical readiness for kindergarten and beyond.
About the HIPPY Program in Marion County
The HIPPY program — Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters — is a home-based early childhood education initiative offered through Marion County Public Schools as a Title One program. Completely free to participating families, HIPPY is designed to help parents of children ages 3, 4, and 5 become their child's first and most important teacher.
Rather than taking children out of the home for preschool instruction, HIPPY brings the curriculum to the family. Participating parents receive a set of developmentally appropriate materials, workbooks, and books tailored to their child's age and learning stage. A HIPPY home visitor — often a parent who has previously completed the program — provides coaching and support, teaching parents how to use the materials confidently.
The daily commitment is manageable: just 15–30 minutes, five days a week. Over 30 weeks per year, these short focused sessions add up to a meaningful foundation. Children develop cognitive skills, early literacy and language skills, and the social-emotional and physical readiness they need to enter kindergarten prepared and confident.
Research consistently shows that HIPPY participation improves school readiness outcomes and helps close early learning gaps — particularly for children who might not otherwise have access to center-based preschool programs. For Marion County families with preschool-age children, HIPPY is a high-value, zero-cost resource worth exploring.
Program Details at a Glance
Ages Served
Children ages 3, 4, and 5 (pre-K age)
Program Length
30 weeks per year
Daily Time Commitment
15–30 minutes, 5 days per week
Cost
Free — Title One funded through Marion County Public Schools
Curriculum Provided
Developmentally appropriate materials, workbooks, and books supplied to families
Home-Based Delivery
Learning happens at home — no transportation or drop-off required
How to Enroll in HIPPY Marion County
To learn about eligibility, enrollment, and current availability for the Marion County HIPPY program, contact the Early Learning department at Marion County Public Schools:
Iris Starkes-Butler — HIPPY Coordinator
(352) 671-4171
Marion County Public Schools — Early Learning
marionschools.net/departments/early_learning/hippy
Frequently Asked Questions
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HIPPY program information is sourced from Marion County Public Schools. Only In Ocala provides this for community reference. Editorial guidelines.