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Leg. plan leaves pre-K kids behind

As expected, GOP legislative leaders unveiled a wholly inadequate pre-K plan yesterday.

Florida legislators on Wednesday proposed a new statewide learning program for 4-year-olds, but early childhood advocates expressed strong disappointment with its main features.

A three-hour school day and a ratio of one teacher for every 18 students will not produce the high-quality program voters approved, critics said, repeating arguments they made at a legislative workshop last week.

Legislators called the plan a starting point for a weeklong special legislative session that begins next Monday. Most pre-kindergarten programs would be run by private child-care centers or religious groups.

That last part is news to me, though I might have just missed it earlier. The bottom line is that the plan as proposed by the GOP is daycare, not education, and does not live up to the terms of the constitutional amendment which mandates a high quality pre-K educational program.

Of course, GOP leaders are falling all over themselves trying to put the best possible spin on their weak proposal. One of the best quotes comes from Senate President Tom Lee, who proudly declares his son “eligible” for the program without ever using that other “E” word” - enrolled.

``Let me just say, as a father of a child that will be eligible for this program next year - a 4-year-old - I am proud of this work product,''

So, it’s gonna be good enough for other people’s kids, or what? Bottom line: Florida can and should do better (back to SP Times), but, hey, at least the babysitters we hire to watch these kids might be able to read and write.

Former Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, who led the campaign to pass the pre-K amendment, said the Legislature's plan falls short.

"We finally have an opportunity to be leading the nation on an education issue and we're blowing the opportunity," said Penelas, a Democrat.

At the outset, pre-K classes could be staffed by teachers with a child development associate credential who must pass a two-hour course in literacy.

Florida's pre-K experience is being watched closely by advocates across the country.

Libby Doggett, executive director of the Trust for Early Education, said the phase-in of teachers with college degrees is a good step but she criticized the student-teacher ratio.

"There are a number of programs that have much higher quality," Doggett said. "When Florida has this, they will not be a national model, and they will not have their children prepared for kindergarten, which was the whole point."