January 31, 2005
Pre-k push puzzles parents
Florida’s church day care voucher program, aka pre-K, aka UPK, is designed in such a way that it will be impossible for public schools to participate. It looks like it may also be nearly impossible for kids to participate.
The state wants parents and schools interested in participating in Florida's new universal pre-kindergarten program to start signing up for the program Tuesday, but it's unclear where they should go to sign up for classes that startin August.Posted by Norwood at January 31, 2005 05:18 AMPrivate preschool owners don't know whether they will qualify for the program or how much money they will get from the state if they do. Public school districts are expected to have a tough time meeting certification requirements.
State officials are advising people interested in state-funded pre-K programs to watch state websites for information. But the website, www.upkflorida.org, offers no information on how to sign up.
''We've been getting many calls from parents asking where to sign up,'' said Susan Morris, early-childhood supervisor for Hillsborough County schools. ``At this time, we're telling people we just don't have enough information.''
Gladys Wilson, deputy director of the state Office of Early Learning, said there's an online application planned but no details are available.
......Florida voters mandated the program in 2002 by a constitutional amendment that said a high-quality pre-K program must be available to any 4-year-old whose family wants it by August 2005.
Officials say they will need public, private and faith-based programs and even homes to accommodate everyone because public schools don't have enough space.
But there may not be many public schools participating. To be eligible, a district must meet class-size reduction requirements for regular school, another constitutional provision voters approved in 2002. School districts also must certify that they will continue meeting the requirements and need no additional capital outlay funds through the 2010-2011 school year.
''It is anticipated that very few school districts, if any, will be able to certify to the requirements,'' Shan Goff, director for the state Office of Early Learning, wrote in an e-mail Friday.
SUMMER PROGRAM
Under the new state law, school districts are required to provide a 300-hour summer preschool program with certified teachers beginning next year. That's separate from the 540-hour school year program starting this year.
Kris Giordano, executive director of the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County, said she wished public schools would have a role in the year-round program.
''They're mandated to do the summer program, which is almost impossible,'' she said. ``And they're not being allowed to do the year-round program. And that's too bad.''
Profiles of qualified providers are expected to be posted on a state website. State payments would go to providers as a voucher.
