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Pre-K plan
raises issues
by Laura Diamond, Times-Union staff writer, November 8, 2002
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articles like this visit
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The idea of universal pre-kindergarten enjoyed a comfortable margin at the
polls Tuesday but is already raising some uncomfortable questions about
its implementation.
At the forefront are concerns over how to pay for the program. There are
also issues over whether classes could be held in public and private
schools.
Although the program doesn't start until the 2005-06 school year,
child-care advocates, educators and legislators are scheduled to meet next
week in Orlando to discuss the next step.
Currently, pre-kindergarten is for parents who can afford private school
or low-income families and children with disabilities who attend public
school classes paid for by federal funds.
Amendment 8 requires public schools to offer pre-kindergarten to all
4-year-olds, but children are not required to enroll.
About a third of Florida's 187,000 4-year-olds are enrolled in public
pre-kindergarten programs.
Clay County has about 500 pre-kindergarten students, but that number could
quadruple with the new measure, said Walter Brock, assistant
superintendent for instruction for Clay County.
Implementing the program will be difficult because Clay County will need
more classrooms, Brock said. The system already struggles to afford
current building projects and will be asking taxpayers to vote on a
half-cent referendum in March to support construction.
"We know that students who attend pre-kindergarten are better prepared for
school, but there are questions about money," Brock said. "Will there be
money for teachers and facilities?"
Statewide, the plan is estimated to cost between $425 million and $650
million a year, depending on how many students enroll and whether funds
now used for school readiness programs can offset the cost.
Pre-K funding
The Legislature will determine how to fund universal pre-kindergarten.
The Council for Education Policy Research and Improvement has listed three
possible sources of funding. The Legislature requires the group to
evaluate education issues affecting the state.
Sales tax increase: If the program were to be funded just through an
increase in sales tax, the state would need to increase from 6 cents to
6.17 cents.
Corporate income tax increase: If the program were to be funded just
through an increase in corporate income and excise tax, businesses would
go from paying 5.5 percent to 7.4 percent.
Eliminate or reduce other services: The minimal funding for
pre-kindergarten equals more than a quarter of the money used for state
prisons or it could require all the money used to fund programs like the
Department of Law Enforcement ($104.9 million), Department of Agriculture
($138.4 million) and the Department of Environmental Protection ($88.9
million). If the state were to choose such an option, it could lose
federal funds.
Pre-K enrollment
With approval of Amendment 8, the state must offer pre-kindergarten
classes to all 4-year-olds by the start of the 2005-06 school year. Here
are the number of children in Northeast Florida now enrolled in public
pre-kindergarten programs:
School system -- Pre-Kindergarten enrollment
Baker -- 63
Clay -- 501
Duval -- 2,214
Nassau -- 117
Putnam -- 280
St. Johns -- 144
Source: Area school systems
The amendment does not say from where the money will come. It does
prohibit the Legislature from taking money from existing education, health
and development programs.
Jacksonville resident Dorothy Clemons said she hoped the state is unable
to fund the program.
"I'm so very sad that people voted for this," Clemons said. "I believe a
4-year-old should be home with their parents. They need to play with other
children, but going to school that young is wrong."
Anthony Ferguson said he wouldn't mind paying higher taxes because it
would benefit his 1-year-old nephew.
"We see right now he's smart and we don't want him to lose that," the
Jacksonville resident said. "But paying for pre-school isn't easy. Now he
will be around people who can make him smarter for school. Who wouldn't
want that?"
Duval County school Superintendent John Fryer supported the amendment,
saying it will help students be better prepared for school.
Until the Legislature can explain what must be done and how much money
will be provided, Fryer said it was too soon to discuss how to implement
the program.
Florida has about three years to implement its program. New York had five.
In 1997, New York lawmakers passed a bill to implement universal
pre-kindergarten. Five years later, at a cost of $225 million, only 25
percent of the eligible children are being served, according to state
documents.
Cost and the downturn in the economy prevented the program from expanding,
said Nancy Kolben, executive director of Child Care Inc. in New York. The
agency belongs to the Center for Early Care and Education, which was
created to assist in the implementation of universal pre-kindergarten.
In Georgia, about 70 percent of all eligible children participate, said
Marsha Moore, acting director for the Office of School Readiness, which
was created in 1995 for the purpose of implementing pre-kindergarten.
Georgia is a national model in universal pre-kindergarten programs.
Georgia's program, which costs about $245 million this year, is funded
primarily through the lottery.
Both women encouraged public schools in Florida to collaborate with
private centers. New York and Georgia allow for classes to be offered in
private facilities, because public schools don't have room for everyone.
Both states require teachers in public schools and private centers to meet
the same standards. In New York they must be certified, which requires a
master's degree.
Starting this year in Georgia, all lead teachers must have a bachelor's
degree. Previously, the state allowed teachers to have a child development
associate's degree, which involves fewer credits than a traditional
associate's degree.
In Georgia, private facilities take care of about 60 percent of the 65,000
students.
When St. Johns County offered pre-kindergarten classes, it subcontracted
the service to private centers. The centers signed an annual contract,
agreeing to a specific curriculum and class size. Parents had the option
of sending their child to their neighborhood school pre-kindergarten
program or one of the private centers working with the system.
Provided it meets guidelines established by the Legislature, St. Johns
County school officials said they would do the same thing again.
Paige Degryse, director of the Lighthouse Learning Center -- a private
child care center in Orange Park -- said she anticipates partnerships
between public and private schools will occur across the state.
"This is not something we will be able to do it alone, nor will they be
able to do it alone," Degryse said. "We are both going to need each
other."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A quick look at the program for 2005
Q: Don't public schools already have pre-kindergarten programs?
A: Some have federally subsidized programs for students with disabilities
or from low-income families.
Q: Then for whom is this program designed?
A: The amendment makes the program available to all 4-year-olds.
Q: Are teachers in existing public school pre-kindergarten programs
certified?
A: Yes.
Q: Will teachers in pre-kindergarten programs under this plan, whether
public or private, be certified?
A: The amendment language did not address teacher certification. The
Legislature will likely address this issue.
Q: What is the difference between pre-kindergarten and day care?
A: Pre-kindergarten is a program designed to better prepare students for
school. Day care is typically a custodial care program, rather than
educational. Also, day-care programs typically start earlier and end
later, while pre-kindergarten operates on a more traditional school
schedule.
Q: What will it cost to take part in the pre-kindergarten program?
A: There will be no cost for those enrolling their children. The plan is
estimated to cost between $425 million and $650 million a year.
Q: What age group will be included in the pre-kindergarten program?
A: The program is for 4-year-olds.
Q: Will existing pre-kindergarten programs in public schools be used for
the new program?
A: Yes.
Q: What is the timeframe for getting the pre-kindergarten program in
operation?
A: The program is supposed to be implemented by the start of the 2005-06
school year.
Staff writer Laura Diamond can be reached at (904) 359-4351 or via e-mail
at ldiamond@jacksonville.com.
This story can be found at
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/110802/met_10917463.shtml.
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