FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
JULIA L. JOHNSON
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
LINDA K. TAYLOR
April 12, 2005
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
District School Superintendents
FROM:
John L. Winn, Commissioner
SUBJECT:
Class Size Reduction Requirement and School District Eligibility to
Provide Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education School-Year
Program for 2005-06
Florida has a unique opportunity to impact the lives of young children by preparing them for
successful entry into kindergarten through quality VPK programs. To meet the expectations of
these children and their parents, local school distri
decide whether to continue to provide these
Many of Florida’s school districts are currently providing high-quality prekindergarten programs.
In 2003-04, 24,124 four-year-olds or 35 percent of all four-year-olds served were provided
services by school districts. For the first year of VPK, it is projected that almost 155,000 four-
year-olds will participate.
that the state make every effort to ensure that
parents of four-year-olds have access to a constitutionally guaranteed VPK program. Not yet
knowing if our capacity is sufficient to meet the demand, it is prudent to avoid unduly limiting
options that may now exist for them.
HB 1A, passed during the 2004 Special Session, provides two options for the VPK program - the
school-year program, which is permissive for school districts, and the summer program, which is
required for school districts. This legislation also delineates specific requirements for school
districts to be eligible to provide the VPK school-year program. Specifically, section 1002.63(4),
Florida Statutes, requires:
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
April 12, 2005
Page Two
(a)The district school board must certify to the State Board of Education that the school
district:
1. Has reduced the average class size in each classroom in accordance with section 1003.03
and the schedule in s. 1(a), Art. IX of the State Constitution; and
2. Has sufficient educational facilities and capital outlay funds to continue to reduce the
average class size in each classroom in the district’s elementary school…and to achieve full
compliance with the maximum class sizes… by the beginning of the 2010-2011 school
year.
(b)The Commissioner of Education must certify to the State Board of Education that the
Department has reviewed the school district's educational facilities, capital outlay funds,
and projected student enrollment and concurs with the school board’s certification under
paragraph (a).
Given that the data needed to certify class size compliance through 2010-2011 is unknown, it is
important that the Department rely on current and historical data related to class size compliance to
implement the above requirements. To do otherwise leaves no choice but to deny certification to
all 67 school districts. I do not think that is the intent of the Legislature. Therefore, for the first
year of the VPK school-year program, the certification of districts as eligible to offer the school-
year VPK program will be based on the 2004 class size compliance. Based on these data, 59 school
districts are in compliance with class size calculation for grades Prek-3 (see Attachment A).
The State Board of Education certified this compliance during its meeting on February 15, 2005.
These 59 school districts are now free to make the local and final determination of whether they
will offer the school-year VPK program while balancing their obligation to meet class size
reduction. These districts should also take into consideration that compliance for class size in
2006-07 will be based on school level averages, which will significantly increase the demand for
classroom space for K-12 students.
Once eligible districts have made a determination regarding their participation in the 2005-06
school-year VPK program, we are requesting that you sign and submit Attachment B. This will
enable the Department to have accurate information regarding your district’s participation in the
school-year VPK program.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Shan Goff, Director, Office of Early Learning, at
(850) 245-5070, SunCom 205-5070, or via email at shan.goff@fldoe.org or Linda Champion,
Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Operations, at (850) 245-0406, SunCom 205-0406,
or linda.champion@fldoe.org.
Attachments (2)
Attachment A –
2005 District Class Size Averages, Grades Prek-3, Compliance
Calculation, VPK Certification
Attachment B –
Notification of School District Decision to Offer
2005-06 School-Year VPK Program
cc:
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District Finance Officers
Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum and Instruction
District Prekindergarten Contact Persons
Executive Directors, Early Learning Coalitions
