Florida Department of Education
Office of Early Learning
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL-YEAR
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VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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Purpose of Technical Assistance Paper (TAP)
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The purpose of this technical assistance paper is to provide information related to the provision of the
VPK school year-program by public schools, including charter schools, and the impact on current
prekindergarten (prek) programs.
Background Information
HB 1A and Class Size Requirements
House Bill (HB) 1A (http://www.myfloridaeducation.com/earlylearning/pdf/vpk-bill.pdf) was passed
during the 2004 special legislative session to implement Florida’s voluntary prekindergarten education
program (VPK), consistent with the State Constitution. This legislation provides parents with option of
choosing either a 540-hour school-year program or 300-hour summer program, which may be
provided by a public school or a private provider. However, in order for school districts to offer the
school-year program, they must meet specific requirements in the legislation related to class size
reduction. The April 12, 2005, memorandum from Commissioner Winn provided districts with
information related to their compliance with these requirements (see
http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-2902/VPK.pdf, http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-
2903/VPKa1.pdf, and http://info.fldoe.org/dscgi/ds.py/Get/File-2904/VPKa2.pdf). Based upon this
information, 59 school districts are eligible to offer the school-year program during 2005-06.
School District Prekindergarten (Prek) Programs
In February 2004, 68,572 or 28 percent of all four-year-olds were served in Head Start, school
readiness, and school district prek programs. Of this total number, Head Start served 17,553 (26
percent), school readiness programs served 26,895 (39 percent), and school district programs served
24,124 (35 percent).
School district prek programs include programs provided via a contract with the
local coalition (local coalition), Title I/Migrant, Head Start (fourteen districts are Head Start grantees),
Fee-for-Services (private parent pay), and prek programs for children with disabilities. The chart below
shows the number and percent of four-year-olds served in each of these programs.
2003-04
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Four-Year-Olds Served by School Districts
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(Total = 24,124)
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Headstart
4,181
17%
Title I
3,465
14%
Unknown
Program
254
1%
Local Coalition
5,294
22%
Migrant
284
1%
Disabled
9,726
Fee For
Services
865
4%
Source: November, 2004 EDR Files; Readiness Estimating Conference
41%
Florida Department of Education
Office of Early Learning – TAP # 05-01
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Questions and Answers
Current Prek Programs
1.
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Does a school district’s eligibility to provide the school-year VPK program affect its
provision of current Title I, Migrant, School Readiness, or Fee-for-Service programs for
four-year-olds?
No. However, a four-year-old’s participation in a school district prek Title I, Migrant, School
Readiness, or Fee-for-Service program does not constitute participation in the VPK program.
School districts should explore multiple approaches to providing VPK programs in conjunction with
wrap-around services funded through different sources.
2.
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Can local early learning coalitions contract with school districts to provide school
readiness programs for four-year-olds regardless of whether or not districts are eligible to
provide the school-year VPK program?
Yes. Early learning coalitions can continue to contract with any school district to provide school
readiness programs. However, as indicated above, these programs are not considered VPK
programs and therefore, do not lessen the demand for VPK.
Options for School Districts
3.
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If a school district is eligible to provide the school-year VPK program, can the district
contract with private providers to deliver the school-year VPK program?
Yes, as long as the district’s contract includes appropriate mechanisms for oversight and ensures
that the private provider(s) meets all of the requirements specified in law
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Please note that
contracted private providers may be licensed child care programs or programs that are exempt
from the licensure requirements.
4.
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If a school district is not eligible to provide the school-year VPK program because of not
meeting the class size certification requirements, can charter schools within that district
offer this program?
Yes, if the Department of Education determines that the charter school has met the class size
calculation for grades Prek-3.
Charter Schools
5.
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If a school district is eligible to provide the school-year VPK program, can charter schools
within that district offer this program? Does the charter school have to be licensed as a
child care facility?
Yes. If the charter school is in a district that is eligible to provide the school-year VPK program,
consistent with section 1002.63(2), Florida Statutes,
School-year prekindergarten program
delivered by public schools,
the school district can select the charter school as a VPK site
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If the charter with the district school board includes prek as a grade level within that charter
school, then the charter school would be considered exempt from the state’s licensure
requirements (see section 402.3025(1), Florida Statutes,
Public and nonpublic schools
;
http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=C
h0402/SEC3025.HTM&Title=->2004->Ch0402->Section%203025#0402.3025
.
)
Florida Department of Education
Office of Early Learning – TAP # 05-01
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Questions and Answers (cont.)
However, if a charter school has a prek program on the same site as the charter school and the
charter with the district does not include prek, then the charter school would need to meet the
state’s licensure requirements for a child care facility (see section 402.302, Florida Statutes,
Licensing standards; childcare facilities;
http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=C
h0402/SEC305.HTM&Title=->2004->Ch0402->Section%20305#0402.305 ) or register the prek
facility with the Department of Education as a nonpublic school if the applicable requirements are
met (see section 402.3025(2), Florida Statutes,
Public and nonpublic schools
;
http://www.flsenate.gov/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=C
h0402/SEC3025.HTM&Title=->2004->Ch0402->Section%203025#0402.3025
.
) For more
information on licensing requirements, see http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/licensing.shtml or
call your local licensing specialist (see http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/childcare/dcfspecialistsli.shtml).
Florida Department of Education
Office of Early Learning – TAP # 05-01
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