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
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
March 2, 2006
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
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District School Superintendents
FROM:
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John L. Winn, Commissioner
SUBJECT:
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Class Size Reduction Requirement and School District Eligibility to Provide
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education School-Year Program for 2006-07
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 districts that are in compliance with their class size
reduction obligation have the option to offer the VPK program during the 2006-07 school year.
Many of Florida’s school districts are currently providing high-quality 540-hour VPK programs
and all are planning to provide the 300-hour Summer VPK Program for “every eligible child
within the district whose parent enrolls the child in a summer prekindergarten program delivered
by a public school” (Section 1002.53(6)(b), Florida Statutes).
In the same manner as for 2005-06, the certification of districts as eligible to offer the school-
year VPK program will be based on the 2005 class size compliance. Based on these data, sixty-
six (66) 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 January 17, 2006.
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.
325 W. GAINES STREET • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0505 • www.fldoe.org
District School Superintendents
March 2, 2006
Page Two
If you have questions, please feel free to contact Shan Goff, Director, Office of Early Learning,
at (850) 245-0445, SunCom 205-0445, or via email at shan.goff@fldoe.org or Linda Champion,
Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Operations, at (850) 245-0406, SunCom 205-0406, or
linda.champion@fldoe.org.
JLW/sg
Attachment A –
2006 District Class Size Averages, Grades Prek-3, Compliance Calculation,
VPK Certification
cc:
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District Finance Officers
Assistant Superintendents for Curriculum and Instruction
District
Prekindergarten
Directors
Early Learning Coalition Executive Directors
