On May 15 the Florida Department of Education released the 2017-18 Voluntary Pre-K (VPK) readiness rates, and statewide only 58% of children who participated in VPK were ready for kindergarten. 

In response, Gov. Ron DeSantis called on Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran to create a plan to ensure Florida families receive the great start to an education their children deserve.

“A 42% failure rate is simply not defendable and certainly not good enough for Florida’s youngest learners,” DeSantis said in a news release. 

In Escambia County, there are 83 VPK providers who received readiness rates. The average rate was 57% of children ready for kindergarten; 27 providers had readiness rates of 50% or less.

In Santa Rosa County, 37 providers received readiness rates; they saw an average readiness rate of 62.5%. Eight providers had readiness rates of 50% or less.

“I have asked Commissioner Corcoran to prioritize this issue and direct available funding to make enhancements. Nearly three-quarters of Florida parents rely on VPK programs to lay the academic and social foundation necessary for their children to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.”

Kindergarten readiness is an important early indicator of a child’s potential to succeed in school. Because of the strong link between early readiness and grade-level reading – and ultimately on-time high school graduation – Studer Community Institute chooses to focus its work in equipping parents with tools, techniques and advice to make the most of the early brain development window — when up 90 percent of the brain’s wiring is developed.

State law requires readiness screenings for kindergartners in the first 30 school days of each school year. It’s called FLKRS (Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener).

The results are used to evaluate the performance of VPK providers. 

Learning gains of the students enrolled in the VPK are required to be used in determining the quality of the VPK provider.  Although providers have been capturing learning gains for five years, learning gains have not been used in readiness rates reported this week.

Beginning next year, they will be. 

“We must have a real accountability measure for all our school readiness programs,” Corcoran added. “We are highlighting this data to serve as a rallying cry going forward that we will improve our early learning opportunities for students. Our youngest learners deserve nothing else.”

Early learning policy champions State Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, and State Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Port St. Lucie, also weighed in.

“These results are disheartening for our students and their families,” Grall said  “A quality, accountable VPK system contributes to children being ready for kindergarten and ensures our K-3 educators are building upon a strong foundation.  I look forward to working with the Commissioner and many early learning stakeholders over the summer months to improve our early learning system.”

Said Harrell: “I appreciate the Governor and Commissioner’s focus on improving every aspect of education, especially for students at this critical time when their readiness greatly improves their likelihood of achievement and opportunity throughout their entire education.  We must have one goal and one goal only, and that is to have the best Pre-K in the nation.  I am committed to doing my part to help achieve that goal.”

 

VPK providers that do not meet the minimum readiness rate will be subject to the following consequences:

— Placement of the provider on probation.

— Implementation of an improvement plan approved by the early learning coalition or school district including the use of an Office of Early Learning (OEL)-approved curriculum or a staff development plan.

— Annual submission of an application to OEL for approval for a good cause exemption for providers not meeting the minimum readiness rate for three consecutive years.

— Continued probation until the provider meets the minimum readiness rate.

— Ineligibility to offer the VPK program if on probation for three or more years without a good cause exemption.