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Schools

Early pre-K grades mixed

Some parents are thrilled with how the state-funded program is working out. Others say quality is lacking. Low participation is a worry.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published May 30, 2006

	[Times photo: MIke Pease]
	Ryan Rodriguez, left, and Harrison Kane sort through numbers to assemble them in the correct order at Hand in Hand Academy in Lutz Thursday morning. Their teacher, Tricia Hume, meanwhile, works with their classmates as they practice writing their letters. Pre-K Facts About 40 percent of Florida's 210,000 eligible 4-year-olds are expected to participate in pre-K this year, well below the 60 percent expected. About 16,000 children are expected to enroll for the summer session. Enrollment was projected to surpass 40,000 A child must be 4 years of age before Sept. 1, and reside in Florida, to participate in pre-K. More information: vpkflorida.org

When Novalee Brockway entered prekindergarten in the fall, she could recite her ABC's but couldn't read or write. Nine months and 540 hours of instruction later, she can read and write a number of short words.

"It was probably the best choice I could have made for her," said Misty Brockway of Tarpon Springs, who enrolled her daughter in a state-funded pre-K program. "She learned so much."

Judy Hughes of Odessa wishes she could say the same for her son, Jonathan. She says he struggled at the "chaotic" preschool where she used her pre-K voucher. She finally removed him in December, using her own money to pay for a different preschool.

"The voluntary prekindergarten program is a great idea," Hughes said diplomatically, "but they need to fine-tune it."

Nine months after the hurried implementation of Florida's newest education program - the largest of its kind in the United States - the number of people participating in pre-K remains stubbornly low.

Some, like the Brockways, discovered an otherwise unaffordable opportunity. Others, like the Hugheses, found substandard education. Many parents ignored it entirely, often because they couldn't get their children to and from the half-day classes. The state didn't pay for busing, which even program supporters concede was a huge obstacle to reaching children most in need.

The result: Just over 40 percent of Florida's 210,000 eligible 4-year-olds are expected to participate in the $380-million program this year, well below the initial 67 percent estimate. That total includes enrollment for the summer session, once projected to surpass 40,000 but now looking closer to 16,000.

Is the participation too low?

Gladys Wilson, who runs the state pre-K program, calls it remarkable that so many children took part in a brand-new system. She said the numbers will rise as more parents learn of the program and more providers sign up.

Linda Alexionok, prekindergarten director for the Children's Campaign advocacy group, counters that pre-K has a long way to go to become universal, much less high quality. Florida voters mandated both when they approved pre-K in 2002.

She notes that the state never asked for detailed demographic information, which means it can't say whether the program serves low-income children who need the classes most, affluent kids whose parents could afford it anyway, or some mix in between.

Alexionok is part of a coalition of early-education advocates, business people and politicians who contend the program lacks quality controls and needs more money to work properly. Hoping a new governor and Legislature might tip the balance, the groups have joined forces to campaign for changes.

"Study after study has shown that students who receive a quality pre-K education perform better" in their future schooling and in the workplace, said Bill Sublette, a former Republican chairman of the House Education Committee who now co-chairs the EARLY campaign with former Education Commissioner Betty Castor, a Democrat.

EARLY is calling for five changes to the pre-K program: better-educated teachers, age-appropriate assessments to determine school effectiveness, higher reimbursement rates to providers, a selection of high-quality learning curricula that meets Florida's readiness standards, and year-round choices for parents.

With all the pressure being placed on children to score ever higher on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Sublette said, "It just seems backward not to have a quality pre-K program." Just 5 percent of the state's budget surplus could have made the difference, he said.

What happens in Florida matters elsewhere, says Don Owens, a spokesman for the national nonprofit Pre-K Now. As the largest pre-K program of its kind, he says, it sets trends. Owens notes that some parents who are fighting a universal pre-K referendum in California are pointing to Florida's quality issues as an example of what can happen even after a large investment of money.

Many of Florida's pre-K providers say Florida needs to spend even more to get a better program.

Beverly Kennedy, director of Highland Christian School in Palm Harbor, says she was thrilled with the program and how it helped youngsters and parents The teachers who work at her nonprofit school don't gripe about pay - "We see it as our service to God," Kennedy said - but they would like to improve their offerings.

"If you want to raise the bar, raise the bucks," Kennedy said.

Wendy Viles, owner of Hand in Hand Academy in Lutz, shares that view but for different reasons. She almost didn't participate in the program because Hand in Hand loses about $1,400 on every child who comes for pre-K only.

The state pays just $2,500 per child for the program - $2,560 next year - and bars providers from charging more. Viles hires certified, teachers with degrees and pays about $25 an hour.

That quality is evident in her classrooms. On a recent morning, teacher Tish Morrison worked with her 10 students on rhyming words. They would pull a letter combination, like "-op," out of a container and come up with words that rhyme. "Hop!" shouted one. "Pop!" said another. The board filled with contributions.

Even during free choice time, Morrison says, she works with children on academic goals set specifically for them. And the kids revel in it.

"I like adding," said 5-year-old Edward Brotgandel, who Viles says excels in every academic area. "It's not hard. It's easy."

Hand in Hand parents cheer their children's growth and praise Viles for taking the state money, even though she also takes a financial loss.

"Most kids starting kindergarten are already starting to read," said Amy Wisniewski of Lutz, who was able to send her son Kyle to pre-K because of the state voucher. "The kids who miss out on it, I feel like they're going to be left behind."

State lawmakers, meanwhile, have done nothing to tackle the problems being identified. They have said they won't change anything until they see the results of a full year of implementation.

Sponsors of failed bills calling for pre-K changes say they won't give up.

"The voters said they wanted high-quality prekindergarten education opportunities and that is not what we are providing," said Sen. Nan Rich, a Broward County Democrat. "We know we can make it better."

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at (813) 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com.

[Last modified May 30, 2006, 04:31:01]