NFIB

The Florida legislature and the governor called special session 2004A for the week of Dec. 13, 2004, to discuss legislation regarding several issues, chief among them the implementation of Universal Pre-Kindergarten. The legislation was drafted in response to a constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2002. Representatives Dudley Goodlette (R-Naples) and Rafael Arza (R-Miami) led the House delegation that pushed the measure, while Senator Lisa Carlton (R-Osprey) and others led the Senate.

The bill was a source of strong debate, mostly along party lines. Democratic leadership in the House and Senate publicly stated they believed the proposals contained within HB 1A were insufficient and not consistent with the desires of most Floridians who supported the constitutional amendment.

Democratic leadership stated the number of 18 children allowed in the classroom is too many, despite the inclusion of an adult assistant in the classroom. Republicans stated that 18 children per classroom represents a maximum and the average across the state may be lower.

Democrats also stated the three hours per day the bill mandates that children spend in the classroom is not enough and will not provide sufficient time for effective learning and teaching. Republicans countered that the number is an average, and that local coalitions may structure and allot classroom time as best fits the needs of the community.

The bill contains a number of measures for implementing Universal Pre-K. Specifically:

Pre-K Program options:

• A 540-instructional-hour school-year Pre-K program delivered by a private pre kindergarten provider that has a director with a pre kindergarten director credential, that has classes of at least 4 and not more than 18 students, and that has for each class at least one instructor who holds at least a child development associate or equivalent state-approved credential and who completes a 5-hour course in emergent literacy training;
• A 300-hour summer Pre-K program delivered by a public or private pre kindergarten school that has classes of at least four but no more than 10 students, and that has for each class at least one Florida-certified teacher or an instructor who holds a bachelor’s or higher degree in specified areas;
• If offered in a school district that meets class-size reduction requirements, a 540-instructional-hour school-year Pre-K program delivered by a public school that has classes of at least four and not more than 18 students and that has for each class at least one instructor who holds at least a CDA certification.

Pre-K Program requirements:

• Every Pre-K program must provide appropriate adult supervision for students at all times.
• Pre-kindergarten instructors are to be fingerprinted and screened and prohibits the employment of an instructor whose educator certificate is suspended or revoked or whose background includes certain criminal offenses.
• By the 2010-2011 school year, each Pre-K class must have at least one instructor who holds an associate’s or higher degree for each Pre-K class under specified circumstances.
• The bill shifts responsibility of oversight from the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to the Agency for Workforce Innovation. The state will be organized into 30 local level coalitions serving at least 2000 students each (the local level coalitions will ensure a degree of local control).
• Allows individual schools to set up their own curriculum.
• If a provider’s or school’s kindergarten readiness rate falls below the minimum rate established by the State Board of Education for 2 consecutive years, the bill specifies the school be placed on probation and may be required to use a DOE-approved curriculum. If the provider or school falls below the minimum rate after 2 consecutive years on probation, the bill requires the ultimate removal of the school from the Pre-K program.
• The bill calls for a $11.5 million appropriation for initial implementation. Annual appropriation is projected to start at $350 million.
• The program will initially serve over 150,000 four- and five-year-olds.

Governor Jeb Bush approved HB 1A on Jan. 3. He stated publicly that HB 1A is a strong beginning and that technicalities and funding issues will be addressed and worked out during the 2005 regular session.