|
Top Standards of High Quality UPK: - Fully qualified teachers with training in early education
- Sufficient staff: a 1 to 10 teacher to student ratio
- A maximum class size of 20 students
- Research-based, high-quality curricula
- Parental choice between a half-day and full-day program
Background: In 2002 Florida voters passed a Universal Pre-Kindergarten Amendment to the state constitution: “Every four-year-old child in Florida shall be provided by the State of Florida a high quality pre-kindergarten learning opportunity in the form of an early childhood development and education program which shall be voluntary, high quality, free, and delivered according to professionally accepted standards.” Florida’s Constitution Section 1: Public Education, paragraph (b)
In 2004, the Florida legislature passed a UPK bill. However, this bill created what would have been a very low quality UPK program which bifurcated the UPK and school readiness systems; failed to require basic curricula, adequate time for instruction or appropriate teacher/student ratios; and, authorized “watered-down” program accreditation and teacher standards. The governor rightfully vetoed this bill. This month, legislators will try again and, this time, decide the fate of Florida's pre-K program. Cost: The estimated cost of fully funding this high-quality UPK program is between $400 and $600 million annually. The Legislation  Proposed Council Bill (PDF 132.0 KB)
Last Year's Recap UPK KeyPrinciples vs House Bill 821 (PDF 59 KB) Additional Resources & Links Statewide Newspaper Articles
View newspaper articles from around the state covering the latest developments. UPK Advisory Council Report
Report and recommendations to the Florida State Board of Education - October 21, 2003. www.UPKFlorida.org
A link to the UPK site sponsored by the governors office. Children's Campaign
Information about Children's Campaign, Inc. - "Who's for Kids and Who's Just Kidding"
|
