| A constitutional amendment was passed in November | | | | of 300 hours. VPK is free to all four year olds, whose |
| 2002 that established the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten | | | | parents are residents of Florida. Parents are |
| (VPK) program for all four year olds in the state of | | | | responsible for costs for any care before and after |
| Florida. The program benefits not only the children but | | | | classes, as well as transportation. The VPK hours are |
| the Tampa schools, as well, by preparing children for | | | | paid by the state. Providers are not permitted to |
| kindergarten and beyond. | | | | charge a registration fee or require parents to agree |
| Documented studies have shown that preschool is | | | | to any additional services in order to receive the VPK |
| one of the best investments for any city and its youth. | | | | services. |
| A California study found that, for every dollar spent on | | | | The first year of implementation for VPK was the |
| preschool, the city and schools save $2.62. This | | | | 2005-2006 school year and summer session, during |
| savings is realized through lower juvenile crime and | | | | which the program served more than 100,000 Florida |
| high school dropout costs. Another study showed that | | | | four year olds (approximately 40 percent of all four |
| Tampa schools' children will be more likely to read by | | | | year olds in the state). Close to 66,000 children already |
| the third grade, less likely to require remedial education, | | | | have registered for the 2006-2007 school year, as of |
| and more likely to graduate high school and enter | | | | August 3rd. |
| college. The savings for the Tampa schools come | | | | For Hillsborough County, in which the Tampa schools |
| from the decrease in remedial classes and program to | | | | are located, more than 7,100 children have registered. |
| keep students in school that would otherwise be | | | | This is up from last year's 6,700 for both the fall and |
| required. | | | | summer sessions. |
| For the Tampa schools' area, the Early Learning | | | | Tampa schools' area VPK providers, however, have |
| Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELC) administers the | | | | been slow to sign up this year, according to ELC's |
| VPK program. They ensure that the future Tampa | | | | executive director, Dave McGerald. Also, many Tampa |
| schools children develop the skills necessary to | | | | schools' area providers did not renew their contracts |
| become good readers and successful Tampa schools | | | | until late in the summer. McGerald does expect to |
| students. The VPK program includes standards for | | | | serve as many as 10,000 children this year, which |
| literacy skills, appropriate currcula, substantial instruction | | | | includes those in the Tampa schools' area. |
| periods, qualified instructors, manageable class sizes, | | | | Even though VPK classes have begun in the Tampa |
| and appropriate accountability. | | | | schools' area, children can be enrolled for six months |
| Parents may choose from the school year program of | | | | after the session starts. The sooner children are |
| 540 hours that begins in the fall or the summer session | | | | enrolled, however, the more benefits they receive. |