Pre-K bill is a fair start

Jan. 4, 2005

The universal pre-kindergarten legislation signed into law Sunday by Gov. Jeb Bush after a special legislative session is a fair starting point for this needed program, but it remains short of the first-class system Florida's children deserve.

Legislators should be encouraged to fully fund the start-up program and look for ways to improve it as soon as feasible, especially to lengthen the hours.

Bush, who vetoed earlier pre-K legislation last year because it fell short of national standards, backed off a little this time rather than risk starting the 2005 school year without a program in place.

Important decisions still have to be made in the upcoming regular legislative session. Current estimates are that 150,000 4-year-olds will enroll in the voluntary program at a cost to the state of $2,200 per child. First-year cost is estimated at $350 million, and we should keep up the pressure for that amount.

The program is kicking off at three hours a day, 540 hours for the year, about half what is used in successful programs elsewhere and too little for Bush as well, on the first time around.

If pre-K is to be something better than the public baby-sitting service its detractors claim, it will have to be more extensive and more expansive than this program — and it's time for Florida go first class in education. The current legislation already calls for a gradual upgrading of teacher credentials, which will cost something.

Urge our leaders in Tallahassee to elevate pre-K in Florida as soon as possible.