LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT
May 13, 2004

URGENT

WHAT:  Call to Action Legislative Alert

WHY:     Ask Gov. Bush to sign into law the Universal Pre-K (UPK) legislation - HB 821

WHEN:  Immediately.  Time is of the essence.

HOW:     Address the letter to Gov. Bush and direct to Bob Ward, policy coordinator/Gov.’s
                 Mail to: Office/bob.ward.@laspbs.state.fl.us

Please convey in your letter to Gov. Bush that the UPK legislation provides good public policy by setting an educational foundation for 4-year-old children whose parents choose to place them in pre-k programs.  HB 821 sets high academic accountability requirements by requiring a literacy based program for providers and requiring 85 percent of the children over each two year period to score above average on the screening instrument chosen by the state. Program providers are to be accredited to meet Gold Seal approval. Teachers are to possess Child Development Associate credentials and obtain clock hours in emergent literacy instruction and training on how to teach children with special needs. You, the Commissioner of Education and Early Learning Council members are required to offer recommendations relating to academic accountability, which includes but is not limited to additional credentialing, teacher-pupil ratios and assessments.

If this legislation were to be vetoed, the Legislature would not have the time needed to start over to address the multitude of issues within UPK. Because the legislation would be pending next winter, parents of pre-schoolers would be registering their children in programs for the following fall without knowing which providers would be participating in UPK. In short, that scenario would lead to much confusion and frustration. On the other hand, HB 821 provides a pre-k model that nearly every faith-based and non-denominational early childhood education group in Florida has supported.

It is my understanding that the private sector would work with you and your staff on any of their concerns as the Legislature moves forward with the appropriations of UPK and any follow-up legislation that may be deemed necessary.  This would be much more preferable than vetoing the bill.

I urge you to allow Florida to move forward by signing the UPK bill into law. Thank you.

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