UPK Legislation Testimony (12/9/03)

Testimony by the Staff
of the
Florida Catholic Conference

TALKING POINTS

UPK LEGISLATION
HOUSE JOINT COMMITTEE
DECEMBER 9, 2003

I. Introduction

Good morning Madam chair and committee members. My name is Larry Keough. I am the Associate for Education at the Florida Catholic Conference and lobbyist for Florida Catholic Schools.

It had been our great hope before the Advisory Council released its Universal Pre-K recommendations that our early childhood programs that are an integral part of our K-8 schools and our licensed stand-along programs would be able to participate in Universal Pre-K.

The harsh reality is we can’t based on the recommendations proposed by the Advisory Council. This is not my opinion. It is fact. Although our programs that are juxtaposed with schools are accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Programs, none of our programs are nationally accredited and as such, Gold Seal approved.

II.
Public/private partnership

Although Universal Pre-K has been billed as a public-private partnership, it is in name only. Approximately 80 percent of the pre-k programs in the state are in the private sector, yet we were represented by one-at large representative and one faith-based representative within the 19-member Advisory Council.

There was considerable discussion about the state not having the financial wherewithal to provide the funding for the 151,000 4-year-olds expected to participate in UPK by 2005. Yet, the recommended standards from the Advisory Council are clearly private-sector driven.

III.
Big Picture

As each of you know, the Constitutional Amendment that was adopted requires the state to implement a program in which parents of 4-year-olds can voluntarily place their children in a UPK early childhood program. But the Advisory Council’s recommendations go far beyond a program for 4-year-olds. In fact, Universal Pre-K is a subset within the proposed early child hood infrastructure children from birth or thereabouts to 5.

We are concerned that the Advisory Council’s recommendations are on a collision course with the protections and rights afforded to parents. I say this because when one reviews the projected governance model for early childhood, there is great concern that this model, if signed into law, would take the decision-making away from parents and authorize government to determine under what circumstances children need intervention and when they should be institutionalized.

As committee members, each of you may recall that there was much controversy a few years ago concerning the Learning Gateway legislation. At that time, there was much concern that a new widening effect would occur in which children, based on an index of indicators, would be required to be evaluated and referred for intervention services.

The proposed early childhood model goes well beyond the confines of Learning Gateway.

IV.
Conclusion

I hope this committee and the Legislature at large can collaborate with the private and public providers alike to frame a program for 4 year-olds that is a model example of a private-public partnership.

Thank you.

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I.	Introduction
	Good morning Madam chair and committee members. My name is Larry Keough. I am the Associate for Education at the Florida Catholic Conference and lobbyist for Florida Catholic Schools.
	It had been our great hope before the Advisory Council released its Universal Pre-K recommendations that our early childhood programs that are an integral part of our K-8 schools and our licensed stand-along programs would be able to participate in Universal Pre-K.
	The harsh reality is we can’t based on the recommendations proposed by the Advisory Council. This is not my opinion. It is fact. Although our programs that are juxtaposed with schools are accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference Accreditation Programs, none of our programs are nationally accredited and as such, Gold Seal approved.
II.	Public/private partnership
	Although Universal Pre-K has been billed as a public-private partnership, it is in name only. Approximately 80 percent of the pre-k programs in the state are in the private sector, yet we were represented by one-at large representative and one faith-based representative within the 19-member Advisory Council.
	There was considerable discussion about the state not having the financial wherewithal to provide the funding for the 151,000 4-year-olds expected to participate in UPK by 2005. Yet, the recommended standards from the Advisory Council are clearly private-sector driven.
III.	Big Picture
	As each of you know, the Constitutional Amendment that was adopted requires the state to implement a program in which parents of 4-year-olds can voluntarily place their children in a UPK early childhood program. But the Advisory Council’s recommendations go far beyond a program for 4-year-olds. In fact, Universal Pre-K is a subset within the proposed early child hood infrastructure children from birth or thereabouts to 5.
	We are concerned that the Advisory Council’s recommendations are on a collision course with the protections and rights afforded to parents. I say this because when one reviews the projected governance model for early childhood, there is great concern that this model, if signed into law, would take the decision-making away from parents and authorize government to determine under what circumstances children need intervention and when they should be institutionalized.
	As committee members, each of you may recall that there was much controversy a few years ago concerning the Learning Gateway legislation. At that time, there was much concern that a new widening effect would occur in which children, based on an index of indicators, would be required to be evaluated and referred for intervention services.
	The proposed early childhood model goes well beyond the confines of Learning Gateway.
IV.	Conclusion
	I hope this committee and the Legislature at large can collaborate with the private and public providers alike to frame a program for 4 year-olds that is a model example of a private-public partnership.
	Thank you.