Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

61% of Voluntary Prekindergarten Children Are Ready for Kindergarten; Accountability Process Needs Improvement

Report 08-23, April 2008

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Report Summary

  • More than half (61%) of children who attended Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Program in 2006-07 were subsequently deemed to be ready for kindergarten and demonstrated higher levels of kindergarten readiness than children who did not attend the program. Children attending the VPK school-year program had similar kindergarten readiness rates to those who attended the VPK summer program.
  • The method the Department of Education uses to rate VPK providers can result in identifying some as low performing even through a greater percentage of children they serve are deemed kindergarten ready on all readiness measures than those providers not identified as low performing. Modifying the readiness rating methodology would substantially address this issue. The rating method also excluded 521 (10%) providers in 2006‑07. Of those providers excluded 45% were not rated because of a lack of screening results. The department is working to address this problem.
  • Providers who were deemed 'low performing' were more likely to serve at-risk or minority children who may enter the VPK program substantially behind other children. As these providers can lose program eligibility if they do not improve readiness outcomes, it will be critical to provide them with timely assistance to improve performance and maintain program access for at-risk and minority children.

Related Reports
  1. VPK Teachers' Education Level Does Not Substantially Influence Kindergarten Readiness Scores; Program and Provider Differences Affect Readiness Rates
    Report 12-06 February 2012
  2. Steps Taken to Improve the VPK Program; Additional Actions Needed To Increase Program Accountability
    Report 10-57 November 2010
  3. Many Florida Programs Enhance Students' Career and College Readiness
    Report 10-56 November 2010
  4. School Readiness Guidance and Communication Improve; Fiscal Issues, Evaluation Need Attention
    Report 06-60 August 2006
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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