The purpose of all funds for public education is that students learn what is necessary to become educated and responsible adults. Clearly children can learn those things at public schools, private schools, or even without attending a school – by learning at home or in other settings. The funds are meant to foster the education of individuals, not the operation of government institutions.
For this reason almost all of the public funds for education in the years before K-12 may be used at public, private or faith-based schools, daycare centers or childcare homes. To put it another way, both the federal government and the state of Florida provide tuition vouchers to families during their children’s preschool years.
From ages 0 to 3 only children from low-income families and children considered at-risk of neglect or abuse are eligible for public funds. The main programs are Head Start, Early Head Start, and Florida’s School Readiness Program.
By contrast all of Florida four-year-olds are eligible for funds through the state’s Voluntary Pre Kindergarten Program (VPK). Because of the efforts of Floridians for School Choice and others, the VPK funds are vouchers that the families may direct to any participating provider – including public, private or faith-based schools, daycare centers or childcare homes. |
