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 appropriated to benefit students, not schools. Their
primary purpose is to foster the education of individuals, not the
operation of 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, VPK funds are vouchers
that families may direct to any participating provider – including
public, private or faith-based schools, daycare centers or childcare
homes. |
