Steps Taken to Improve the VPK Program; Additional Actions Needed To Increase Program Accountability, Report No. 10-57, November 2010
 

The Department of Education has taken steps to address several accountability issues identified in our 2008 report on the Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program. The department has increased information on screening requirements given to providers, improved data record matching, and improved the timeliness of the release of provider readiness ratings. However, the department should take additional steps to strengthen program accountability by annually reporting the percentage of kindergarten students who meet all state readiness measures and by including this percentage in its provider rating methodology.

What were our earlier findings?

Report No. 08-23 61% of Voluntary Prekindergarten Children Are Ready for Kindergarten; Accountability Process Needs Improvement,published in April 2008.

Which Government Program Summaries contain related information?

Early Learning Programs

What other OPPAGA-related materials are available?

• Report No. 12-06 VPK Teachers’ Education Level Does Not Substantially Influence Kindergarten Readiness Scores; Program and Provider Differences Affect Readiness Rates,published in February 2012.
• Report No. 08-61 Early Learning Coalitions’ Administration and Program Support Expenses Vary Widely; Opinions Divided on Coalition Efficiency,published in October 2008.
• Report No. 08-35 The Governance Structure of Florida’s Early Education Programs Presents Some Administrative Challenges,published in June 2008.
• Report No. 06-60 Progress Report: School Readiness Guidance and Communication Improve; Fiscal Issues, Evaluation Need Attention,published in August 2006.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by telephone (850/488-0021), by FAX (850/487-9213), in person, or by mail (OPPAGA Report Production, Claude Pepper Building, Room 312, 111 W. Madison St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475).
e-mail address: oppaga@oppaga.fl.gov