VPK enrollment is growing across Manatee and Florida

MANATEE — The signs are everywhere.

“VPK HERE,” they read outside schools with names like Grasshopper Academy, Tiny Tots University and Busy Bee Learning Academy.

The state-funded, legislative-mandated program called Voluntary PreKindergarten was created to prepare every 4-year-old in Florida for kindergarten. It’s free, and statistics show it works.

Yet of the reported 3,777 4-year-olds in Manatee County, only 60 percent of them — 2,430 children — attend VPK right now, according to state and local officials.

The state gives each county $2,500 per child enrolled, so Manatee collects $8 million in funding for VPK throughout the year.

The program is in its fifth year, yet not one county across the state is anywhere near 100 percent enrollment. The state has appropriated about $367 million for the 2009-10 VPK school year.

In Manatee, the county has room to serve another 1,000 children in the 209 provider centers here, said Paul Sharff, chief executive officer of the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, the nonprofit organization that oversees the program.

That means the county could be getting up to $2.5 million more, which could translate into hundreds of more jobs in education.

“All these children are losing out on free education,” Sharff said.

Still, enrollment numbers are growing here and across the state.

During the past 15 months, 641 more youngsters have joined VPK in Manatee. On Sept. 1, 2008, only 1,789 students were enrolled, compared with 2,430 as of Friday.

Enrollment is up statewide from the 2007-08 school year (134,718) to the 2008-09 school year (147,764), according to statistics from the Agency for Workforce Innovation.

Summer enrollment is not available yet for this year. But even without those numbers, 138,259 children statewide were in VPK programs across the state as of Friday.

Although Manatee has room for another 1,000 children in its current facilities, it wouldn’t be a problem if more than that wanted to enter.

“These providers would make room for them and hire more teachers,” said Sharon Oats, the local ELC director of operations. “Anytime you can bring in a free program, it helps the local economy.”

Filling the classes

The Manatee County School District offers VPK in 20 public schools. Of them, vacancies include: G.D. Rogers Garden and Braden River elementaries, one seat; Manatee High School, two; Gullett Elementary, three; and Lakewood Ranch High School, 10.

The rest are full.

“We consider ourselves to be at capacity,” said Lynette Edwards, the district assistant superintendent of curriculum. “We’re planning to expand to schools including Ballard and McNeal elementaries during the next school year.”

Freedom is starting a program in January. They’re already searching for staff, Edwards said.

“It gives children a really rich preschool experience,” she said. “I would hope more parents consider it.”