Manatee Schools Open Doors for Pre-Kindergarten: Little Learners Wanted
Posted on: Wednesday, 31 May 2006, 12:00 CDT
By Erica Rodriguez, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.
May 31--MANATEE -- School is out. And Pre-K is in.
Schools throughout Manatee County will re-open their doors this morning for Summer Voluntary Pre-kindergarten, better known as Summer VPK.
"It's an opportunity for children to be immersed in a learning environment," said Joanne McFarlin, early childhood education coordinator for the Manatee County School District. "So the first day of kindergarten isn't such a shocker for them."
Summer VPK is a free pre-kindergarten program offered by public and private schools in the summer months.
In November 2002, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment to initiate voluntary pre-kindergarten education. Language in the amendment called for it to go into effect during the 2005-06 school year. The law calls for 540 hours of instruction during the school year, or 300 hours of instruction during a shortened summer session.
In Manatee County public schools this year, Summer VPK is scheduled to run from today until July 28 on weekdays from 8:15 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. -- while some private providers have set up different schedules.
Children who turned 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2005, and who have not yet participated in a VPK program are eligible to participate in Summer VPK, McFarlin said, and enrollment is open until mid-July in public schools.
Students are expected to spend seven and a half hours in class each day -- and will be served free breakfast and lunch. But parents may pick their children up early if they feel seven and a half hours makes for too long a day, McFarlin said.
Summer VPK is not zoned. That means parents may choose an available VPK school site that is most convenient for them.
Transportation is not provided for Summer VPK, organizers said. But Carol Hunt, executive director for the Resource Connection for Kids, said a listing of before- and after-school care providers is available for parents who need to drop off or pick up at varied times.
Parents interested in more information about Summer VPK may contact the Resource Connection for Kids at 745-5949 or visit www.rc4k.org [http://www.rc4k.org].
Erica Rodriguez, Herald reporter,
can be reached at erodriguez@HeraldToday.com [mailto:erodriguez@HeraldToday.com] or at 745-7095.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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Source: The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.)
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