Bill > S0512

This bill modifies the funding mechanism for Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program (VPK) by establishing a new method for calculating and adjusting the base student allocation. Starting in the 2026-2027 program year, the base student allocation for both school-year and summer prekindergarten programs will be adjusted annually on July 1 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), with a maximum annual increase of 5 percent. The bill requires the Division of Early Learning to publish the adjusted base student allocation on its website and provide the amount to each early learning coalition by May 1 for the upcoming program year. The legislation ensures that base student allocations for both public schools and private prekindergarten providers will be equal, and it allows the Legislature to provide additional funding or supplements for the VPK program through the General Appropriations Act. The changes aim to provide more predictable and potentially increasing funding for early childhood education providers, with built-in protections against significant fluctuations in funding. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/512