An Analysis of Florida’s Voluntary Pre-k Program

This study concludes that the voucher system used for Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten Program favors school choice over equity and social cohesion. Because schools are free to charge fees for instruction provided beyond the $2,500 per student covered by the vouchers, cost can become a barrier to entry for poor families wanting to enroll their children in some programs. The result can be that access by poorest families can be limited despite the existence of a state program intended to provide preschool for all. 'After the first 540 hours [of instruction], I [the provider] can charge whatever I want,' says researcher Shana Kennedy who used the framework for assessing Florida's program developed by NIEER Scientific Advisory Board member Dr. Henry Levin.