Sen. Bill Montford said Wednesday he's considering trying to get the Legislature to earmark money for more slots in school readiness programs statewide.
The state's 31 early learning coalitions were stunned this summer by a change in the formula for how the money for the programs gets allocated causing some programs to see their money diverted unexpectedly.
For example, in Montford's district in North Florida, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend lost 4.5 percent of its budget money that was reallocated to other early learning efforts. The coalition that serves Miami-Dade and Monroe counties saw $22 million reallocated throughout the state, causing it to have to cut program slots by 6,000 over the next five years.
The program also saw its overall statewide funding drop by nearly $9 million.
Although Gov. Rick Scott last week unveiled a new plan to boost education, it's centered on K-12 students.
All the early learning coalitions have waiting lists, and Montford a former Leon County school superintendent said school readiness is as important as any part of public education.
He noted that the incoming Senate president, Don Gaetz, is also a former superintendent, as well as a school board member. "And of anybody in the Legislature, he understands the importance of it," Montford, D-Tallahassee, said of the Republican Gaetz. "I have confidence that if I were to bring something forward it would certainly get a good hearing."
If the state is going to focus on education, Montford said, it should focus on early learning and pre-natal care as well.
Several legislators have expressed concern about the new funding formula, and cuts to spots in early learning programs.
Sen. Anitere Flores wrote Scott in late July asking the governor to push for a review of the new system.
"Every child deserves the opportunity to participate in a program that will prepare them with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in life," wrote Flores, R-Miami, in a letter asking Scott to work with early learning coalitions to "develop a means to evenly distribute funds."
Rep. Marti Coley, R-Marianna, one of the House's most prominent members on education issues, said she thinks it will come up again in the coming session.
"The funding formula is very concerning, and I have been in touch with the governor's office and the early learning coalitions to see if we can't readdress that with greater input from the early learning coalitions," Coley said. "So I anticipate that this will be an ongoing process and that we will readdress the funding formula in the upcoming months."
