The Educational E D G E

A 2002 ballot initiative approved by Florida voters makes the Sunshine State one of the few with free, universal and voluntary pre-kindergarten (VPK) programs.

Statewide, more than 2.6 million children have benefited from VPK since its 2005-06 start. Locally, nearly 7,500 children attended 260 different VPK programs in school year 2021-22 in the four-county region served by the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida.

At the same time, more than 1,000 children in Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties remain on waiting lists for quality early childhood education —a pivotal head start that research shows gives young learners a significant advantage in early literacy and other academic mileposts.

This month, we spotlight two local nonprofits working to prepare early learners for success in both school and in life.

Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida

As one of 30 Early Learning Coalitions in the state, the ELC of Southwest Florida administers the VPK program in the fourcounty region of Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades. Its motto: Nurturing the young children of Southwest Florida and those who care for them.

The Coalition serves as a clearinghouse for the hundreds of accredited VPK programs in the area from which parents can choose — public and private schools but also some childcare centers, home-based and faith-based organizations.

Parents choose a VPK provider based on what programs best meet their children’s needs, with a curriculum that includes literacy, math, science, and social and emotional development.

Children who are four years old on or before Sept. 1 can sign up for the upcoming school year, while kids whose fourth birthday falls between Feb. 2 and Sept. 1 can delay their VPK enrollment until the next year, when they are five, provided they don’t yet enroll in kindergarten.

“The benefits of VPK are immense,” said Doug Szabo, a Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt stockholder, Lee County Bar Association Executive Council member and ELC of Southwest Florida vice-chair.

Statewide, fewer than half of the roughly 188,000 students enrolled in kindergarten in fall 2022 completed VPK, with 62% of that group deemed ready for kindergarten based on early literacy tests. By comparison, only 40% of those who participated in VPK, but didn’t finish, scored as high, with just 37% of those who didn’t attend at all deemed ready for kindergarten.

Beyond VPK, the Coalition offers a host of resources for both parents and childcare providers, from CPR and first-aid training to bilingual curriculum updates and financial aid opportunities.

Szabo is particularly fond of the Coalition’s Literacy Buddy Program, which provides children in need with donated books to take home and share with their families. Adult buddies and their matches exchange letters, promoting communication and connection as well as reading fluency.

“It’s no cliché to say that the children are our future,” he said. “Whatever we can do to invest in the success of future generations is going to be invaluable.”

Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc.

Started in 1967, Child Care of Southwest Florida manages five childcare centers in the region: The Children’s Learning Center, Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center, and P.A. Geraci Child Development Center, each in Fort Myers; Children’s Garden of LaBelle; and The Community Children’s Center in Lehigh Acres.

The organization also oversees and coordinates the Department of Children and Families’ statemandated childcare training and competency exams in the five-county region (including Charlotte) and administers the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Child Care Food Programs in 24 counties.

Each of its centers is accredited by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Learning Leaders and recognized as Gold Seal Quality Care Programs through the Florida Department of Children and Families. The organization is also a United Way partner agency.

For CEO Chris Hansen, VPK is an essential tool to help even the educational playing field when it comes to families with resources versus those who do without.

“Research shows that 48 percent of children from low-income families start school ready to learn, compared to 75 percent of children from middle-income families,” he said. “It’s no surprise that a great proportion of middleincome and high-income families send their children to an early learning center compared to lower-income families, and that achievement gap continues throughout the education spectrum.”

The organization also provides Primary Needs Scholarships for health care workers, educators, retail associates, restaurant employees and others to work full-time, allowing those in entrylevel positions to take classes on nights and weekends. Individuals and businesses can support the scholarship program through four giving levels: $40 to sponsor a child for one day, $200 for a week, $800 for a month or $10,000 for one year.

To donate, visit CCSWFL.org/get-involved, call 239-278-1002 or email info@ccswfl. org. All donations are tax deductible.

To apply for a VPK voucher, visit VPKSWFL.org or call the Early Learning Coalition at 239-935-6100. You can also visit the Fort Myers office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance, located at 2675 Winkler Ave. The office provides free kiosks, and no appointments are needed. The regular school year program offers up to 540 hours of preschool, with classes capped at 20 students.

Doug Szabo is a stockholder of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., dedicating his career and practice to complex business cases involving corporate and partnership disputes, trade secret litigation, real estate disputes, and breach of contract lawsuits. He also has a substantial bankruptcy practice. Doug was recently named to the Best Lawyers in America list.

Chris Hansen is CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit early childhood education provider with five accredited learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties. Chris is a native of Lee County and was formerly the Chief of EMS, Deputy Director of Public Safety, and District Four Director on the Lee Health System Board.