Program Facts	              
Title I, Part A - Preschool
Florida
September 2009

GENERAL

Program 
The objective of a Title I, Part A preschool program is to prepare children to succeed in elementary school.  
Florida does not include early childhood/preschool as part of its elementary and secondary school system.
Targeted Population
A Title I, Part A preschool program provides educational services for children below the age at which the child would attend elementary education who live in Title I attendance areas.
Blended Programs
Title I, Part A funds may be used to extend other preschool programs such as Early Head Start/Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, Even Start, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), migrant prekindergarten programs, and prekindergarten program for children with disabilities.
Did you know?
High-quality, early childhood programs benefit disadvantaged children into adulthood. Children who attend high-quality full-day prekindergarten programs have greater improvement in test scores than those who attend half-day programs. 
Preschool-Children Participation Data (Title I Preschool Blended with Other Preschool Programs - SY 2007- 2008)

Participation by Gender

•	2,953 female preschool-children participated
•	2,901 male preschool-children participated
•	A total of 5,854 preschool-children participated

Participation by Subgroup (duplicated)

•	62 or 1.05 % students with disabilities participated
•	1,892 or 32.31 % English language learners participated
•	5,047 or 86.21 % FRPL students participated

Participation by Ethnicity

•	85 or 1.45 % Asian preschool-children participated
•	2,511 or 42.89 % Black preschool-children participated
•	2,466 or 42.13 % Hispanic preschool-children participated
•	6 or 0.10 % American Indian preschool-children participated
•	136 or 2.32 % Multiracial preschool-children participated
•	650 or 11.10 % White preschool-children participated
•	5,854 or 100 % preschool-children participated 

District Participation
•	15 Districts implemented Title I preschool programs in 2007-08
•	Dade County enrolled the largest amount of children in Title I preschool programs
•	Districts blended Title I preschool programs with other preschool programs including
     Head Start, VPK, prekindergarten program for children with disabilities, and not-  
     identified other preschool programs

•	In Bay 33 preschool-children participated
•	In Brevard 514 preschool-children participated
•	In Broward 11 preschool-children participated
•	In Collier 68 preschool-children participated
•	In Dade 3,222 preschool-children participated
•	In Duval 334 preschool-children participated
•	In Escambia 249 preschool-children participated
•	In Gadsden 68 preschool-children participated
•	In Hendry 46 preschool-children participated
•	In Highlands 51 preschool-children participated
•	In Indian River 35 preschool-children participated
•	In Lee 120 preschool-children participated
•	In Manatee 12 preschool-children participated
•	In Marion 236 preschool-children participated
•	In Orange 855 preschool-children participated
•	Total number of students participating was 5,854

Readiness Data
Kindergarten students were screened during the first 30 calendar days of 2008-2009 using the Florida Kindergarten Readiness Screener (FLKRS). FLKRS is a set of:
•	Early Childhood Observation System (ECHOS)- an observational instrument that is used to 	monitor the skills, knowledge, and behaviors a student demonstrates or needs to develop
•	Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) - Letter Naming Fluency (LNF) and 	Initial Sound Fluency (ISF).

Statewide:
•	494 Preschool-children were not tested by ECHOS
•	4,778 Preschool-children were ready tested by ECHOS 
•	582 Preschool-children were not ready tested by ECHOS 
•	4,482 Preschool-children were ready tested by DIBELS – LNF 
•	878 Preschool-children were not ready tested by DIBELS – LNF 
•	3,548 Preschool-children were ready tested by DIBELS – ISF 
•	1,812 Preschool-children were not ready tested by DIBELS – ISF 

Readiness – ECHOS
•	8% of the preschool-children were not tested by ECHOS
•	82% of the preschool-children were ready for ECHOS
•	10% of the preschool-children were not ready tested by ECHOS

Readiness – DIBELS - LNF
•	8% of the preschool-children were not tested by DIBELS - LNF
•	77% of the preschool-children were ready for DIBELS - LNF
•	15% of the preschool-children were not ready tested by DIBELS - LNF

Readiness – DIBELS - ISF
•	8% of the preschool-children were not tested by DIBELS - ISF
•	61% of the preschool-children were ready for DIBELS - ISF
•	31% of the preschool-children were not ready tested by DIBELS - ISF

FUNDING
Federal Allocation (2009-2010 School year)
•	Basic Title I Grant: $629,801,659.00
•	No cap for Title I, Part A preschool 

Allowable Expenses are
•	Direct educational services
•	Teachers’ and paraprofessionals’ salaries
•	Professional development
•	Counseling services
•	Minor remodeling
•	Leasing or renting space
•	Comprehensive services, including access to medical services or transportation 
•	Diagnostic screening

RESOURCES
Web site at http://fldoe.org/bsa/title1/parta-preschool.asp

Contacts
Florida Department of Education
Anke Toth, Program Specialist
Phone number (850) 245-0752 or email address: Anke.Toth@fldoe.org

School District Title I, Part A Preschool Contacts accessible at 
https://app1.fldoe.org/flbpso/nclbchoice/bpsoDirectory/directory.aspx