Children’s Week in Tallahassee is an annual event in which legislators, policy makers, business leaders and child advocates from across the state come together to focus on the needs of kids.
The Early Learning Coalition of Duval said Monday on First Coast Connect With Melissa Ross the big priority this year is to get lawmakers to invest more in the state’s VPK or voluntary pre-k program.
“Ninety percent of a child’s brain is developed before the age of 5. The academic curriculum we have in our VPK programs is critical for helping to ensure that the brain is developed so that the child is ready to enter kindergarten,” said Coalition CEO Denise Marzullo.
Florida has one of the top free VPK programs in the nation, according to Marzullo, but not every child gets into a high quality program, which is why is critical for parents to be fully informed about their options.
To learn more, visit EarlyLearningJax.org and listen to the full interview from Monday’s First Coast Connect.
Melissa Ross can be reached at mross@wjct.org, 904-358-6382 or on Twitter at @MelissainJax.
