Florida: Auditing early learning programs - will more states follow?

This past December, Florida's Auditor General released an audit of "the governance structure of the State's early learning programs, Statewide administration and oversight of the School Readiness and Voluntary Prekindergarten Education (VPK) Programs (the primary early learning programs in the State), and early learning coalition program delivery and operations."

While the audit found that "as a whole, ... the statewide governance structure of the early learning programs ... was adequate for purposes of the School Readiness and VPK Programs", the audit also identified areas in which "efficiency and effectiveness of early learning program administration and accountability could be enhanced." The audit makes 32 findings grouped under the broad areas of "Early Learning Programs Governance and Accountability", "Statewide Early Learning Program Administration and Oversight" and "Early Learning Coalitions", addressing such critical areas as reimbursement processes, curricular review and approval, implementation of the Statewide Quality Rating and Improvement System, parental program eligibility and copayment determinations, and employee background checks.

It is commendable that Florida has audited its early learning offerings. Few states, it would seem, have conducted a similar audit, yet, as the study verified, an area governed and funded by multiple entities and offered by such a diversity of providers is ripe for this type of analysis. Let's hope more states follow Florida's example and audit their early learning programs, to more efficiently spend resources and improve the quality of services and oversight.