A HOLIDAY GIFT FROM THE LEGISLATURE: PRE-K PROVIDERS CAN DOUBLE DIP

Our Legislature, in passing the new pre-kindergarten law, provided a possible boon to private companies who already provide pre-K services and receive money from the federal government for doing so: They can also bill the state for the same services without having to provide additional or improved service!

The loophole was discovered by Democratic State Representative Lorraine Ausley of Tallahassee, who serves on the Pre K-12 Committee and the Education Council in the House.

But before providers begin celebrating about the chance to do the classic double dip, the Florida Partnership For School Readiness, which handles federal money for low income families, is looking at the situation and could change the formula once the state program is started.

It would certainly help that these things are thought out carefully before sending a bill with this kind of loophole through the Legislature. Now it could have been intentional...eh?