state evaluation finds little stars out of compliance for vpk

Little Stars is a wonderful preschool. No fraud is reported. Check out your source, read the report. No findings reported.

As a parent who's had most of the kids in his (extended) family go through Little Stars Preschool (LSP), I know the above post by littlestarparent is totally and completely incorrect. I don't normally write in, but this is so wrong I registered just to reply.

For starters, the "VPK Inspecting Group" (actually called Episcopal Children Services (http://www.elcpsj.org)), responding to complaints from one particular parent in all instances, has never found anything wrong with that school. Simply visit the link, get a phone number and call ECS for yourself if you are researching good pre-Ks in the Ponte Vedra area. Get the truth unbiased.

Second, as sarah101 mentions, check the school rankings. LSP consistently ranks highest in tests in elementary readiness and skills. The reason for this is above-par quality and concern for the kids. From the level of security, to the activities, to the wealth of resources (art, music, languages, etc.) the school has no competition.

The above stated quality and performance level costs money, more than VPK delivers and the Church that funds the school asks for supplimetary money from parents. LSP uses the state VPK program to fund core stuff, and this allows parents to get a break on schooling, instead of having to foot the whole bill themselves. VPK money will simply not provide for the level and quality they deliver day-in, day-out.

If you want cheap and free for your kids, by all means, go get it elsewhere. Just don't dumb down that school out of your selfish whims for those that want more for their kids.

You can assert all you want.  TBut I can prove it, see below....

• Thursday, January 15, 2009, ECS electronically issued a corrective action to Little Stars (telling them at they need to offer free VPK.  This was followed up a face-to-face meeting and monitoring ECS along with the executive director (Dawn Bell) of the early learning coalition.  
• Friday, January 16, 2009, a representative from ECS and Dawn Bell went to Little Stars to issue a hard copy of the corrective action and to discuss or answer any questions. At this time, ECS and Dawn Bell monitored the program. The program has up to 30 days (no extensions allowed) to comply or not comply. If the program does not comply their contract is terminated immediately. Dawn Bell also requested past monitoring reports from ECS and will monitor them to assure compliance of the central agency/contractor. If ECS is found out of compliance, they will be issued a corrective action as well, and will also have up to 30 days to comply.

 Yes, Little stars accepted state funds to offer a free VPK program.  No they did not offer it.  Yes, they have continued to keep the money they obtained fraudulently.   ECS found in their audit that Little Stars was not offering a free VPK program without any charges as the Florida constitution intended.  But please, do not take my word for it....call Dawn Bell she is with the early learning coalition of putnam and st johns counties.  OEL oversees ECS.  Her phone number is 386-328-8225.

If Littlestarsparent hates Little Stars so much, why does she call herself littlestarsparent. This person needs to get a life, stop bothering people and creating trouble. Find a new hobby. Must be fun to live with!!!!

interesting.  attack the person and ignore the facts.  fyi...most people who love their kids want them to go to a school that does not accepts state funds to offer a program that they do not offer....especially if that school asserts that they represent a religious denomination...

Yeah, me again. I see littlestarsparents is still trying to "make waves" in Shorelines.

Surprisingly, I think people should actually follow her instructions and contact ECS. Ask specifically about the case against Little Stars raised by this anonymous blogger and ask about the alledged fraud she talks abou.

Callers will find out for themselves how this is a completely overblown non-issue.

Little Stars is known for a wonderful program and excellent teachers that actually care about the kids, as opposed to most chain-based care centers, and understaffed home-run facilities.

Here's the gist of my fact-gathering: LSP used to offer a free VPK supplemented by extra activities and extra hours of care. Parents were asked to pay a fee for these extras. Natural, isn't it?

Seems like littlestarsparent didn't understand the whole program and, instead of moving along to a school more suited to her needs and her desire to not pay a cent above State levels for her kids, decided to try to grab for the extras without paying an extra dime above what the State did for her. IOW, she thought she could get a paid lunch for the cost of a free one.

The corrective action was that ECS wanted the distinction between VPK and the extras more specifically differentiated. The school complied and the action is satifactorily closed.

I think real parents who love their kids would (should?) probably not trust an anonymous blogger who created a profile on Shorelines solely to post one article that is used to badmouth a fine school.

If you somehow are researching LSP and stumbled across this angry blog, do yourself a favor: make the call to ECS and visit the school for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Little Stars is a wonderful Preschool. The staff, families and students are warm and caring. If you would like information regarding the school please call them or call ECS. You will only hear positive comments. Log on the website, call the school, call ECS.Check it out yourself. You'll be glad you did!

The Framework for Evaluation and Professional Growth meets requirements for evaluation and encourages teachers to move beyond their current level of performance by focusing on student growth, self-reflection on areas for their own growth and school improvement. This growth oriented process encourages the creativity of teachers, stimulates collaborative efforts and requires the continuing study of the learning process. The Framework was piloted in approximately 50 schools across the state including more than 650 teachers and 100 administrators/supervisors.

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