[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6273098,"mediaKeyId","3005231-60100ad0e29a1cffa75dadacf2f1cf40","parentId",3005231,"title","Pasco officials cite uneven pre-K demand, Head Start grant denial; urge focus on kindergarten readiness","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",1033660,"endMs",1438740,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005231-60100ad0e29a1cffa75dadacf2f1cf40&start=1033&end=1438","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005231-60100ad0e29a1cffa75dadacf2f1cf40/thumbnail_1033660.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6273098/Florida/Pasco-officials-cite-uneven-pre-K-demand-Head-Start-grant-denial-urge-focus-on-kindergarten-readiness","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273098-6bed7da6922228041a8fffc59c709b8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689956&Signature=L2hFvSK9jHYZFfiAE2IkGh8QKSBRLWkgkP9hoYE7OOM4DPuvH5v8Hg7hDRvGBI9Rsg5BTH7j0BbiO-evV2~hQrXZecCAHTDvBqZ0eIldnbS6XzAPdyMlxdXVhpQastvzBqHvigqzwVpl3plD3MAM-ChG-xeLdzIidUUGGVUvaqkXqqSDJW6FSpnT-3bd7QiUUkbWvkXZA9g3Rto08m5MeH6j4nOgK~8a97l3es7KGaDuZ1Dza34BCFe7CEyKbnWQvdZrz9Z8WtJA-jqE-7TmBD3KiSVHRsKLQ9NlKxJVtf~78nZKSx1VqGBqBTRdQGU6N5u7mgVFHrXafXieikC~SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pasco County School District","date","2025-04-16T08:06:41.577Z","article","At a Pasco County School Board workshop, early-learning leaders Vicky and Melissa reported increases in school-based pre-K access but said demand and funding remain uneven across the county.

Vicky told the board the district has increased the share of elementary schools offering some pre-K from 47 percent to 82 percent since a commitment to expand access. Staff pointed to steep demand in some places — for example, Kirkland K–8 received 72 parent-pay applications for 36 available slots — while other campuses saw very low interest (one campus reported three parent-pay applications during the first window). Vicky said the district examined community child-care options, space constraints and family preferences, noting that some families prefer a single drop-off and that K–8 campuses have different patterns of need.

Presenters highlighted kindergarten readiness data: Pasco County students who completed Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) were reported as kindergarten ready at a rate of 67 percent, a figure staff said is above the state average. Early-learning staff also warned that students who enter kindergarten behind are unlikely to catch up; during the presentation staff cited a commonly used estimate that roughly 75 percent of those students will not close the gap without intervention.

Staff said a Head Start expansion grant that would have targeted Holiday and the northwest area of the county was denied. The denial influenced the district’s planning and added urgency around meeting local pre-K needs through other programs and space decisions.

Vicky stressed the district’s aim to provide kindergarten-ready programs rather than offering child care only. She summarized the approach as data-driven: \"often we can look at data and admire what it's telling us, or we can pivot according to that data to make important changes for children and families,\" and she added, \"we're committed to not being daycare in Pasco County Schools.\"

School leaders discussed redistributing materials and coordinating locations, and staff said they will continue to examine space, funding streams, and family needs when deciding where to place programs or expand slots. Presenters emphasized the need to be fiscally responsible while expanding access so that later remediation costs can be avoided by investing in early learning now.

No formal board action was recorded on the early-learning overview during the workshop; presenters framed the session as informational and part of ongoing planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pasco County School Board Workshop- April 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District early-learning staff reported increased pre-K availability at schools but uneven parent demand across communities, a denied Head Start expansion grant for northwest Holiday, and data showing VPK completers are more likely to be kindergarten ready.","taxTitle","Pasco, School Districts, Florida","taxId",14666,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6273103,"Pasco staff recommend Savvas Envision for K–5 math after review of low elementary scores",939,82611,1022475,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005231-60100ad0e29a1cffa75dadacf2f1cf40&start=82&end=1022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005231-60100ad0e29a1cffa75dadacf2f1cf40/thumbnail_82611.jpg","/articles/6273103/Florida/Pasco-staff-recommend-Savvas-Envision-for-K5-math-after-review-of-low-elementary-scores","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6273103-ce6ef9ea8aa69bc4bb61d6a5245aa342/orig.mp4?Expires=1770689956&Signature=LZffsGCJsElq6LWzbM-MmNbxuQ-UTKtYPl~X5raBy9X7~IXXRW4nbqLtLC3en10eebxf1ZwmLpbDFEUMpOGLxKapwANUGSos1SDvFbSfGCAUveNG2yZsM6s90~DNnMRlq12VQ8E3M4TAshQiAHWWAl9QHotN~LMc3w0WdtXjyGR~OudzZVu2C2Fe~JV-yMyPuFnMx6jMRQP6d68NzY3aX6pkH~WlYKAvosxOZ6Yw6cgsQFhm1P24WxvtCcRB4lF~YlJO~l2yKVofPQOi8nXnfyjZA0VSIidopMOJtj-BvZuuqypyzFd~hXCEVQOqpi62O2P9sgK3PmRSCQvMbiSazw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Iles, a district academic administrator, told the Pasco County School Board at a workshop that district staff are recommending Savvas Envision as the K–5 core mathematics resource for the 2025–26 school year.

The recommendation follows review of student achievement data showing Pasco County elementary math performance below the state for grades 3–5 and in PM1 and PM2 assessments. District staff told the board that 92 percent of elementary schools surveyed supported considering different instructional materials.

Staff described a multi-step adoption process: a spring vendor call to publishers on the state-approved list; a narrowing team composed mainly of classroom teachers with instructional coaches, administrators and two parents; review of core and intervention resources; and consideration of technology integration. Dr. Iles said the district compared materials used by higher-performing, similarly sized districts and found alignment with state standards for the recommended program. She said staff plan a public hearing (on the agenda the same night as the workshop) and hope to bring the adoption back for final board approval on May 6. If approved, staff would allow a 30-day statutory reconsideration window, place orders in early June, and begin a July professional-development rollout consisting of four days of training (three days focused on math and one on science) at stipend rates.

District staff said they are still awaiting the state-approved list of intervention materials and will make a related recommendation after that list is published. Staff also noted that being on the state-approved list is required for eligibility for a stated grant intended to offset purchase costs.

On cost and materials, presenters told the board the district obtained a final quote showing the recommended package would cost about $100,000 less than the district’s current elementary math spending. The recommended adoption includes a digital student component and teacher guides; student consumable texts would be purchased annually for this adoption cycle rather than as part of a multi-year adoption. Presenters said vendors bundle many ancillary items into packages at no additional charge and that the district will try to collect and redistribute extra materials to schools that need them.

Classroom teachers and instructional staff who participated in the narrowing process described classroom uses. One teacher said, \"It pushes kids into deeper levels of application than just the surface level,\" and highlighted built-in problem solving, formative checks and tiered supports that teachers can use for intervention and enrichment.

No final board vote was recorded at the workshop. The recommendation and the public hearing were described as the next formal steps; staff repeatedly distinguished the current recommendation and procurement timeline from any final board action.

If approved after the public hearing and the reconsideration window, staff said curriculum writers and coaches will be included in the July training so coaches and teachers receive the same messages and resources. Staff also committed to ongoing, year-long professional development and planned supports from curriculum content staff.","District staff recommended the adoption of Savvas Envision as the K–5 core math program, citing Pasco County’s elementary math scores below state averages, broad teacher support for changing materials, and a plan for summer professional development and a staggered procurement timeline.","actionData","errors"]

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Pasco officials cite uneven pre-K demand, Head Start grant denial; urge focus on kindergarten readiness

Pasco staff recommend Savvas Envision for K–5 math after review of low elementary scores