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Voluntary Universal Pre-K Education Amendment Passes! What’s Next? 
By Gainesville Area NOW Member Lynn Max

We won!  The constitutional initiative on the ballot that will provide free, voluntary pre-kindergarten services to every four year old in the state of Florida by the year 2005, passed. 
Although I won't benefit from this because my children will be past the age before this goes into effect, I am so glad that many other people will benefit.  My five-year-old daughter has developed tremendously from being enrolled in a private preschool program.  However, the cost of that program set us way back financially, as private preschools in this area
cost on the average $400/month.  Instead of saving for college, we are saving our money so our three year old can go to preschool next year.
Now that there will be a universal preschool program, every child, no matter what her/his economic situation, will benefit academically, developmentally, and socially.  As moms, we will be getting the financial help we need so we can support our families.  When our child is 4 years old, we will be able to work outside of the home if that is what we choose to do and not have to pay huge child care costs. 
Now, the next step is to get universal child care from infancy on up. This way moms who want or need to work outside the home will be able to without strapping themselves financially because of the cost of child care.  We will then be able to get the breaks we so desperately need so we can be less stressed, more productive parents.  Let's keep on fighting.