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Perfect Sense

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Aliyan, left, and Michael make projects at Metropolitan Ministries’ PromiseLand Early Child Care Center. Its mission is to provide an educational foundation to ensure the best possible opportunity for a bright future.

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By MORRIS HINTZMAN

Special to the News & Tribune

Published: April 1, 2009

TAMPA - A perfect 300 score from the Department of Education for a Pre-K program offered by a homeless ministry?

Who could have imagined that Metropolitan Ministries, known for serving the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless through aggressive outreach and prevention services, could have accomplished this amazing milestone accomplishment?

Florida's prekindergarten quality is ranked near dead last by the National Association of Early Education Research. Current data estimates that 20,952 children under the age of 6 are homeless in our state. To make matters even worse, "America's Youngest Outcasts" was the term these children were recently labeled by the National Center on Family Homelessness.

All of us at Metropolitan Ministries categorically refused to accept that sentence. We joined together as an organization and rededicated our energies and resources to these vulnerable kids. Metropolitan Ministries embarked on a voluntary prekindergarten program at the PromiseLand Early Child Care Center.

Although the Center has successfully operated for more than 20 years, the focus had been on day care while residents were gaining adult education, literacy and job training.

Education is the major key to breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Providing an excellent educational foundation will ensure these precious kids the best possible opportunity for a bright future. The program is funded in part by the Hillsborough County school system and is open to any 4-year-old in the state regardless of income.

Now you can understand why we are so excited for these kids.

My heart soared recently as I walked into a room filled with laughter, dreams, hope and all the colors of the rainbow. Outside the sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky.

For a moment it seemed all the worries of the world melted into the sun's warm embrace. To my left there was a small library filled with tales from "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss, to "Where the Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein. Straight ahead there was a mini kitchen and living room where I could almost smell fresh baked cookies as a wooden vacuum picked up tiny pop-corned shaped pieces. It was just enough to strike nostalgic feelings in my inner child. To my right there were 16 children sitting in a circle, eager to learn. Just above their heads was a sign saying, "Make a Lasting Impression."

These tiny faces are full of hope and promise. We are blessed they are enrolled in Metropolitan Ministries voluntary prekindergarten program. The lesson the other day was about the letter D. To these PromiseLand students the letter D does not stand for different, doomed or desperate - just dinosaur.

I speak for all of Metropolitan Ministries when I say, I couldn't be prouder of our children's accomplishments and our dedicated educators. They are absolutely making a lasting impression. This program and these teachers are providing a new world to these most vulnerable little ones.

They are making a difference, creating a dream.

CENTER SCORES

Keyword: VPK for a database of Voluntary Prekindergarten programs in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Citrus, Hernando, Desoto, Hardee, Sumter and Highlands counties. The list includes scores given by the Florida Department of Educa

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