News & Events Archive
The Children's Movement of Florida Announces DREAM Prizes!
For those who have not yet participated, entry can be for as little as $25. Just visit the Children's Movement of Florida web site (and have the chance to win one of eight great prizes).
Our ability to fuel The Movement depends on getting many thousands of people to enter.
We announce next year's agenda this Monday. I will make sure you get an update early next week.
Dave Lawrence
Chair
The Children's Movement of Florida
Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Application for Initial Funding
Florida has been working to submit the Application for "Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge". If you would like to read the DRAFT application, download the documents below:
Provider ERS Scores Now Available For Classrooms Assessed Through September
We are proud of our contracted providers and the effort they put into improving quality early learning environments for children in Southwest Florida! Providers contracted with the Early Learning Coalition receive at least one ERS assessment each year. Scores will now be posted and available for your viewing. If you would like more information on Environment Rating Scores, please contact Melanie Holaway, Director of Providers Services, at 239.210.6866.
New School Readiness Provider Reference Guide
Providers - An updated School Readiness Provider Guide is available for all current and interested providers. Please review this updated guide for more information.
ERS Clarification Notes as of September 15, 2011
The following notes for clarification from the authors of the ERS have been updated recently. Most of these changes are a result of the Newest Edition of "Caring For Our Children" (3rd Edition)
Sign In/Out Frequently Asked Questions
View the SR Sign in/out Frequently Asked Questions
Changes to Provider Services
The Coalition will begin a new fiscal year on July 1, 2011 with significant budget cuts to School Readiness and VPK funding of which you were advised in an email related to "Fiscal Impacts" sent on May 12, 2011. Both the Coalition and 4C have attempted to minimize the impact to families and providers. However, the cuts have resulted in some changes to provider services. Please read the memo for details.
Guide to NEW Crib Standards
New guidelines for cribs in child care to begin December 28, 2012.
See flyer for more information.
School Readiness & VPK Budget Impact for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year
It is with a heavy heart that I share with you some of the outcomes of our recent legislative session. As it currently stands, state-wide, we will see a reduction in some 15,000 children receiving School Readiness services, and there will also need to be reductions in the significant investments that have been made in quality in the past few years. Specifically:
For the SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM (SR) - this is the program that helps families at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level to move toward economic self-sufficiency by funding child care so that parents can remain / begin working or attend school. In the 2009 - 10 year, funding for this program was reduced by $38,000,000. That reduction was offset last year by using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) funds to fill the gap. The legislature was not able to fill the present gap for 2011. There is now $27,000,000 less state-wide this year. Southwest Florida's portion of this is, according to best estimates available at this time, $981,675.
Additionally, for SCHOOL READINESS, there is a federal reduction of $32,000,000 in Temporary Assistance to Needy Family (TANF) funding, one of the sources of SR revenue. Unless the Governor vetoes this line item, Southwest Florida's reduction, again, is approaching one million dollars in TANF funding for School Readiness.
In total, we are looking at a reduction of School Readiness funding in the amount of $1,973,661 for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2011.
For the VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM (VPK) - this is a voter mandated entitlement program available to all four year olds in the state that is intended to prepare children for greater success in the K-12 setting. There was a 7% reduction in the Base Student Allocation (BSA). This is the amount of funding that VPK providers receive for each student. This includes public schools, charter schools, and private providers. The new BSA for the school year is $2,383, and $2,027 for the summer.
To make up for the reduction in the BSA, teacher-child ratios have been increased to 1:11 and 2:20, so there will be more four year olds in classrooms next year.
Administration and program support (quality assurance, provider certification, eligibility determination) was reduced from 4.85% to 4%. While we will work hard to lessen the impact, this may well result in longer wait times for parents / guardians, and less resources for provider education.
I will keep you informed of implications for this fiscal reality as things move along through the Board's processes. Please know that every consideration will be given to protecting the families, providers, and children that we serve. Given the severity of the cuts, however, it is unlikely that there will be no impacts. I assure you that the Board and Staff here will work to minimize them.
Kathleen Reynolds, Ph.D. - CEO
Early Learning Coalition of SW FL
Provider Environment Rating Scale Scores as of March 31, 2011
Providers worked very hard this year to make improvements in their child care settings. The scores on this document show all the provider's ERS scores as of March 31. We are very pleased to say that most of our providers are now above a 3.0. A big THANK YOU to all providers for their dedication and commitment to building quality early learning environments in our communities. If you would like more information on ERS scoring, please contact Melanie Holaway at the Early Learning Coaliton. (Ph.239-210-6866).
Announcing New ERS Tidbits
- Food items or items that smell like food (food extracts, etc.) can not be used for art materials according to the ITERS-R
- Head bands, hats, or any other item worn on the head must be removed after a child uses the item and sanitized prior to be reintroduced to the classroom
- Some traditional songs, much like fairytales, have frightening lyrics and may be inappropriate for use
- Photographs of children in the group and their families can not be counted in "Promoting Acceptance and Diversity", but can be counted in Display for Children
"Notes For Clarification" on the ERS website: http://ers.fpg.unc.edu/
New Helpful Parent Information
The link below directs you to a number of documents we found on www.Bornlearning.org and thought parents as well as providers may find this information useful. Please share and distribute. The WORDS flyer/poster was created in partnership with Lee County Women's Voter League and trainings are being offered to parents on this information. If you would like more information on Literacy Trainings or Parenting Information, please call 239-210-6882 for more information.
Visit the Parent Resources page for more information
Download the WORDS flyer in English or Spanish.
Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs
Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs, the new set of national standards describing evidence-based and expert consensus on best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs are now AVAILABLE. Copy and paste this address into your web browser to access the standards http://nrckids.org/CFOC3/PDFVersion/preventing_obesity.pdf. These updated standards will be a part of the comprehensive Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, Third Edition (CFOC, 3rd Ed.) to be released in 2011. The standards are for all types of early care and education settings - centers and family child care homes.
Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs contains practical intervention strategies to prevent excessive weight gain in young children. The standards detail opportunities for facilities and caregivers/teachers to work with families beginning on day one of an infant's enrollment to prevent childhood obesity by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
Areas of coverage:
- General Nutrition Requirements
- Meal and Snack Patterns
- Requirements for Infants and Support Breastfeeding of Infants
- Requirements for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Meal Service and Supervision
- Food Brought from Home
- Nutrition Education
- Active Opportunities for Physical Activity
- Outdoor and Indoor Play Time
- Caregivers/Teachers' Encouragement of Physical Activity
- Screen Time Limits
- Policies on Infant Feeding, Food and Nutrition Services, and Physical Activity
Recommended Book List for Children and Teachers
The Coalition is recommending this list of reference library materials and children's literature for Prek classrooms.
Download list of recommended books for children and teachers.
4C Summer Training Calendar
As of July 1, you will be able to register for all 4C and ELC trainings on the ELC website, www.elcofswfl.org. If you need to register before July 1, please contact the person directly as stated on the training calendar.
2010 Summer Training Calendar Description
2010 Summer Provider and Infant/Toddler Training Calendar
Request for Proposal for the Delivery of Provider Quality Assurance Services
Release Date: April 20, 2009
Proposals Due: 3:00 P.M. EST, May 8, 2009
Please find the attached Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Early Learning Coalitions of Florida's Heartland, Inc., Sarasota County and Southwest Florida, Inc. The Coalitions are accepting proposals to provide Provider Quality Assurance Services the Coalitions wishes to implement and sustain in Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties for fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
Your response to the attached RFP is greatly appreciated.
Download the Request for Proposal
Children's handprints will hang in Capitol Rotunda during Children's Week
Children's Week is March 29 through April 2. In celebration, children in Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties have made handprints to hang in the State Capitol rotunda on display. Tens of thousands of paper cut-outs of children's hands decorated by children and their teachers are collected at child care facilities, schools, and churches across the state and are hung throughout the Capitol Rotunda creating an amazing display of Children's art. The hands remain in the Capitol Rotunda the entire week as a reminder to legislators and advocates that we must take care of our most precious commodity, our children.
Children's Week has proven to be a real symbol of change and collaboration in the State of Florida. It bridges the gap between child advocates in Florida and policy makers in our State Capitol. It allows everyone an opportunity to work together to protect our best and most important natural resource - the state's children. The true impact of our collaborative efforts is strengthened by our partnerships and through widespread media coverage of children's issues across the state.
The Early Learning Coalition of SW Florida is also including ribbons of grey hands to represent the 5000+ children who are waiting to be served through School Readiness funding.
Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the images.
Early Learning Coalition of SWFL Welcomes new Executive Director
(Fort Myers, FL - April 30, 2008) --- The Board of Directors of the Early
Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida recently announced Kathleen
Reynolds, Ph.D., as the new Executive Director.
Charged by the State of Florida with running this area's coalition for school readiness services and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK), Reynolds will guide the coalition's programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties. The coalition's mission is to help area families access early learning opportunities for their children, ages birth to five, with the goal of increasing educational success through quality preparation for school.
Reynolds has an extensive and varied career in education and school administration from preschool through college in New York, Florida, and, most recently, served as a superintendent of schools in the Tantasqua Regional School District in Massachusetts. Reynolds earned a doctorate in Reading, Language and Cognition from Hofstra University, and a bachelor's and master's degree from New York University.
"Dr. Reynolds brings a wealth of knowledge to our Coalition that is a perfect fit for our current and future needs," said Sabra Cecil, Chairperson of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida's Board of Directors, a governor appointed position. "Her shared passion for improving the quality of education for the area's underserved made her the clear choice for this important task."
In 1999, the Florida Legislature enacted the School Readiness Act which consolidated each of the early childhood education and childcare programs into one integrated program of school readiness services. This act created the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to coordinate programs administered by local coalitions at the county or multi-county level. In addition, coalitions oversee the delivery system for VPK programs, comprised of private pre-kindergarten providers and school-based sites operated by public and nonpublic schools.
"I have a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of community, preschool and school services for historically underserved populations, and to helping children successfully prepare for a lifetime of learning," said Reynolds. "I am pleased to be in a position to support increased educational outcomes for all youngsters."
The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is governed by a 25-member volunteer board of community leaders, employees of private businesses and parents. For more information on the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, please call 239-267-4105 or visit www.elcofswfl.org.
Southwest Florida Apartment Association and 4C's Bowling Night
The Southwest Florida Apartment Association is hosting a bowling event on Friday, June 20th from 6:30 to pm at the Bowland Woodside Lane, 8525 Radio Lane, in Naples. As the Association's charity of choice, 4C will receive a portion of proceeds from the event for the Early Learning/Match program.
Download the flyer
Early Learning Coalition Executive Director Open House
Monday, June 16
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: 4C main office in Naples
201 8th St. South
Suite 200
Naples, FL 34102
Tuesday, June 17
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Location: Early Learning Coalition of SWFL Office
5256 Summerlin Commons Blvd.
Suite 201
Fort Myers, FL 33907
- This is an opportunity to meet the new Executive Director. For more information call 239-267-4105 x22.
Open House
December 4, 2007 4 - 6 pm
at the Administration and Community Resource Center
5256 Summerlin Commons Blvd., Suite 201
Fort Myers, FL 33907
You're Invited
Please join us for some holiday cheer and tour our new
administration offices and Community Resource Center.
General Area Map
Driving Directions
Healthy Start of Southwest Florida Announces Their Holiday Outreach Events
November 14, 2007
Healthy Start Holiday FlyerClaus with a Cause
As part of The Bell Tower Shops, Claus with a Cause event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, December 1-2, 2007, Healthy Start will be operating the Photo with Santa area to raise funds for their programs. Photos may be purchased in advance by contacting Cat Petrik of Healthy Start at (239) 425-6936. Advanced pricing is $8.00, $10.00 at the door. Healthy Start will also be collecting unwrapped toys for their annual toy drive at this venue.
Healthy Start of Southwest Florida 3rd Annual Toy Drive
Healthy Start of Southwest Florida will kick off its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 15th. Toys collected at this event go to benefit the children and families in the five counties served by Healthy Start. Healthy Start's collection point will be located at the Cape Coral - Wal-Mart Supercenter. Donated presents should be unwrapped and can be for children of any age:
Wal-Mart Super Center address:
Dec. 15
1619 Del Prado Blvd. in Cape Coral from 10 AM to 2 PM
Starbucks Coffee Shops
Dec. 1
All Lee and Collier County Starbucks will be collecting toys
The Prawnbroker Restaurant Groups four Establishments
Dec. 1 The Prawnbroker - 13451-16 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers will be collecting toys.
Dec. 1 University Grill - 7790 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers will be collecting toys.
Dec. 1 Sanibel Grill - 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel will be collecting toys.
Dec. 1 The Timbers - 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel will be collecting toys.
Sponsors of these holiday events include Azteca America, The Bell Tower Shops, D'Latinos, The News-Press, PAETEC, Premier Backup Solutions, The Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, Telemundo, Univision, Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, Starbucks Coffee Shops, United Way, Wal-Mart, Latino 97.7 FM and more.
Last year, Healthy Start was able to collect more than 1,000 toys, making the Christmas wishes of more than 430 children come true." This year we are hoping to collect 2,000 toys. With the support of our local sponsors and the generosity of the people of Lee County, we feel confident we will reach our goal. This will allow us to double the reach of our program, providing even more kids with a chance for a Merry Christmas," said Carlos Navedo, PR and Development Director of Healthy Start.
About Healthy Start
Healthy Start is a not-for-profit 501C(3) organization serving Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee Counties since 1992. Healthy Start's goals are to:
- Reduce the number infant deaths
- Reduce the number of premature or low birth weight babies
- Improve health and developmental outcomes for young children
Healthy Start helps ensure moms and babies have access to needed medical care and other community services to help give their baby a Healthy Start in life. Each year, Healthy Start serves more than 18,000 pregnant women, babies and young children up to the age of three who were at higher risk for poor health outcomes.
CONTACT: Carlos Navedo, PR and Development Director, Healthy Start of Southwest Florida, 239-425-6926, or email carlos@healthystartswfl.com
Save the Date
December 14, 2007
Renowned author and journalist, Pete Earley will discuss his research into mental illness within the judicial system and his experience in having a son diagnosed with a mental illness.
11:30am - 1:00pm
Hilton of Naples
Please RSVP to 434-6726
Jack Hartman Concert
Monday, December 3, 2007
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall 13350 Edison Pkwy, Ft. Myers
$5.00 per ticket - one free after 20 paid (courtesy to teachers) Register early - limited seats - Jack's concerts sell out quickly Pay early for best seats - payment due by Nov. 3, 2008 Jack's shows sell out quickly!
Jack Hartman Concert Flyer.
Multiple Intelligences in Multiple Spaces
Saturday, October 27, 2007. 8:30 - 12:30 (doors open at 7:30am).
Edison College, Barbara B. Mann Hall, Fort Myers
Cost: $12 via online registration (http://www2.edison.edu/foundation/earlylearning.php) OR $20 at the door
Featured Speakers
- Howard Gardner (author of several books on Multiple Intelligences)
- Jim Greenman (author of Caring Spaces, Learning Places)
- Special Guest - David Lawrence, President of the Early Childhood Initiative Foundation
View the Multiple Intelligences in Multiple Spaces flyer for complete details.
2005-06 Voluntary PreK Readiness Rates now available
August 8, 2007
The Florida Department of Education/State Board of Education is required by law ( Section 1002.69(5), Florida Statutes (F.S.)) to calculate a kindergarten readiness rate every year for each private or public school VPK Provider of either the School-Year (540-hour) or Summer (300-hour) program.
The VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate measures how well a VPK provider prepares four-year-olds to be ready for kindergarten based upon Florida's VPK Education Standards. The VPK Standards describe what four-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of the VPK experience.
View the 2005-06 Voluntary PreK Readiness Rates on the Florida Department of Education website.
30 Hour Introductory Training Now Available Online!
See Dept of Children & Families handout for complete details.
2nd Annual Walk to Prevent Child Abuse
September 29, 2007
Pelican Preserve
Colonial & Treeline Ave
Just East of I-75 Exit 136
Contact the Children's Network of Southwest Florida at (239) 226-1524 for more information or view the flyer.
Annual Back-to-School Festival 2007
Saturday, August 5, 2007. 11am - 3pm.
Fort Myers Harborside Event Center
1375 Monroe Street
Fort Myers, Florida
Parents can register at 11am to receive school supplies. Supplies will be available after 1:30pm for pickup. View the Annual Back-to-School Festival flyer for more information.
This event is sponsored by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, Inc..
United Way Dunbar Neighborhood House VIP Breakfast & Community Festival
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Event flyer
Please RSVP by July 4, 2007, to 239.332.7687.
Archived Mar 12, 2007
Lt. Governor Jennings Hails Enrollment Milestone in VPK Enrollment
May 22, 2006
TALLAHASSEE - Lt. Governor Toni Jennings announced last Friday at the Early Learning Advisory Council meeting that the total enrollment in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten program (VPK) surpassed the 100,000 mark in the program's first year. That total includes the nearly 5,000 children who have so far enrolled for the summer session.
"Florida has established itself as a leader in early learning programs and we continue to be heartened by the responses to this new initiative," said Lt. Governor Jennings. "With summer enrollment increasing by leaps and bounds I am hopeful that parents will see the value of enrolling their children in a quality program that will further prepare them for kindergarten in August. This is an exciting opportunity for all of Florida's four-year-old children to get the skills they need to be successful students and productive citizens."
A recently issued annual report on state preschool programs by a Rutgers University early learning institute shows that Florida's VPK program is now the second-largest program in the nation in terms of total enrollment and it is the fifth-largest in the percentage of eligible four-year-old children enrolled. The lead states are Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Vermont with programs that are 10 to 20 years in existence.
"Our Early Learning partners around the state have really stepped up to the plate and delivered a quality product that is meeting the needs of Florida's families," said Linda H. South, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation. "The high levels of satisfaction with Voluntary Prekindergarten being expressed by parents and providers alike indicate we are delivering on our promise to Florida voters."
Registration is currently underway for Florida's summer VPK program which has starting dates that vary by school district. Parents can contact their local Early Learning Coalition for details. Parents can also register their four-year-old child for the fall session at this time.
Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten program is administered jointly by the Agency for Workforce Innovation's Office of Early Learning, the Florida Department of Education and the Department of Children and Families. For more information about program details and registration go to www.vpkflorida.com.
Archived Mar 12, 2007
Child Care Providers Indicate High Level of Satisfaction with Florida's VPK Program
The Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI)'s March 2nd news release on the VPK program in Florida.
Archived Feb 1, 2007
Southwest Florida Docs For Tots
...
Because we care for children!
January 10, 2007
Please join us Wednesday, January 10, 2007, at the Three Oaks Banquest Room for a luncheon and a dinner with George Askew, M.D., the founder of Docs for Tots. Dr. Askew will present and discuss the role of the physician in helping children reach their highest early learning potential. Docs for Tots is a nationwide network of doctors advocating for young children.
Luncheon flyer - Open to early learning providers for a $15 fee. Register online to attend.
Dinner flyer - Open free to doctors and pediatricians serving young children in southwest Florida. Call 239-267-4105 to attend.
The goal of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is to make certain that children, ages birth to five and beyond, have access to high quality child care and early education experiences to cultivate their natural enthusiasm for learning. This presentation is offered by a partnership with Southwest Florida Professional Development Partnership at FGCU.
Current News
EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, INC.
5256 Summerlin Commons Way, Suite 201 • Ft. Myers, Florida 33907
Phone: (239) 267-4105 • Fax: (239) 267-4109 • Privacy Policy
TOLL FREE: 1-866-863-1366 • Office Hours: 8am-5pm Monday - Friday
