COVID-19 Provider Update
Good afternoon all,

Thank you for your patience during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to pass-on information we received from OEL summarizing the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions Please see below:

School Readiness Providers

  1. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid.
  2. Communicate with the early learning coalition to inform us of any temporary closures that occurred in March BEFORE attendance is submitted.
  3. Mark absences for open days in the Provider Services Portal per usual.
  4. For absences related to COVID-19, choose the “Absence due to Disaster” reason; comments and a document are not required. Then, submit the completed attendance roster to the early learning coalition in April. 
  5. Don’t change your 2019-2020 provider profile “Closures Calendar” tab due to COVID-19. Temporary closures outside of your normal operating business hours and dates should be communicated to your early learning coalition. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid.
  6. Expect additional guidance regarding 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 SR contracts. In the meantime, continue efforts to complete your 2020-2021 provider profile in the Provider Services Portal and submit for approval.
  7. Don’t collect parent co-payments beginning April 1, 2020. The effective period will be reassessed every 15 days.
  8. All terminations for SR family eligibility have been suspended effective March 15, 2020. No families should be removed from the program.
  9. Re-determinations of eligibility is extended an additional 60 days. No families should be removed from the program.
 

VPK Providers

  1. Communicate with the early learning coalition to inform us of any temporary closures that occurred in March BEFORE attendance is submitted.
  2. Mark absences for open days in the Provider Services Portal per usual and submit the completed attendance roster to the early learning coalition in April.
  3. Don’t change your 2019-2020 provider profile “Closures Calendar” tab due to COVID-19. Temporary closures outside of your normal operating business hours and dates should be communicated to your early learning coalition. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid.
  4. Don’t change your 2019 VPK Provider Application class calendar due to COVID-19 at this time. All absences and temporary closures in March 2020 will be paid.
  5. Continue efforts to complete your 2020-2021 VPK Provider Application and VPK-20 Statewide Contract in the Provider Services Portal and submit for approval. 


Remember if you have any questions you would like us to answer, please join us for the webinar that is scheduled for March 31, 2020 at 12:30 pm. If you have not registered to participate you can do so by clicking here.

Thank you for your continued patience during this difficult time. If you need to reach me, email [email protected] or call 850-693-0808.

In your service,

Suzan Gage
Executive Director
We exist to grow healthy children, parents, and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning