You Get To See it First

After months of thoughtful work, the ELC has a new look. And before anyone else in the community sees it, we wanted you to be the first!

Take a peek at our header and design. Those colors? Warm, coastal, quintessentially Sarasota. That logo? Nature-rooted and intentional, designed to evoke nurturing, growth, and the kind of quiet strength it takes to do this work every day.

We're also excited to launch our new website on April 1 at elcsarasota.org 

It was built with the same intention as everything else we do. We hope it’s the place you come to when you need answers, insights, documents, resources and people genuinely in your corner. 

Help us spread the word to families

You are on the front lines with parents every day and that makes you one of the most trusted voices in their lives. If you work with families who are wondering whether they qualify for childcare financial assistance, send them our way.

Our new website features a School Readiness Eligibility Calculator, a simple, fast tool where parents can get a real sense of whether they may qualify in a matter of seconds. Just a quick pulse check that can open a door to support they didn't know was available.

Office Closure

Our office will be closed Friday, April 3.

As always, you can reach us at information@elcsarasota.org and we'll get back to you when we return Monday, April 6.

Special Needs Rate, Don't Miss This

If you serve School Readiness children who require additional classroom support, you may qualify for a higher reimbursement rate through our Special Needs Rate (SNR) Program.

Applications are open. Full details are attached below.

Questions? Contact Lorrie Young at lyoung@elcsarasota.org

Save the Date: Hurricane Impact Disaster Mini Grants (IAN) Open April 11

Hurricane Ian Disaster funding is coming to licensed child care providers located in Sarasota County. Applications open Saturday, April 11.

We chose a Saturday launch intentionally. Your weeks are full. This gives you dedicated time to apply.

Three mini-grant categories will be available:

• Prepare Your Children: materials and resources that directly support children
• Prepare Your Business: tools that strengthen program operations
• Technology: equipment or systems that improve efficiency and communication

One application per provider site. You may apply for one, two, or all three grant categories. All applications will be time-stamped and reviewed in the order they are received. So, we encourage you to take a moment to make sure everything is complete and accurate before you submit.

Full eligibility details, sample documents, and application instructions coming soon. And when our new website launches April 1, you'll find everything in one place on our dedicated Hurricane Ian Relief page.

Note: Sarasota County School District is not eligible due to funding source requirements.

Meet Procare: Free Virtual Open House

If you're considering the Hurricane Ian Technology grant category, Procare is one of the leading child care management platforms worth knowing. We've arranged a free virtual open house with their team just for you.

No sales pitch. No commitment. Just a chance to see what the platform offers and decide if it could be a good fit. 

Wednesday, April 1

12:30 – 1:30 pm

6:30 – 8:30 pm

Zoom Link Here 

Drop in and out as your schedule allows.

Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to upgrade your current system, you’ll get a look Procare's full suite: attendance tracking, record keeping, billing and payments, and family communications.

View flyers below for additional details.

Stay tuned. We're also scheduling a virtual open house with another platform, Brightwheel. More details coming soon. 

Free Emergency Preparedness Workshop, Save Your Spot

We've partnered with Save the Children to bring you a free, in-person emergency preparedness workshop designed specifically for child care providers.

Saturday, May 2

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sarasota location, exact address coming soon

Participants receive:

In-service hours

An emergency preparedness kit

A program stipend (yes, you'll be paid to attend!)

What you'll walk away with:

A stronger, implementation-ready written emergency plan including hazard identification, risk assessment, and strategies to safeguard your program and the children in your care.

Who should attend:

Owners, directors and Family Child Care Homes, although a teacher may attend in your place if they play a key role in developing or implementing your emergency plan.

What you need to know:

• Workshop is open to any licensed child care provider in Sarasota County
• Maximum of two participants per provider site
• Registration is required and will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis
• We will keep a waitlist in case of cancellations
• Registration opens Monday, April 6

Link will be shared via email and on the training calendar on our new website at elcsarasota.org

Note: Sarasota County School District is not eligible due to funding source requirements.

VPK Progress Monitoring 3 is Underway

A quick reminder that Progress Monitoring 3 (PM3) for the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) using Renaissance Star Early Literacy is now in progress for many VPK providers. This is a required part of your VPK contract, and your testing window is based on your VPK start date. Some of you will had a PM3 window start in March, and others will begin in April.

Please note: The timeline shown inside Renaissance is not your VPK timeline. Your official PM1, PM2, and PM3 windows come from your VPK schedule.

Make sure all VPK children are assessed within your PM3 window. If a child cannot complete the test for any reason, remember to assign the appropriate Non-Participation status.

If you’re unsure when your testing window is or how to administer the assessment, contact our VPK Manager, Dianne Lawrence at dlawrence@elcsarasota.org

Your Voice Matters: Rule Workshop on Child Attendance & Provider Reimbursements

Florida is updating the rules around how child attendance is tracked and how providers get reimbursed and you have the chance to weigh in before it becomes law.

A public workshop is scheduled for Thursday, April 2 from 10:00 – 11:00 am via webinar. This is your opportunity to hear what's being proposed and make your voice heard.

To participate:

• Register here: a confirmation email with the webinar link will follow

• Want to submit written comments instead? Email rules@del.fldoe.org before April 2 with "6M-4.500 Comment" in the subject line

View the draft rule materials here

Free Swim Lessons for SR Families

Through grant funding, Aqua-Tots Sarasota (Tuttle Ave) is offering free swim lessons to children who receive ELC School Readiness financial assistance.

If a child is at least 30 months old and currently enrolled in School Readiness, they may qualify for up to 16 free lessons, at no cost to the family, as long as grant funds are available.

Help us spread the word to the families you serve. This is a meaningful opportunity for children who might not otherwise have access to water safety education.

To apply, families should email lindsayl@aqua-tots.com with the following:

• Parent/Guardian name
• Parent/Guardian email, mailing address, and phone number
• Child's name and date of birth
• Documentation of SR financial assistance (photo or written statement)
• A brief written statement on why drowning prevention and swim lessons matter to their family

Free Family Fun, Sarasota Police Spring Fest

The Sarasota Police Department is throwing a free community celebration and your families are invited!

Tuesday, April 14

5:30 – 8:00 pm

2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota (in front of Police Headquarters)

Here's what's in store:

🎵 Live music and free food

🚔 Emergency vehicles and a Mobile Command Center to explore

🐕 K-9 demonstrations

🚁 Drone operations and Marine Patrol displays

🤿 Dive team and specialty unit demos

Plus officers on hand all evening to connect with families and answer questions

It's a great night out and a fun way to help little ones feel comfortable and confident around their community helpers.