Something New is Coming Next Week
We have so many great professional development opportunities to share that they’re getting their own newsletter!
Starting next Thursday, our new Professional Development Newsletter will be sent on the first Thursday of every month, making it easier for directors and educators to find upcoming trainings, learning opportunities, professional resources and more all in one place.
Going forward, the Directors’ Bulletin will stay focused on the information directors need most, including contract and compliance updates, ELC news, important resources and other provider updates.
The best part? Teachers and other members of your team can subscribe, too!
Want your team to stay in the loop on upcoming professional development opportunities? Directors are automatically included, but we encourage you to share the sign-up link with your teachers so they can subscribe, too!
Sign Up Here
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Invite Us to Capture Your Program!
We’d love to visit early learning programs across Sarasota County to capture real, everyday photos and videos for future ELC social media, outreach, and marketing materials.
You don’t need a special event or activity planned. A regular day is perfect! We’re looking for authentic moments like teachers in action, children learning and playing, classroom activities, outdoor time, and all the little moments that show early learning in action.
And if you do have something special coming up, we’d love to hear about that too!
Interested in having us stop by? Fill out our quick form and Courtney Owen, Community Outreach Coordinator, will follow up to coordinate the details.
Questions? Reach out to Courtney at cowen@elcsarasota.org
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Hiring? Let Us Help Spread the Word!
Have a job opening at your program? You can post it on our website for free and get your opportunity in front of more potential applicants. We regularly hear from people looking for early education jobs in Sarasota County, so it’s an easy way to add a little extra exposure to your search.
Just fill out our quick job submission form and we’ll take it from there. You may see an option to sign in, but you do not need an account to submit a job opening.
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Educator Resources, All in One Place
Our Educator Support Hub webpage can be found under the Educators tab, by selecting Educator Forms and Resources. The webpage is designed to provide resources and information to support you in operating your program and meeting program requirements.
You’ll find common provider forms, in-house field trip resources, teacher support, professional development resources, previous newsletters, and more all in one place!
If there’s a resource you think is missing or something that would make the Hub more useful for your program, please reach out to Courtney Owen at cowen@elcsarasota.org
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Meet our Quality & Outreach Team
From quality support to community connections, this team knows how to make things happen!
Questions about professional development, quality support, or outreach? Visit our Meet the Team page to get to know our Quality & Outreach team and find the right person to contact.
Quality & Outreach Team
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Kelley Minney, Chief Program & Policy Officer
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Lorrie Young, Director of Program Quality & Early Learning Innovation
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Leah Binkley, Early Intervention & Behavior Specialist
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Barbara Papantonakis, Early Learning Career Development Specialist
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Tess Scarcella-Fidelman, Early Learning Provider Support Specialist
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Courtney Owen, Community Outreach Coordinator
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Absence Documentation + Reimbursement
You can access the School Readiness Absence Form by visiting the Educator Support Hub and selecting School Readiness under “Filter By.”
Providers are reimbursed for no more than three (3) absences per calendar month, per child except in cases involving extraordinary circumstances.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances include but are not limited to the following:
- Hospitalization of the child or parent with appropriate documentation (i.e., doctor’s note, hospital admission),
- Illness requiring home-stay as documented (i.e., doctor’s note, parent statement),
- Death in the immediate family with appropriate documentation (i.e., obituary, death certificate, parent statement),
- Court ordered visitation with appropriate documentation (i.e., court order),
- Unforeseen documented military deployment or exercise of the parent(s) (i.e., military orders of deployment, reserve duty),
- Doctor appointments or other health related appointments (i.e., therapy, routine).
The School Readiness Absence Form may be used as written documentation for extraordinary circumstances when you are unable to obtain other written documentation from the parent. The form must be completed in full, signed by the parent and submitted with your monthly attendance roster.
Rule 6M- 6M—4.500 Reimbursement
(a) Reimbursement will be authorized for no more than three (3) absences per calendar month per child except in the event of extraordinary circumstances. The coalition or its designee must document approval for payment based on written documentation provided by the parent in justifying extraordinary circumstances. Extraordinary circumstances do not include vacation or recreational time.
(b) Total monthly reimbursed absences must not exceed thirteen (13) calendar days. (3 excused; up to 10 extraordinary circumstances).
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Parent Co-Payment Fee Waivers
Parent co-payment fee waivers continue through September 30, 2026. Parents who are eligible for the co-payment fee waiver should present their payment certificate reflecting the co-payment waiver.
During this time, if parents have paid their co-payment fee in advance, please provide a credit or refund for the co-payment amount. This waiver does not apply to differential fees or any other fees you may charge. Parents remain responsible for any additional charges.
| VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) |
2026-27 Progress Monitoring (PM) Dates
If you missed the previous communications, we're sharing several important VPK updates and resources to help you prepare for the 2026-2027 school year.
The Division of Early Learning has released the progress monitoring dates for the 2026-2027 school year. Please use the button below to view your program's Progress Monitoring (PM) 1, PM 2, PM 3 assessment windows. You can also access them anytime on our website through the Educator Forms & Resources page, under the Voluntary Prekindergarten filter.
We encourage you to review your assessment windows and plan accordingly to ensure your program is prepared for each progress monitoring period.
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FAST Star Early Literacy Resources
The VPK Program Guide to FAST Star Early Literacy is a valuable resource for understanding the FAST Star Early Literacy assessment process and requirements. The guide includes information on:
- How to locate your Renaissance VPK Testing Site
- Where to Complete Rostering and Obtain Login Credentials
- VPK FAST Training Requirements
- Customizable Family Letter
- Administration Schedule
- VPK Program Administration Task Requirements
- Providing Student Performance Results Requirements
- Support Contacts
Additional FAST Star Early Literacy resources are also available on the Florida Department of Education's website.
You can view your VPK program's performance metric designation on the Florida Department of Education's VPK Accountability webpage here.
Make sure to check out the VPK Provider Performance Metrics and Designations Calculator below! A provider can use the calculator to estimate and track your performance metric and designation.
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Upcoming Board of Directors Board Strategy & Execution Workshop
October 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM
1549 State St
Sarasota, FL 34236
Open to the Public
Individuals who wish to address the Board of Directors must complete a
Public Comment Request Card, available on our website and onsite.
Comments are limited to three (3) minutes per person, on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be heard at the time designated for public comment on the official meeting agenda.
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