August 26, 2019
Introducing our New Family Newsletter: Family Connection

Hope the new school year is off to a great start! The ELC team has been hard at work, and we're pleased to introduce our new ELC family newsletter, Family Connection . This bi-monthly newsletter is filled with fun tips on how parents can engage with their children, help build their motor skills and healthy eating. Feel free to print copies for your families.
Join the Conversation on Early Childhood Education
Board of Education approves $12.8 million increase for VPK Base Rate
Thank you to those of you who attended our last feedback session and/or appreciation breakfast. We appreciate your dedication in advocating and moving the needle on behalf of the early learning community!
 
Now, we invite you to join us for our next  two  'Community Conversations' to learn more about issues related to VPK. You'll have the opportunity to share your thoughts and ideas, and collaborate with other advocates in the early learning industry.

Board of Education Update

We'll also discuss the recent Board of Education meeting held on August 21, where the Board passed its budget, which includes a  $12.8 million increase  for the base rate for VPK. This budget still needs legislative and Governor approval before becoming final for fiscal year 2020-21. The Board also passed the proposed  VPK Rule 6M-8.601 , which allows up to 10 percent to be added to an overall readiness rate based on the percentage of children in the classroom who made learning gains during their time in VPK.  

Meeting Dates and Times

We are offering a morning as well as an evening session, so we hope to see you at either one. The meetings will be held on  Wednesday, August 28 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm   and on   Wednesday, September 4 from 5:30 pm to 7:00  pm. Lunch and dinner will be provided at each respective meeting.
 
If you know someone in the field who would be interested in attending, please share this invitation and encourage them to attend as well.
 
In order to hear from all participants, each session will be limited to 25 people, so please RSVP for either the  l unch  or  dinner meeting to save your spot.
We look forward to collaborating with you!
August 28, 2019 from 11 am - 1 pm (Lunch will be provided)

September 4, 2019 from 5:30 pm - 7 pm (Dinner will be provided)

For more information regarding this rule, please call Pablo Calvo, Director of Community Engagement, at 954-377-2188 ext. 2363, or email him at [email protected] . 
It's time to PLAN! Join us on September 18
Mark your calendars for the next PLAN meeting, to be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in the ELC Broward Office, 1475 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Suite 301 (Third Floor), Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. See you there!
ELC Launches New Initiative "Yes You Can!"
We're accepting applications for child care partners to join in the “Yes, You Can!” initiative.

This initiative is focused on helping child care providers improve their overall levels of impactful instruction, management, and achievement. We're especially interested in partnering with child care providers that scored below a 4 on their CLASS Observations or below a 60 on the VPK Readiness Rate. 

Interested? Curious? Great! To find out more, please call 954- 377-2188 ext. 2360 or email Allison Metsch at [email protected].
Important Reminders for VPK Providers
Here are a few friendly reminders for our VPK providers:
  • Please be sure to enter all VPK children on your roster. You will not be eligible to receive VPK funds for a child prior to the date they have an approved VPK certificate.

  • If a family applied for VPK in another Florida county, but never used the certificate at a different provider, you can enter the COE number and the county of service will automatically be updated in the system.

  • You are responsible for administration of the VPK AP1 Assessments in the first 30 calendar days of your classroom schedule, so please plan accordingly.
VPK 2019-2020 Provider Payment Rate Schedule
The  2019-2020 VPK Provider Payment Rate Schedule   has been posted on our website.
 
In Broward County, the 2019-2020 VPK Summer Provider Rate is  $7.07   and the VPK School-Year Provider Rate is  $4.60.
 
Each fiscal year, the state of Florida sets the VPK rates for each county using a standard formula that incorporates a variety of local cost factors. For Broward County, the formula resulted in a rate that is one cent lower than last year for the school year and two cents lower for summer.


If you have any questions, please contact your Provider Reimbursement Specialist.
ELC Broward now offers Child Care
Resource and Referral Services
We're pleased to announce we've expanded our services to offer Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services to all families in Broward County. This free community service provides families with access and information about quality child care.  This information helps families make informed decisions when selecting early learning and school-age programs for their children.

CCR&R services include:
  • A customized search for child care based on criteria families select, such as location, schedule, curriculum, environment, and special needs;
  • Information on rates, fees, hours, and credentials of providers;
  • Information regarding financial assistance for child care programs;
  • Educational materials and support for parents with questions concerning early childhood development;
  • Tips on identifying quality child care facilities.

To request a customized list of local child care options, please contact the ELC Broward office at (954) 377-2188 and speak to one of our Customer Service Specialists. 
Florida KidCare and WIC Services Co-Located at the ELC Every Thursday
We've teamed up with the Department of Health in Broward County and will have representatives from Florida KidCare and WIC (Women, Infant and Children) co-located in the ELC office every Thursday, beginning August 22. Families interested in their services are welcome to walk in, no appointment necessary.

School Readiness - Apply Now
Families in need of child care financial assistance can apply for School Readiness, a financial assistance program that helps low-income eligible families pay for quality child care in Broward County. 

To qualify, families must meet one of these requirements:
  • Work at least 20 hours per week (40 hours for two-parent household)
  • In school at least 20 hours per week
  • Receive disability benefits

Click the button below to learn more about the School Readiness program and apply to enroll on the wait list.
Upcoming ELC Education and Quality Training Sessions
Here's a listing of our upcoming Education and Quality Trainings for the month of September:
Rocking and Rolling: Why Are Infant Teachers So Important? 
After this training, participants will be able to describe the outcomes of intentional interactions with infants, learn how to become more sensitive to infants' needs, learn how to better support early language in the classroom, and have an increased knowledge of the available resources for infant teachers.

Date & Time: Saturday, September 7, 2019, 10 am - 12 pm
Location: ELC Broward

CLASS Overview
In early childhood settings, each moment that teachers and children interact with one another is an opportunity to develop positive relationships that build on learning. In this workshop, we will explore the importance of using developmentally appropriate strategies during classroom activities that take into consideration children’s differing needs, interests, styles, and abilities.

Date & Time : Thursday, September 19, 2019, 6 pm - 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward


CLASS Overview (in Spanish)
In this workshop, we will explore the importance of using developmentally appropriate strategies during classroom activities that take into consideration children’s differing needs, interests, styles, and abilities while seeing how these strategies connect to the CLASS®.

En este taller, exploraremos la importancia de utilizar estrategias apropiadas para el desarrollo durante las actividades del aula teniendo en cuenta las diferentes necesidades, intereses, estilos y habilidades de los niños y veremos cómo estas estrategias se conectan a CLASS®.

Presenter: Soraya Fernandez, School Readiness South Regional Facilitator with The Office of Early Learning.
  Date & Time: Thursday, September 26, 2019 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward


Enhancing Emergent Literacy Skills in the Classroom
This training will help educators learn how to be creative when reading stories to children, how to gage the students' interest levels and adapt books as needed, how to introduce literacy concepts in a fun and exciting manner, and how to help children make connections across concepts.
Date & Time: Thursday, September 26, 2019, 6 pm - 8 pm
Location: Gulfstream Early Learning Center in Hallandale
Upcoming Inclusion Trainings
Here's a list of upcoming Inclusion Trainings. A list of all Inclusion trainings can be found by visiting https://debbiekay.eventbrite.com.
Early Steps Overview: How Early Intervention Services Support Successful Inclusion
Join us to learn about the referral and evaluation process for children from birth to 3 who may be in need of services. As we know, early intervention is key and you play a critical role in helping our infants and toddlers get the help they need. You'll be glad you came!

Date & Time: Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Location: ELC Broward


About the Trainer:
Ellie Schrot has been the Director of the Broward County Early Steps Program at the Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) since 1992. Early Steps serves over 6,400 infants and toddlers annually with developmental delays and handicapping conditions. Community collaboration and improving systems of care for children with special needs is her passion.

Special notes:
Light Dinner Provided
2 Hours In-Service Provided


3 Part Series: Preschool Teacher Toolkit for Preventing Expulsion (Serie Español de 3 Semanas: Kit de herramientas para maestros preescolares para prevenir la expulsión )
Esta es la Parte 1 de la serie de 3 partes. Debe registrarse y asistir a las Partes 1, 2 y 3 (10 de septiembre, 17 de septiembre, 24 de septiembre) para obtener crédito por la serie.

Parte 1:
Fecha y hora: 10 de septiembre, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Sitio: ELC Broward

Parte 2:
Fecha y hora: 17 de septiembre, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Sitio: ELC Broward

Parte 3:
Fecha y hora: 24 de septiembre, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Sitio: ELC Broward

Acerca de la formación:
¿Sabías que los niños en edad preescolar son expulsados 3 veces más que los niños K-12? Regístrese en la Parte 1 de este entrenamiento de 3 partes para ver cómo puede ayudar! Esta primera parte se centra en las interacciones de calidad, que es el primer paso hacia la creación de una base curacional que los niños necesitan para tener éxito en la escuela y en la vida. ¡Salga con una comprensión de cómo las interacciones afectan el desarrollo cerebral y las estrategias para implementar en sus aulas al día siguiente!

Entrenadores:
Carolina White, Inclusion Specialist ELC
Denise Oliva, Inclusion Specialist ELC
Jessica Santiago, Inclusion Specialist ELC
Cena ligera y horario sin servicio (6 para asistir a las 3 sesiones)
Nivel: Principiante
Trainings are posted on our website!
Visit our calendar of events and meetings page for a listing of all of our training sessions throughout the year.
Video Highlight:
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Are You? Tips From a Teacher
What should children know before they start kindergarten? Their ABCs? How to spell their name? How to share crayons? A teacher in Portland, Ore., has a few tips for parents. (August 3, 2018)
Early Learning News Corner
Check out our  Early Learning News Corner  for timely education-related news articles.
Resources
Free Subscription to myTeachstone©
The ELC, partnering with OEL, is working to bring resources on the CLASS® Assessment to our SR Providers through a myTeachstone subscription.

The myTeachstone subscription includes:
  • Overview of CLASS® Assessment tool in Infant, Toddler and Pre-K
  • Best Practices and Teacher Strategies via Video
  • Tips/Info for teachers to understand the assessment process

You must be a School Readiness Provider to receive the subscription.

Want to sign up?

Send your name, email and provider name to Allison Metsch at [email protected] .
Provider Portal Training Videos
Need additional training on the provider portal? We've got you covered! Videos are available 24/7 on the ELC's Youtube Channel .
1475 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Suite 301 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
(954) 377-2188