Closure Guidance

Many Providers are requesting advice on closures. Please remember, the decision to close your business is up to you as the business owner.  That being said, the Coalition will offer the following guidance regarding closures:

School Readiness (SR):  

If you close your program, you are required to notify the Coalition IN WRITING within two (2) calendar days. All requests for compensation for temporary closures will be handled in accordance with 6M-4.501, F.A.C.

Please send the email to the representative for the Coalition, Michelle Shadoan.

Once you reopen, you will submit at statement on letterhead which outlines the dates that your facility was closed and the facility reopen date. This document should be submitted via the Coalition Document Exchange in a folder titled 2019-20 SR Contracts.

Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK):  

If you close/do not follow the established calendar, you are required to notify the Coalition IN WRITING by close of business on the closure day. Please send the email to, Michelle Shadoan.Once the storm has passed, you will have specific timelines to notify the Coalition how you plan on handling the closure and VPK Instructional hour requirements:

 

You will need to complete the Temporary Program Closure Documentation form and submit it to the Coalition within 2 days of resuming the VPK Program.

On this form you will select the option to accept payment or schedule VPK make up dates. Providers can claim up to 5 days per VPK Program year without making up the VPK Hours (If closure due to State of Emergency), or schedule the VPK make-up date. Once the selection is made, please upload the document to the Coalition Document Exchange in a folder titled 2019-20 VPK Contracts.

Chipley Anchorage Children's Home Temporary Contact Information

The Anchorage Children's Home of Chipley is currently under construction and experiencing issues with their office phones. In the meantime, they have provided a temporary phone number, (850) 610-4238, to report Rilya Wilson absences for Washington and Holmes counties. Please leave a message, and a supervisor will return your call.

School Readiness Curriculum Changes

The current list of School Readiness curriculum will discontinue on June 30, 2019.  Providers must choose an APPROVED curriculum from the recently approved list. Current 2019-20 School Readiness curriculum options can be found by clicking the blue button below.

As noted during the February 6 Provider netWORK Meeting, additional options for curriculum could be added at the end of the month. The Coalition will update providers if and when the information becomes available.

Summer VPK Program

Have you considered offering the VPK Summer 2020 Program?

The Coalition requires written confirmation of intent from all providers who plan to offer a Summer VPK program during the 2020 school year. The public-school districts are required to provide the VPK Summer 2020 Program. Please do not hesitate, submit your notice of intent response to Robin Schwab prior to February 15, 2020.

For more information on offering VPK this summer, click the blue button below. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Redline.

Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment

February 1 - April 30

Open Enrollment for the Florida Prepaid Program is happening now through April 30, and we are working to share the news with as many parents and families throughout Northwest Florida as possible. Attached are informational fliers for parents about Florida Prepaid, and specifically, about open enrollment. Please share this information with your parents and families. You can help them get a head start on saving for their child(ren)’s future! Click the blue button below to download the Florida Prepaid flier and share it with your parents and families. Thank you for spreading the word about this incredible opportunity!

Don't forget to register for the 2020 winter conference scheduled for  Saturday, February 22, 2020 . This year we will be focusing on Understanding Behaviors with Love & Compassion and you're sure to fall in love with the presenters; Lynne Eldridge, Donna Whittaker, and our keynote speaker, Ron Shuali, M.Ed.

A $10.00 fee will be collected at the time of registration. Don't wait! The registration window will close on Thursday, February 20, 2020 . Click the blue button below to register today!

If you have any questions, please submit them through the   Redline .

Office of Early Learning Parent Pages

The Office of Early Learning has released their official newsletter featuring the following articles for February 2020.

 

To view the Parents' Pages newsletter click the blue button below, and share the most impactful pieces with the families you serve.

New Neighbors

Community Resource Center

The Coalition is proud to announce the Panama City office has new neighbors. We are officially sharing the love we have for the communities we serve and the space we occupy with  three newly located community resources! By helping others we are helping our communities and ourselves.

Click the blue button below for more information on the various resources provided by your local Community Resource Center located at:  703 W 15th St Panama City, FL 32401

Census 2020

The Census Bureau has acknowledged their long-term misrepresentation of young children in decennial censuses and in Census Bureau surveys. Evaluations show that Census Bureau surveys like the American Community Survey, the Current Population Survey, and the Survey of Income and Program Participation also miss young children while counting, which can result in biased survey estimates.

To combat the misrepresentation of children ages birth to four, we ask that all parents be made aware of the benefits of counting their children.

Representation and funding make a difference where it matters, and it matters here.

Click the blue button below for a list of common family situations and Census approved answers to help the families you serve complete the Census.

ArtKidDoo is calling for YOU!

This family friendly event is a collaborative effort from the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida, the Washington County Arts Council, local businesses, civic organizations, and child care providers, such as yourself, to encourage awareness for the arts in young children. Washington County and surrounding communities will come together for this free one-day event to offer hands on arts and crafts, as well as performance art by local artists, musicians, and vocalists. There will be ample opportunity for children to paint, color, dance, mold clay, as well as create jewelry and musical instruments at this year's event.

If your center is interested in contributing to the 6th Annual ArtKidDoo , you are in luck! Your center may participate as a vendor, which authorizes your members to manage a booth with a child friendly activity, you may create an activity, or we can assign one to you. Members of your program may volunteer, individually or as a group, as a volunteer you’ll be assisting with set-up, break down, event maintenance, and other duties as assigned, and if you are unable to actively participate, you may graciously donate on your centers behalf as a sponsor. For more information about the event, or to become a vendor, sponsor, or volunteer, click the blue button below.

Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Office of Early Learning