July 25, 2019
Back to School Events For the Whole Family to Enjoy!
The school year is around corner and there are lots of back-to-school events for the whole family to enjoy. See you there!

Tamarac Back to School Resource Fair
Date: July 27, 2019, 10 am - 1 pm
City of Tamarac Community Center
8601 W. Commercial Blvd. Tamarac, FL 33351

T.R.U.E. Back to School and Health Fair
Date: August 3, 2019, 9 am - 1 pm
Velocity Center - First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale
301 East Broward Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305

City of Sunrise Back to School Roundup
Date: August 3, 2019, 10 am - 1 pm
Sunrise Civic Center
10610 West Oakland Park Blvd. Sunrise, FL 33351

Progress In The Park with Dania Beach Mayor Tamara James
Date: August 3, 2019, 9:30 am - 12 pm
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
2400 Charleston St. Hollywood, FL 33020
The VPK Contract Deadline is Approaching!
The beginning of the school year is fast approaching and we are hard at work reviewing your VPK contracts and applications. If your contract (VPK-20 form) and your application (VPK APP) have both been submitted, they will be reviewed soon, if we have not already done so. If you have submitted your VPK contract and application, please check the status of these documents on the portal, as a number of VPK applications have been rejected for corrections that need to be made. Please be sure that you make any requested corrections and resubmit as quickly as possible to avoid delays in the certification process.

If you have not yet submitted your VPK contract and application, please keep in mind that the process of contract review can take significantly longer at the end of the summer, as a large number of contracts are submitted in a short period of time. If you wish to begin your VPK program on August 14, please be sure that both your contract and application are submitted no later than August 1, 2019. If you will begin your program after the 14 th , please be sure that both your contract and application are submitted no later than two weeks prior to your anticipated program start date.
 
Finally, as soon as your VPK contract has been certified, please begin entering your students on your class roster in the Provider Portal. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your Provider Relations Specialist. 
Faith-Based Provider Board Seat Update
Thank you to all the providers who voted in the recent Faith-Based Provider board seat election. A meeting of the Nominating Committee of the ELC Board of Directors is being planned to discuss the results and make a recommendation to the board. We look forward to adding a provider to our board at the next board meeting on September 12, 2019.
CLASS Scores
The program assessment tool is CLASS® (Classroom Assessment Scoring System). The assessment looks at effective teacher – child interactions. It is not looking at the curriculum used, the number of books in the classroom or the classroom arrangement.

The Broward County average CLASS score is 4.4.

Here are some facts about CLASS:

  • Trained and certified CLASS observers will assess School Readiness programs and assign a score. The annual CLASS observations will be done at no cost to the provider.
  • CLASS measures the quality of interactions between teachers and children.
  • CLASS is recognized internationally for capturing elements within a classroom that improve child outcomes.

For more information, visit teachstone.com/class.
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:
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.
Presenter: Soraya Fernandez, School Readiness South Regional Facilitator with The Office of Early Learning
Date & Time: Thursday, August 25, 2019, 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward


Rocking and Rolling: Why Infant Teachers are 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 : Thursday, August 1, 2019, 6 pm - 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward

What is Coaching? What is CLASS? What is Coaching with CLASS?
This training is designed to help participants learn about the coaching process as a partnership that focuses on teacher concerns to identify and establish specific goals. Participants will learn how to provide meaningful and effective interactions with children. 
Date & Time: Tuesday, August 6, 2019 from 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward

More Than Just Reading: Make Story Time Fun in Pre-K
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: Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 6 pm - 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward

Quality of Feedback: Make it Count
The toddler and preschool years are a critical time for development in children. They turn to their teachers for praise, recognition, clarification, as so much more. As educators, we strive to encourage and affirm our students each and every day. However, how many times do we catch ourselves simply walking around the classroom and stating, “Good job!” or “Nice work”? This training is designed to give participants the tools and knowledge to make more meaningful, individualized, and purposeful feedback when interacting with our students.
Date & Time: Thursday, August 22, 2019, 6 pm – 8 pm
Location: ELC Broward
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.
Children's Services Council of Broward County Trainings
Count Me In: Discovering Inclusion for Kids
This training teaches staff, through the use of hands-on activities, how to build disability awareness and encourage children to appreciate differences. (3 Hours)

Date & Time: August 22, 2019, 9:30 am -12:30 pm
Location: Children's Services Council
6600 W. Commercial Blvd
Lauderhill, FL 33319
 
Because there are multiple hands-on activities, this training is limited to 40 participants.  

Please register on the CSC training website or by clicking the button below.

Florida Family Child Care Home Association
Join the Florida Family Child Care Home Association (FFCCHA) and attend FFCCHA future meetings and training. The next 2 meetings and training will be held in Ocala, Florida on Aug 3, 2019 and Nov 2, 2019.


Video Spotlight:
8 Ways Educators Can Build Emotional Resilience and Prevent Burnout
Elena Aguilar, an instructional coach, author, and Education Week Teacher blogger, shares eight tips to prevent teacher burnout and build emotional resilience. This video originally streamed as a Facebook Live. Watch video (October 23, 2017)
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 ametsch@elcbroward.org.
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 Suite 301, FL 33309
(954) 377-2188