July 13, 2022
Join Suzan along with other Directors for an in-person Child Care Chat. Hot topics we will be discussing include:
 
  • Rate Increases- What's Coming Next?
  • Next Round of Grant Funding for Child Care Providers
  • Are You Ready For The New VPK Requirements?
  • Teacher Recruitment- There's Great News!
  • What To Do To Prepare For The Next Hurricane
  • Active Shooter and Other Emergencies At Your Location
  • Future Casting" Child Care in the Panhandle: What To Expect
 
You will not want to miss this opportunity to get learn the latest and get your questions answered. Space is limited! Reserve your spot by clicking on the blue button below. We look forward to seeing you there!
School Readiness Payment Update for June Service Period

The Coalition has processed School Readiness attendance for the June service period and hopes to release School Readiness payments this week. Payments are not as early as recent months due to the fact the Coalition is waiting for the new fiscal year funding to be released by the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). 

If you have any questions, please email the Redline at redline@elcnwf.org.
Rule 6M.4.500 Regarding Child Absences

Also, there has been an update to Rule 6M-4.500 regarding child absences. Starting July 1, 2022 children will be allowed up to 13 absences with the correct documentation. You can find the rule language below:

(4) Absences.
(a) Reimbursement shall be authorized for no more than three (3) absences per calendar month per child except in the event of extraordinary circumstances in which case the coalition or its designee shall document approval for payment based on written documentation provided by the parent justifying the excessive absence for an additional ten (10) days. Extraordinary circumstances does not include vacation or recreational time.
Examples of extraordinary circumstances include but are not limited to the following:
1. Hospitalization of the child or parent with appropriate documentation (i.e., doctor’s note, hospital admission),
2. Illness requiring home-stay as documented (i.e., doctor’s note, parent statement),
3. Death in the immediate family with appropriate documentation (i.e., obituary, death certificate, parent statement),
4. Court-ordered visitation with appropriate documentation (i.e., court order),
5. Unforeseen documented military deployment or exercise of the parent(s) (i.e., military orders of deployment, reserve duty),
6. Doctor appointments or other health-related appointments (i.e., therapy, routine). 
(b) Total monthly reimbursed absences shall not exceed thirteen (13) calendar days.
(c) If a child has five (5) consecutive days of absences during the child’s regularly scheduled attendance or ten (10) unexplained absences, during a calendar month, with no contact from the parent, the provider shall submit written notification to the local coalition or its designee who in turn shall determine the need for continued care. The coalition shall document in the case file all attempts to contact the parent by the coalition, provider, or referring agency, if applicable.

Please remember that reporting absences for BG1 At Risk Children has not changed. You are still required to contact DCF for any unexcused absences for At Risk children. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to a Contract Specialist.
SR Rate Tables

Please ensure that you go into your Provider Portal and check your SR Rate tables. This can be done by navigating to the Attendance Tab > SR Reimbursement Rates.

When you look at the table please ensure that your differentials are marked correctly. To see the differentials you will navigate to SR Reimbursement Rates > View Differential Rates.
Registration Fees
Don’t leave money on the table! Please check your registration fees queue. Registration fees for the 2021-2022 contract year need to be submitted no later than July 31, 2022.

If you have children in the queue that you do not intend on requesting reimbursement for, please dismiss them from the queue. Registration fees for the 2021-22 contract year will not be paid if not submitted by July 31, 2022.
While we have moved to the quarterly cadence vs. the monthly meetings, we will still continue to provide information and data in the monthly Provider netWORK PowerPoint format.
Calling ALL Bay County Providers!
If you are interested in having a Rotarian volunteer read to your VPK classroom each month, please let the Coalition know by emailing Tami Valdez @ tami.valdez@elcnwf.org.

The deadline to “apply” is close of business on July 29, 2022. Reading sessions will begin in September and continue through April, 2023.

Rotarians will be supplied books to take to the centers for their scheduled read aloud days, however there will be no Take-Home Stay-Home books that are being distributed to the children in the classroom. We have shifted our book distribution strategy to the ArtKidDoo & Literacy Too kits.
A Message From

Dear 2021-22 and 2022-23 Contracted VPK Programs,

We are pleased to share with you some important information related to Florida’s Assessment in Student Thinking (FAST) using Star Early Literacy. Here is the memo on FAST using Star Early Literacy which includes a link to the new VPK FAST resource website.

Training sessions have been tailored to meet the individual needs of each participant based on their specific role as either a VPK director or VPK instructor. Individuals who serve as both the VPK director and instructor should attend the VPK director training.
VPK directors or individuals that serve as an on-site administrators role may register to attend the webinar training session for VPK Program Directors. Participants should only register and attend one webinar training session.
VPK instructors may register to attend the webinar training session for VPK Instructors. Participants should only register and attend one webinar training session.
If you or your staff have training questions related to FAST using Star Early Literacy, please direct them to contact the Division of Early Learning here. 
In order to better support VPK educators, the Division of Early Learning (DEL) is amending Rule 6M-8.615, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), VPK Training Requirements to provide clarity on course completion requirements. DEL will gather public comment on the proposed revisions at a rule development workshop on June 29, 2022. DEL will then present the amended rule and incorporated form at the State Board of Education meeting on August 17, 2022.

The amended rule revises the deadline for VPK instructors to complete the emergent literacy courses from July 1, 2022 to prior to the date of when the VPK class begins. With the removal of the July 1 deadline, instructors in 2022 Summer VPK programs will not be required to complete the emergent literacy training requirement until the following program year.

Draft rule language and workshop registration can be found on our website at https://www.floridaearlylearning.com/statewide-initiatives/proposed-rules.
New VPK Director Credential Requirements for Private Providers.

All private VPK Providers must have a director with a current VPK Director Credential to be eligible for contracting in the 2022-2023 program year. The attached memo and flyer provide information regarding this requirement and identifies the five training courses that a director must have completed in order to obtain or maintain a VPK Director Credential.

If you have any additional questions regarding the VPK Director Credential requirements for private providers please email VPKQuestions@oel.myflorida.com.
Activity Plans based on the Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards 4-Years-Old to Kindergarten

The Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards 4-Years-Old to Kindergarten is a comprehensive document containing age-appropriate information and reflections about how young children explore, create and think. Lesson plans are available to help develop the skills that 4-year-old children should know and be able to do by the end of their prekindergarten year. There are targeted standards for 4-year-old children included in each lesson plan.
 
To find these lesson plans, click the button below: 
Florida KidCare
 
Florida KidCare offers quality, affordable health & dental insurance for ALL children in Florida from birth through the end of age 18! Children are eligible for head to toe coverage, even if one or both parents are working. Visit floridakidcare.org for information about qualifying and how to apply for health insurance at little to no cost.
July Special Dates
 
National Watercolor Month
National Picnic Month
National Anti-Boredom Month
National Social Wellness Month
National Doughnut Week (July 10-18)
July 13
Embrace Your Geekness Day

July 17
World Emoji Day
National Ice Cream Day

July 18
World Hug Your Kids Day
World Listening Day
Nelson Mandela Day

July 15
National Give Something Away Day

July 20
International Chess Day
National Hot Dog Day
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July 22
National Hammock Day

July 24
National Parent's Day
International Self Care Day

July 25
Merry Go Round Day

July 28
World Conservation Day

July 30
National Support Public Education Day
International Day of Friendship
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We exist to help grow healthy children, parents,
and the relationship between them.
Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida and the State of Florida, Division of Early Learning