Provider Network Newsletter December 22, 2021

December 22, 2021

IMPORTANT: Increased Emergent Literacy Training Requirements for VPK Instructors

Florida law now requires every prekindergarten classroom to have at least one prekindergarten instructor who has completed three five-hour emergent literacy training courses. Prior to the passage of House Bill (HB) 419 and HB 7011 in 2021, only one emergent literacy training course was required. Thus, continuing prekindergarten instructors, who have already completed one five-hour emergent literacy training course, must complete two additional courses. Any new prekindergarten instructors must take all three classes.

This legislative change became effective on July 1, 2021. Through this memorandum, the Department of Education, Division of Early Learning (DEL), is giving notice of this new requirement, and is identifying ten emergent literacy training courses that meet this requirement. Given the importance of this training, DEL is setting a deadline of July 1, 2022, for all prekindergarten providers to meet this requirement.

After completing the first three emergent literacy courses, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) instructors must complete one emergent literacy course every five years.

Instructors will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion of each course, and the completed courses will be added on the instructor’s training transcript.

VPK instructors are encouraged to begin taking the emergent literacy courses in order to complete the three five-hour emergent literacy course requirement by July 1, 2022.

Emergent Literacy Training Requirements FAQs

VPK Providers:

As the Christmas Break approaches, please consider the following regarding the December 2021 VPK Attendance submission deadlines:

December 2021 VPK Attendance will be due on January 5, 2022.

If your program will be closing next week for the Christmas break, we are requesting that you go ahead and submit attendance early. You can upload any sign-in/sign-out sheets which document attendance for the VPK program, and we can process the attendance if your program is not serving children for the remainder of December 2021.

We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter, as this will allow us to complete the processing for VPK prior to the end of the year, and then turn the focus to School Readiness Providers in January 2022. You will be instrumental in allowing us to meet the tight deadlines around the multiple holidays and bank closures for January 2022 and prevent a late payment.

Happy Holidays from the Contracts and Reimbursement Team!

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:

Activity Plans

Children’s Forum to Conduct Statewide Early Education and Care Workforce Study

The Division of Early Learning (DEL) has awarded a contract to the Children’s Forum (Forum) to conduct a Statewide Early Education and Care Workforce Study. The study will examine employment characteristics, work environment, education, turnover, and COVID impacts for Florida’s early learning workforce.

DEL will use the findings to inform policy improvement, strategic investment, and salary supports for the early childhood workforce. In the coming months, the Forum will be reaching out to child care directors and teachers to participate in the study. If you receive an invitation from the Forum, DEL encourages your participation so we can get the perspectives of a large and representative group of early educators.

Trauma Informed Care for Child Care Program Directors

The Coalition, in partnership with DCF, will be hosting the 40-hour virtual Trauma Informed Care for Directors.

The Coalition has 10 more seats left for Directors to attend this multi-session course, which requires the completion of outside assignments and readings.

January 4^th will be the orientation of how the course will be conducted and January 18^th will be the start date for the course.

Stipends for Directors will also be available for Directors completing the course successfully.

Please email the redline@elcnwf.org if you would like to participate.

Health Insurance Market Place

The Administration for Children and Families is partnering with The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to help the early childhood workforce access health coverage and connect with navigators and assisters during the Open Enrollment period for Marketplace coverage, which started on November 1.

It is important to ensure that every early childhood educator has access to affordable health care coverage, particularly those who are on the front lines serving children, families, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know that the early childhood workforce is two times less likely to have health care coverage or to receive employer-sponsored health care coverage than the general population. Benefits are a critical piece of compensation, and as we continue to work to improve compensation for the workforce, it is essential to include health care coverage.

Amanda Hodges

Gymnastics Plus of Bay County

Amanda was born and raised in Panama City. She has been married to her husband, Brian, for 12 years and has 2 beautiful daughters, Alexis and Briana. She has worn many hats over the years such as lead Pre-K teacher, van driver, afterschool teacher, and Tiny Tot teacher. She is always in tune with the needs of the children she works with and goes above and beyond to do what it takes to make every child feel safe and loved. We are appreciative of Amanda and hope she gets the recognition she deserves!

Be on the Lookout!

Kate and Tami from our Provider Development Team will be visiting Providers in our region to distribute useful information and resources for your teachers and program.

Be sure to say "Hi" when you see them!

If you would prefer to drop off your hand artwork directly to us, we can mail it for you. Please drop off at our below office locations by January 5th.

ELC Panama City

3009 Hwy. 77, Suite F

Panama City, FL 32405

ELC Marianna

4636 HWY 90 East, Suite P

Marianna, FL 32446

Spring 2022 Registration

Flamingo Early Learning Courses

Spring A course dates: 2/7/22 to 4/12/22

Spring B course dates: 3/28/22 to 5/31/22

Please click the button below for an overview of Flamingo Early Learning and available courses.

As a Reminder: Upon completion of the course and receiving mastery, students will be eligible to receive a stipend and CEUs.

Course Overview

Flamingo Early Learning VPK Emergent Literacy Training Courses

Quarterly Frog Street Training is available now

These recurring trainings will be for new staff coming on board or current staff needing a refresher.

Frog Street roll-out training is available for providers needing beginners training for their current staff.
This can be completed virtually or on-site at your center.
80% of providers, currently using Frog Street Curriculum, has received this roll-out training for staff, but if you feel you need additional training, please email the redline.

HiMama Helps – Childcare Webinar Series

Now, more than ever, the early childhood community has to come together to figure out life during a global pandemic. The HiMama Helps Webinar series was created as a platform for ECEs and child care experts to share stories and practical tips with each other.

Join your hosts, Ria Simon and Kiah Price every Thursday at 2 PM, to explore different topics, offer practical strategies, and have your questions answered. Click below for the library of past webinar recordings.

Webinar Series

Conference-Quality Professional Development by Early Childhood Experts

Early Childhood Investigations offers free webinars to early childhood educators. The series is produced by Engagement Strategies, LLC., and presented by leading authors, experts, and leaders. Now, you can participate in conference-quality training without leaving your home, classroom, or office.

Upcoming Webinars

We are looking for parents to join the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC)

Download a copy of the flyer by clicking the button below. Please make sure all parents in your center receive a copy of this flyer. You can print to send home with each of your children, or you can simply post the flyer on your social media page.

PAC Flyer

Florida KidCare

In a time when the health and safety of our community are most important, help keep the children in your center insured.

Encourage families in your centers to contact ELCNWF for information and assistance applying for Florida KidCare. Call 850-747-5400 X 108 or request CCR&R via the link below!

CCR&R Request

Teach your way during the 2021-22 school year with this timely new collection from PBS Kids, of flexible resources aligned to monthly themes and skills for PreK-2 students. Use the monthly Teach Your Way calendar and teacher planner to integrate media in creative and developmentally appropriate ways, all year long!

Teach Your Way

Big Heart World is an initiative produced by Sparkler in collaboration with Noggin that enables parents and educators to help children explore what it means to have a “big heart” and how to grow one. This means:

Learning About Me — Awareness of self: identity & belonging, feelings and self-regulation
Learning About You — Awareness of others: empathy, appreciation of diversity
Learning About Us — Relationships with others: interpersonal strategies

Have your kids listen, sing, and dance along to "Share A Smile", the next song from Noggin’s Big Heart Beats album. And be sure to follow their site as they will release a new video every month.