January 26, 2022
Child Care & Early Learning Instructor Disaster Relief Payment (Round 2)

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida).

The second application window for Child Care and Early Learning Instructor Disaster Relief Payments is now open. Child care and early learning provider directors will receive an email notification to begin verifying qualified teachers to receive a $1,000 disaster relief payment in appreciation for their continued service to Florida’s children and families.

The Division of Early Learning will host technical assistance (TA) hours for directors on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout January from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. The TA sessions can be joined by using this link: https://www.gotomeet.me/officeofearlylearning/disaster-relief-payment-ta-hours-with-del.

Click here for more information on eligibility requirements.

These payments will be provided directly to qualified individuals through the U.S. mail, and instructors who receive a check have 180 days to cash the checks.

Important Information:
  • Only directors may have accounts to apply on the portal. Existing directors (i.e. those that have accounts from the first application) will use their existing credentials to sign in; new directors or those that did not complete the first application must use an invitation code to set up their account first. The email notifications are tailored to the director providing their existing username or an invitation code.
  • Application portal URL = https://reliefpayments.floridaearlylearning.com
  • The application portal is updated and contains over 30 frequently asked questions for directors on the Get Help page, including recordings of an information session Full Webinar (approx. 34 mins) and Application Process Demo (approx. 15 mins).
  • Any questions to be answered by DEL should be forwarded to DisasterRelief@oel.myflorida.com
Rules Workshop
 
A Rule Workshop for Rule 6M-9.115, Procedures and Criteria for Approval of School Readiness Plans will be held via webinar on the following dates and times:
Thursday, January 27, 2022,
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. CST
or until business is concluded, whichever is earlier
Monday, January 31, 2022,
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CST
or until business is concluded, whichever is earlier
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted to oel.rules@oel.myflorida.com. All emails should have “6M-9.115 Comment” in the subject line. 
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.  
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: 
Spring 2022 Registration Flamingo Early Learning Courses 
Spring A 2022 Term: 2/7 – 4/12
  • Direct Enrollment: 1/12 – 1/30
  • Late enrollment requests: 1/31 – 2/11, pending course availability 
  • Hosting courses or need statewide seats with blended model supports (i.e., CoP or Coaching): rosters and course selections/modalities are due by 1/7 (unless we’ve made arrangements)
Spring B 2022 Term: 3/28 – 5/31
  • Direct Enrollment: 3/2 – 3/20
  • Late enrollment requests: 3/21 – 4/1, pending course availability 
  • Hosting courses or need statewide seats with blended model supports (i.e., CoP or Coaching): rosters and course selections/modalities are due by 2/25
NOTE: Practitioners may enroll either in: 
  • 2 courses in Spring A, or 
  • 2 courses in Spring B, or 
  • 1 course in Spring A and 1 course in Spring B.
2022 Provider Update

It's that time of year! It is time for child care providers to update their profile in Florida's Early Learning Provider Portal.

Every year, Florida’s 30 early learning coalitions provide CCR&R services to hundreds of thousands of families. When child care providers participate in the annual provider update, the CCR&R programs are able to:
  • Inform communities about child care options and the cost of care.
  • Offer customized child care listings to families based on their needs.
  • Provide a FREE marketing tool for ALL legally operating providers in Florida.

The information collected on child care businesses assists Florida with state and federal reporting and statewide child care analysis. To complete your 2022 Provider Update and be included in child care listings to families:
  1. Log on to your Provider Portal account.
  2. Choose year 2022 on the top right-hand side.
  3. Click each tab and review the information. Make any necessary updates. Verify that all fees, private pay rates and schedules are accurate.
  4. Submit your profile for coalition review.
  5. Periodically check for correspondence and the coalition’s approval.
Start your FCCPC Credential

Register now for C Session (March 2 – May 6, 2022)

*EEC1319-14018: Portfolio/Supervised Work Experience

*EEC1701-14107: Child Development

EEC1732-14247: Infants and Toddlers

*EEC2523-11589: Leadership and Management of Child Care Programs

*FCCPC Classes
CONTACT AN EEC ADVISOR:
Dr. Robert Saunders
Chair, Social Sciences Division
850-872-3826
rsaunder2@gulfcoast.edu

Gulf Coast State College
Division of Social Sciences
5230 West U.S. Highway 98
Panama City, FL 32401
Celebrate Literacy Week

We hope you enjoyed the simultaneous reading activity this morning at 9:00 am. In case you missed it, we also recorded a reading of each of the books for the 2 age groups. And don't forget to view the book activities below.
My First Busy World by Eric Carle read to infants and toddlers (birth to 3-year-olds)
Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats to preschoolers (3- to 5-year-olds)
ELCNWF World Tour with Kate and Tami

As we wrap up all things ELCNWF World Tour with Kate and Tami, we would like to remind all of you to enter the drawings for the prizes that will be given away next week! The information for each drawing can be found in the bags that were left for Teachers and Directors.

Directors, if you have any questions about the information in your bag, feel free to reach out to Tami at Tami.Valdez@elcnwf.org.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
January Special Dates

National Bath Safety Month
National Blood Donor Month
Celebrate Literacy Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Hobby Month
National Mentoring Month
January 26
National Spouses Day

January 27
National Chocolate Cake Day
January 29
National Puzzle Day
January 30
National Croissant Day

January 31
National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
National Backwards Day
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