March 2, 2022
COVID-19 Guidance for Childcare Facilities

Governor Ron DeSantis and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo announced significant changes to Florida’s COVID-19 guidance including pushing back on unscientific corporate masking, reducing isolation for all Floridians including those in schools and childcare, and recommending that physicians should exercise their individual clinical judgment and expertise based on their patients’ needs and preferences. 

In accordance with the COVID-19 Guidance issued by the Florida Department of Health on February 24, 2022, the following guidance is provided for facilities providing child care services in Florida:

Florida is supporting parents with children in childcare by updating outdated, unscientific guidelines that hurt working families and keep kids out of school.
 
Florida is making it clear that healthy children in childcare do not need to quarantine; children in childcare who test positive for COVID-19 can return after five days, with no test required. This guidance also reiterates that children attending childcare should never be forced to wear a mask — this choice should always be made by the parent.
Updated Florida Department of Health COVID-19 Guidance Recommendations can be viewed here.
Updated Caseload Assignments for ELCNWF Eligibility

If you have a question about a parent/guardian’s SR or VPK eligibility or enrollment, you can contact a Coalition Family Support Specialist by calling, emailing, or texting their cell phone number directly. See the contact information by clicking the button below.
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.
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 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
Flamingo Early Learning VPK Emergent Literacy Training Courses. Click HERE
Florida Prepaid Information for Families
Florida Prepaid is encouraging families to start saving for college by joining them in the journey. When parents enroll in a Florida 529 Prepaid Plan now through April 30, 2022, they'll earn $125 for each year of college or university purchased - up to $500 total.
 
Prepaid Plans are the risk-free, stress-free way to save for college – allowing them to lock in future tuition costs for less.
 
  • Covers tuition and most fees; optional dormitory plan available
  • Choose the plan to fit your budget; Florida Prepaid manages the rest
  • Risk-free plans are guaranteed by the State of Florida
  • Set payment schedule (monthly, 5-year, lump sum)
Please print and distribute to your families
Ms. Devan
Little Butterflies

"Ms. Devan used to work with us prior to the hurricane and was unfortunately misplaced afterward. She has reunited with our little childcare family this past November, and she jumped right back into the routine with the children and did not skip a beat! The kids love her as do the parents, guardians, and staff. She is absolutely wonderful in our four-year-old class. We want to say thank you so very much for coming home and caring for our little butterflies!" 

-Little Butterflies Staff
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.
March Special Dates
 
Irish-American Heritage Month
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
National Craft Month
National Nutrition Month
National Women’s History Month
Words Matter Week (March 6-12)
National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week (March 20-26)
March 1
National Pancake Day
Fat Tuesday
 
March 2
National Read Across America Day
Dr. Seuss Day
Ash Wednesday
 
March 3
National Anthem Day
 
March 4
National Grammar Day
National Sons Day
National Day of Unplugging
Employee Appreciation Day
 
March 7
National Be Heard Day

March 8
International Women’s Day
 
March 12
National Girl Scout Day
National Plant a Flower Day
National Working Moms Day 
March 13
National Good Samaritan Day
Daylight Saving Time
 
March 14
National Children’s Craft Day
National Learn About Butterflies Day
National Pi Day
 
March 17
St. Patrick’s Day
Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
 
March 19
National Let’s Laugh Day
 
March 20
Spring Begins

March 27
National Scribble Day
 
March 30
National Doctors Day
National Pencil Day
 
March 31
National Crayon 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