Provider Network Newsletter February 9, 2022

February 9, 2022

Thank you to all the Providers who joined us for the first installment of the Quarterly Provider Network Meetings. Click below for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

Quarterly Network Meeting PPT

While we have moved to the quarterly cadence vs. the monthly meetings, we will still continue to provide information and data in the monthly Network Meeting PowerPoint format.

February Network PPT

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.

Memo from DOE

DCF Flyer

Child Care & Early Learning Instructor Disaster Relief Payment (Round 2)

DUE: February 11th

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.

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

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

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

Sen. Ausley Visits Calhoun County

Florida Senator Loranne Ausley was in town and visited the Altha Church of God Christian Learning Center in Calhoun County a few weeks ago. She met with ELC Executive Director, Suzan Gage, and Center Director, Melody Stinson, to talk about the importance of our ECE teachers and their critical role in child development. They also discussed how the supplemental disaster funds have helped the providers in our region.

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

Course Overview

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.

Flamingo Early Learning VPK Emergent Literacy Training Courses

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)

Florida Prepaid Flyer for Families

Please print and distribute to your families

Start your FCCPC Credential

*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

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.