May 25, 2022
Rule 6M-4.500 Information Update

On May 11 the State Board of Education approved changes to Rule 6M-4.500, Child Attendance and Provider Reimbursement which will go into effect on July 1, 2022.

Among the changes in the approved rule, is an adjustment to Quality Performance Incentive differentials which will eliminate the differential payment for those programs whose CLASS scores range from 4.0 to 4.49. As it has been the case, these Quality Performance Incentive differentials will be based on the most recent program assessment composite scores but they will immediately be adjusted (if necessary) and be applied to the next monthly provider reimbursement payment rather than being applied to the next fiscal year.

Additionally, a child care provider that is currently on a Quality Improvement Plan will not be eligible for the Quality Performance Incentive. The new differential thresholds are listed below:
To read more about the changes click the button below.
Hometown Heroes Housing Program for Childcare Teachers

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Launch of Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the June 1 launch of the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program to help Floridians in over 50 critical professions purchase their first home. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program will be available to Floridians including law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. Including this $100 million program, the Governor also announced his intent to support the total of nearly $363 million appropriated for affordable and workforce housing in the 2022-2023 budget, the highest total in 15 years. Read More...
VPK Assessment Period 3 (AP3) Is the Post-Assessment

As the end of the 2021-2022 school year approaches, just a friendly reminder of the AP3 Deadlines. All private and public VPK providers are required to administer the AP3 and submit the results on the VPK Assessment Online Reporting System.

  • Administration Deadline: Administer within the last 30 calendar days of the VPK program ending on the last VPK instructional day and including non-instructional days.

  • Online Submission Deadlines: Submit no later than 15 calendar days after the last day of the VPK classroom schedule

  • Even if the system is down: Providers will need to complete the Assessment and document the date it was completed on the outside cover to remain in compliance. 

Should you have questions regarding the Florida VPK Assessment and/or the online reporting system, please contact the VPK Assessment Help Desk.

By phone: local 850-645-0835, toll-free 1-844-545-4777
Hours: Monday to Thursday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Friday - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Updated Child Screening Process for SR Providers
To better align with the Legislation and Rule for child screenings, the Coalition has changed annual child screening dates from birthdays to redetermination dates. 

By using the Redetermination date, this will allow the Child Screening portion of the Provider Portal to be updated in a timely manner. Please begin using your Developmental Screening Portal in your EFS Mod Provider Services Portal to access the screenings that are due.

Below are a few helpful tips and an excerpt from the child screening rule for reference.
  • EFS/Mod will automatically schedule a screening and it will populate in your Developmental Screening Portal if needed.

  • If there is a request for an ASQ-3 or ASQ-SE in your Provider Portal, then a parent has not opted out of the ASQ-SE screening, and you are required to complete the ASQ-SE screening.

  • Occasionally if a parent or provider is concerned about a screening, the system will prompt another screening at the next screening interval to see if the child is progressing.

  • Until ALL birthday screenings are filtered out, there may be duplicate screenings. For example, you may have completed a birthday screening on 2/14/22, but your Development Screening Portal is prompting you to complete a screening with a Due Date by 3/31/22. You will need to complete all requested screenings by the indicated due date. This will begin the alignment with the Development Screening Portal. 
 
 
6M-4.720 Screening of Children in the School Readiness Program.

(a) Initial screening. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with parents and providers to complete an initial screening for each child, aged six (6) weeks to age of 60 months.

(b) Subsequent screenings. Each early learning coalition shall coordinate with parents and providers for subsequent screenings to be completed annually at redetermination.
Virtual Reflection: Phonological Awareness
(Component 3) for Panhandle Teachers

To get credit and meet all of the requirements for Emergent Literacy training, teachers have to complete all three components of the training. The third component is a virtual reflection session that will be an hour long.  
Additionally, Dr. Suzanne Adinolfi has scheduled the following virtual reflections for Panhandle teachers:
 
#10043 - May 26th, 6:00-7:00 pm Central Time
 
Panhandle teachers are welcome to register for one of these classes by using the corresponding course reference number. The course notes (located on the DCF website) will provide a link to register again for the Zoom session. You must register on Zoom or you will not receive a link to the session. After registering on Zoom, you will receive an email with the direct link to the Zoom session. This email may end up in your spam folder so be sure to look for it there too.

Please have your certificate of completion, from the online course, handy the night of the training. You will need the number from the bottom left corner during the actual class. 
NWI Teacher Packet

Please see the below documents for the NWI Teacher Packet. This packet includes a Teacher Registration Form and a blank W9 form.
  1. Please make sure EACH Teacher in your program completes the packet and includes a voided check or bank form.
  2. The completed packet will then need to be uploaded by the program director/owner on the teacher’s behalf into the shared coalition document exchange. There have been folders already created for you labeled "NWI". Please place all documents inside there.
NWI Program Timeline
You can download a copy of the NWI informational webinar HERE
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: 
PBS KIDS offers this FREE special collection of flexible self-paced learning to help inspire PreK-2 teachers and provide support for the classroom. Choose from several learning experiences designed to spark new ideas and expand your skill set—you may also be able to earn between one to three credit hours.
There are two different self-paced learning opportunities:
  • Self-Paced Courses: Our traditional 1-4 hour online course option with lessons taken in order to earn a certificate
  • Learning Paths: A series of short micro learnings (15-30 minutes, skill-based experiences in a range of interactive formats) that can lead to a certificate
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.
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 "Celebrate Our Differences", from Noggin’s Big Heart Beats album. And be sure to follow their site as they will release a new video every month.
May Special Dates
 
ALS Awareness Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Dental Care Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Wildfire Awareness Month
Foster Care Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Water Safety Month
May 25
National Missing Children’s Day

May 26
Paper Airplane Day

May 30
Memorial Day (ELCNWF Offices Closed)

May 31
National Smile 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