COVID-19 Guidance for Child Care Facilities

   

Latest Events

I was so honored to be able to attend the Urban League and Hispanic Unity's roll out of the State of Black and Hispanic and Immigrant Broward. What a great first step to have such a comprehensive look at important county data to help us forge forward as a community to address racial equity. Bravo Hispanic Unity, the Urban League, the Jim Moran Foundation, FIU, and many other community partners for this much needed community racial equity effort. I'm thrilled to be a partner in this journey. Thank you,   Renee Jaffe, CEO    

Children's Week 2022

Children's Week Feb 2022  What a great way to kick off Children's week by celebrating with so many amazing champions who work so hard to ensure Florida’s children get the best start in life! Our CEO, Renee Jaffe and our CPO, Howard Bakalar are currently in Tallahassee advocating for Early Learning. Together we can create a major impact in our childcare communities for our providers, our families, and most importantly our children! #Childrensweek2022 #BecauseEveryChildMatters #Advocacy #ElcBroward #childrenarethefuture    

Disaster Relief Payments

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning directors and instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida). This funding is CRSSA federal funding that the State of Florida has authorized to be used for instructor disaster relief payments. These payments are provided to qualified instructors in recognition of their continuing service and dedication to Florida’s children and families.   

Phase VI CRRSA Grant Application Webinar November 10, 2021 - 10am

The ELC is pleased to announce the release of the Phase VI (6) Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Support Grants. The grants provide additional funding to Coalitions to support private early learning/child care providers and contracted school district providers that were classified as operational/open on September 1, 2021 and are providing on-site early learning/child care services on the date of application, to assist them in remaining open during the COVID-19 crisis. Phase VI CRRSA Grant Application Webinar November 10, 2021 - 10am Our ELC staff will be hosting a grant webinar on…

Instructor Disaster Relief Payments

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature authorized two qualified disaster relief payments to child care and early learning directors and instructors affected by COVID in Specific Appropriation #80B of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Act (GAA) (Chapter 2021-036, Laws of Florida). This funding is CRSSA federal funding that the State of Florida has authorized to be used for instructor disaster relief payments. These payments are provided to qualified instructors in recognition of their continuing service and dedication to Florida’s children and families.   

Important Information Regarding the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County School Readiness Provider Rate Increase

Great news! We're excited to announce a new rate increase for School Readiness providers! Recently, ELC Broward requested an additional rate increase for Broward's School Readiness small businesses. We just received notice that Florida's Division of Early Learning (DEL), formerly the Office of Early Learning (OEL), has approved our rate increase effective July, 1 2021.

VPK Applications and Contracts for the 2021/22 Program Year Now Available on the Provider Portal

VPK Applications and Contracts for the 2021/22 Program Year Now Available on the Provide Portal. Please complete and submit both the VPK Application and Contract at the same time as we must review them together. If you are a Provider on Probation, please remember that you must have your improvement plan approved at least 30 days before the start of your VPK program’s start date. School year VPK programs can begin on or after August 18, 2021. Please be sure to register for the new program year on the Bright Beginnings website and order VPK assessment kits if you will need them for AP1. 

Important Reminder for School Readiness Program Eligibility and Copayments

This is a reminder of the upcoming changes to the eligibility criteria for the School Readiness financial assistance program. Job Search or less than 20 hours of employment and/or educational activity as an initial eligibility criteria for the School Readiness program will expire on June 30, 2021.

Sun-Sentinel Op-Ed: Early childhood education was among pandemic’s victims

Through the first few years of a child’s life, we watch them grow exponentially. From coos to sentences and crawls to runs, parents watch in amazement at how quickly their child learns new things and moves from one stage of development to the next. During a “normal” year, thousands of local children under the age of 6 are enrolled in a child care or prekindergarten program in which their development is enhanced by daily learning opportunities and activities.

May 2021 Provider Newsletter

Apply Now! Phase V - CRRSA Provider Grant

The ELC is pleased to announce the release of the Phase V (5) Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Support Grants. The grants provide additional funding to Coalitions to support private early learning/child care providers and contracted school district providers that were classified as operational/open on April 1, 2021 and are providing on-site early learning/child care services on the date of application, to assist them in remaining open during the COVID-19 crisis.

School Readiness Program Update:  Copayments Waived for May and June

We have some great news to share! The Office of Early Learning has waived parent copayments for the months of May and June.

VPK Program Updates for Child Care Providers

VPK Provider: The Office of Early Learning has recently released new updates regarding the the VPK Program. Here is some important information we want to ensure you are aware of:  

Important VPK Program Updates For Parents/Guardians

As we approach the summer months ahead, families have several options to continue their child’s learning, growth and development. Families can apply for the Summer VPK program or a VPK Reenrollment online through the Office of Early Learning’s Family Portal. Families may also contact the Early Learning Coalition of Broward for assistance with completing the application and for information on additional summer options.

Developmental Screening Requirement Update: Ages and Stages Questionnaires

School Readiness Child Care Provider: Beginning on March 31, 2021, families receiving School Readiness funding will be asked to complete, decline or defer a Developmental Screening for all children ages birth through kindergarten eligibility (66 months) during their enrollment process.

School Readiness Attendance Changes: Signing of the Parental Payment Certificate

Effective March 1, 2021, the Office of Early Learning (OEL) will be enforcing signing of the payment certificate in order for your child care provider to be reimbursed for services provided to your child(ren).

Early Learning Provider Financial Needs Survey - Due no later than March 27

The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County is working in partnership with the Office of Early Learning to gather information from child care providers on any financial challenges and needs you may have as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please take a moment to answer these brief questions in order to give us a better understanding of how your program has been impacted.

School Readiness Rate Increase

Florida’s Office of Early Learning recently announced that School Readiness reimbursement rates were increased as of January 1, 2021. Attached you will find the updated maximum reimbursement rates for School Readiness children. When determining your program’s individual reimbursement rate, your private pay rates are compared to the maximum reimbursement rates, and your reimbursement rate will be the lesser of the two. The increase in the maximum reimbursement rates requires an amendment to your current School Readiness contract (form OEL-SR 20). ELC staff are currently in the process of initiating these amendments on the…

Redeterminations in EFS Modernization

FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS: The EFS Modernization portal will be offline Thursday, February 25, 2021 from approximately 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST. OEL will be deploying the upcoming/past due redetermination lists that were mentioned at the last PLAN meeting.

Regional Virtual Summits Announced for 2021

The Florida Office of Early Learning (OEL) began the Transition to Kindergarten (T2K) initiative in 2017 by providing extensive planning and collaborative opportunities between coalitions and school districts staff.

Broward County School Readiness Provider Rate Increase

School Readiness Partners!  We are pleased to announce that the Florida Legislature and Governor DeSantis approved an additional $50 million to be spent to reduce the differences in School Readiness (SR) reimbursement rates across the state.

Upcoming Attendance Changes: Signing of Payment Certificate

School Readiness Provider: We want to make you are aware of some upcoming changes you will notice pertaining to the Provider Portal. OEL will begin enforcing the signing of  the payment certificate for School Readiness families on the Family Portal to complete their enrollment or redetermination process.

April 2021 Provider Newsletter: The 2021 Transition to Kindergarten Regional Summit

The March edition of the provider newsletter is jammed packed with lots of great resources and information for child care providers and educators. You'll find information on: Summer VPK School Readiness Program Assessment Professional Development Opportunities Free Services  

March 2021 Provider Newsletter: BECEC 2021, PLAN Meeting, Covid-19 Vaccine Info and More!

The March edition of the provider newsletter is jammed packed with lots of great resources and information for child care providers and educators. You'll find information on: COVID-19 Vaccine Information Office of Early Learning News Professional Development Opportunities Free Services  

Quick Tips for Provider Reimbursement Reports

Please see these helpful hints for accessing OEL Reimbursement Report in your provider portal. You can now download your reports by service period or payment period. Contact your reimbursement specialist if you have any questions.

Important Information about December Providers Reimbursement

Some of you may have noticed that there are “adjustment transactions” in your December SR and local reimbursement reports. These adjustments have the code “PPA” and they DO NOT affect the amount of your January reimbursement for the December 2020 service period. 

Florida Early Childhood Educator Training Stipend

The Office of Early Learning is excited to share that Florida Early Childhood Educators are eligible for a $75 stipend upon the successful completion of any of the following courses by June 30, 2021, or until the stipend funding is depleted.

Implementation of E-Verify Screening Requirements

Providers must learn about the new E-Verify requirements as they impact Early Learning Coalitions (ELCs) and early learning providers with contracts to deliver the School Readiness (SR) or Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Education Program. EVerify is an Internet-based application that employers use to confirm that a newly hired employee is authorized to work in the United States.

First Responder Co-Payment Clarification

We have received feedback that clarification is needed on the assessment of co-payments for First Responder parents beginning January 1, 2020. As the below communication reads from the First Responder Phase Out flyer: