News

Hello ELC Broward Families! Springtime is here and we're delighted to share our March/April edition of Family Connection! In this newsletter, you'll learn ways to help your child form healthy habits, engaging family dinner activities, tips for springtime learning adventures and so much more!

Here some information on how to Verify Your EFS MOD Overpayment Balance

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.

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…

Want to know... How to better understand your School Readiness and VPK contracts? How to properly enter children's attendance in EFS? How long the children in your program are eligible for subsidy? More about CLASS observations and how they affect your reimbursement? If you have ever wondered about how you can more easily conduct business with ELC Broward... The "A" Team is here to train you!

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.

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.

Join us on Friday, February 19th and Tuesday, February 23rd for the BLI Zoom Community Forum. 

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.

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.

The February edition of the provider newsletter is jammed packed with lots of great resources and information for child care providers and educators.

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  

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  

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.

WSFL-TV (Channel 39: The CW) partnered with the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County (ELC Broward) for the “If You Give a Child a Book…” campaign with the Scripps Howard Foundation to fundraise and purchase NEW books for kids in our community. Employees at the TV station, along with their viewers raised over $10,700 to purchase almost 1,100 books for kids in Broward County. 

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. 

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.

Each year since 1986, early learning programs, schools, and individual families across the state, have created children’s hand artwork for a stunning visual display at the Capitol Rotunda during Children's Week Florida. 

Join the  Business & Leadership Institute on Wednesday, January 13th and Thursday, January 14th for the Zoom Community Forums to update you on State and National Legislative 2021 initiatives. 

During the 2018 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill (HB 1091) that increases quality and accountability in the School Readiness Program. The Office of Early Learning (OEL) and Early Learning Coalition of Broward County partnered in the implementation of HB 1091 which is now called School Readiness Program Assessment (SRPA).

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.

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:

The Office of Early Learning (OEL) has provided important information regarding the extension of the VPK Flexible Innovative Options Program. We are pleased to continue to provide parents with choice by extending approved VPK providers (VPK Flex Program) through the end of the 2020-21 VPK School Year Program.

The Office of Early Learning has provided important information regarding the phase-out of the Child Care for Health Care Workers and First Responders Program. 

During the 2018 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill (HB 1091) that increases quality and accountability in the School Readiness Program. The Office of Early Learning (OEL) and Early Learning Coalition of Broward County partnered in the implementation of HB 1091 which is now called School Readiness Program Assessment (SRPA).

Applications will be due back to ELC Broward by close of business on Monday, December 14.

The Office of Early Learning has now given providers the ability to report emergency closures in the Provider Portal so that these closures will be reflected on the SR and VPK attendance. Below you will find detailed instructions on reporting closures for the entire site, as well as closures of selected classrooms. 

We've got great news for child care providers!! CARES Grants Phase IV (4) is about to be released by the Office of Early Learning. This phase of funding is available to ALL currently open VPK providers and child care facilities, regardless of whether they are contracted with the ELC. Facilities can be eligible for up to $3,250, based on licensed capacity.

Welcome to our November Family Newsletter!