Building Blocks

for Educational Success

February 2019

Pro

vid

ers

The monthly newsletter of the Early Learning Coalition Visit our website: www.elcirmo.org

The monthly newsletter includes information for child care providers, parents and the community.

Indian River County

“STREAM Training” for teachers

of children 2-5 yrs. old

3/5/19—ELC IR Office

2459 St. Lucie Ave., Vero Beach

6—8 p.m.

Register at ELCIRMO website

Martin County

No trainings scheduled in February.

Okeechobee County

“STREAM Training”-

RESCHEDULED

TO 2/19/19—Peace Lutheran

Preschool (previously 1/29/19)

750 NW 23rd Lane, Okeechobee

6—8 pm

Register at ELCIRMO website

Check the ELCIRMO website calen-

dar for any trainings that may be

scheduled after the publication of

the newsletter.

There are NO Provider

Meetings in February.

FOR THE 2017-18 READINESS RATE, NO NEW PROVIDERS WILL BE

PLACED ON PROBATION. However, a readiness rate of less than 60 is con-

sidered low performing and providers scoring below 60 should strongly

consider rigorous, yet developmentally appropriate improvements to their

VPK instructional practices. OEL and early learning coalitions can assist

through opportunities for training, technical assistance and guidance.

Release of the Preliminary Readiness Rates includes verifying the children

served and dispute processes, which allow providers 21 days to review

their 2017-18 data and submit changes through the website. Early learn-

ing coalitions are required to review and accept or deny any changes to en-

rollment data. Changes to name, gender or date of birth are automatic and

do not need to be approved.

These processes are described in rule 6M-8.601 F.A.C. Voluntary Prekinder-

garten (VPK) Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rate available at

Below is the planned timeline for the 2017-18 VPK Provider Kindergarten

Readiness Rate. Please note that these dates are approximate and subject to

change.

Release of the 2017-18 Preliminary Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates – Week of Jan. 21 to Jan. 25, 2019

Provider Verification and Dispute Period – 21-day window following the release of the 2017-18 Preliminary Readiness Rates

Coalition Review Period – 10-day window following the close of the Pro-vider Verification and Dispute Period

OEL Resolution of provider disputes and finalization of data Jan. 21 to Feb. 28, 2019

Release of the 2017-18 Final VPK Provider Kindergarten Readiness Rates March 2019

Continued on page 2

See 2017-18 Readiness Rates

Building Blocks

for Educational Success

February 2019

Pro

vid

ers

Page 2

Okeechobee School District

Kindergarten Registration information is not yet available.

Provider Portal User Guide

Do you need assistance using the Provider Portal?

You can access the OEL Pro-

vider Portal User Guide on the

Provider Resources page of

the ELC’s website and also on

the Provider page.

Now Enrolling in All Counties

We are enrolling from the wait list in all counties for the

School Readiness program.

To be eligible, all families must first register through the Fami-

ly Portal.

If you need assistance, there are kiosks and staff available in

all offices to assist families in the registration process.

Please share the following information with your parents

who will have children attending kindergarten.

Martin County School District

Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year to Begin March 18, 2019

Click on the logo for more information.

Indian River School District

Kindergarten Registration will be available during the Pre-K

Party and Kindergarten Round-up at the Indian River Mall,

Saturday, February 23, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Additional information is available on their website.

Click on the logo for more information.

Continued—2017-18 Readiness Rates

VPK Readiness Rate access:

Step #1. Go to https://vpk.fldoe.org/home, click

on “SECURE AREA LOGIN” and enter your Bright

Beginnings provider ID and your VPK Readiness

Rate website password.

Step #2. To register, enter the nine-digit registra-

tion ID (SSN or FEIN that was used in the provid-

er’s VPK application), four- or five-digit provider ID

(ID used to access the Bright Beginnings website)

and the physical address zip code for the cen-

ter. After the registration is complete the provider

will create a password to access the secure area of

the website and view their preliminary rate, verify

the children served and dispute processes.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for

what you do for Florida’s earliest learners.

School Readiness Providers & CLASS Program Assessment

House Bill 1091 requires a Program Assessment to be conducted on all providers wishing to

contract for the 2019-2020 School Readiness program. This applies to both existing providers who will be renewing

their contract, as well as new providers interested in applying for the first time.

To receive a Program Assessment, providers must register all their instructors and classrooms into Florida’s Office of

Early Learning Program Assessment system. You will not be eligible to participate in the School Readiness Program for

2019-2020 if you do not complete the registration process.

To register, please visit https://earlylearningpfp.fldoe.org/Home/Welcome.

You will need your OEL Provider ID number and your Department of Children and Families’ License or License Exempt

number to register.

Pare

nts

Building Blocks

for Educational Success

February 2019

Page 3

Early Learning Parents’ Pages

— February 2019 edition

includes the following:

Pleasing picky eaters

Children’s books that support developing

spatial skills

Start talking “STEM” early

National children’s dental health month

SPANISH

VPK Registration started on January 1st.

Be ahead of the game by applying online at the

Family Portal @

https://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/

Indian River County families may also attend the

Centennial Pre-K Party and Roundup to register.

Attention Indian River County parents

Come join us for the fun at the

Pre-K Party & Kindergarten

Round-up.

This is not only for those enter-

ing kindergarten.

If you have a child that you

wish to register for VPK,

please stop by to visit the ELC.

Staff will be on hand to help

you apply for VPK, give assis-

tance if needed, and print your

certificate.

If you are unable to attend, you

may always apply for VPK

online through the Family Por-

tal at

https:familyservices.floridaearlyl

earning.com/

Need assistance with your taxes?

FREE filing service available

Contact your local United Way office. United Way VITA is a

FREE tax filing service available to individuals and families

earning up to $55,000 annually. VITA is a national program

staffed by local volunteers who provide free, confidential

and secure preparation and e-filing of tax returns to quali-

fied taxpayers.

United Way Martin County

United Way Indian River County

Co

mm

un

ity

Proudly Supported by:

Okeechobee County

Children’s Services Council of

Okeechobee

Building Blocks

for Educational Success

February 2019

Page 4

Board of Commissioners Martin County

Children’s Services Advisory Council Indian River

Welcome New Board Member

Bill West, CEO of Molly’s House, joined the

coalition board as a private-sector member

representing Martin County.

Sponsorship Forms for the Touch-a-Truck event are availa-

ble on the ELC website at www.elcirmo.org. Click here

Thanks for coming out to see us at the Twelth Annual

Okeechobee Family Health and Safety Expo. Children,

parents, grandparents and friends all had a great time.

Thank you to Okeechobee for putting on such a great

event for the community.

Dunbar Early Learning Center’s board member,

Mr. Demetrius Preston, takes part in the nation-

wide simultaneous reading during Celebrate

Literacy Week.

Celebrate Literacy Week