Early Learning Coalition Of Pinnellas County Inc

REVOLUTIONIZE EARLY LEARNING TO INSPIRE CHILDREN, ENGAGE FAMILIES, AND ELEVATE EDUCATORS.

SCHOOL READINESS (SR) PROGRAM: THE ELC'S SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE ELEMENTS NECESSARY TO PREPARE AT-RISK CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL, INCLUDING HEALTH SCREENINGS/REFERRALS AND AN APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. SR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON A FULL DAY, FULL-YEAR, AND FULL-CHOICE BASIS TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ENABLE PARENTS TO WORK AND BE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE DELIVERY OF SR PROGRAMS ARE COMPRISED OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS AND SCHOOL-BASED SITES OPERATED BY PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS. SR PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH A MIXTURE OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS. DURING THE YEAR 2021-2022, THE COALITION RECEIVED 40 MILLION IN THE SR FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA. COALITION SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 6,246 CHILDREN PER MONTH IN APPROXIMATELY 400 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS; PRIORITIES WERE GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN IN PRIORITY 1&2 GROUPS; HOWEVER, THE COALITION SERVED ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGED GROUPS OF CHILDREN AS WELL.

VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN (VPK) PROGRAM: THE ELC'S VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM PROVIDES THAT EVERY FOUR-YEAR OLD CHILD IN FLORIDA IS ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE, HIGH QUALITY PREKINDERGARTEN LEARNING OPPORTUNITY THAT SHALL BE VOLUNTARY AND DELIVERED ACCORDING TO PROFESSIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS. THE DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR THE VPK PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF PRIVATE PREKINDERGARTEN PROVIDERS AND OF SCHOOL-BASED SITES OPERATED BY PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE VPK PROGRAM IS FUNDED FULLY WITH STATE GENERAL REVENUE (GR) FUNDS. THE ALLOWABLE VPK ADMINISTRATIVE, ENROLLMENT, AND MONITORING EXPENSES ARE LIMITED TO 4.00% OF THE TOTAL SLOT EXPENDITURES. THE SPENDING RATE FOR ADMINISTRATION WAS UNDER THE STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. AT THE END OF JUNE, THE COALITION WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE REQUIREMENT FOR ADMINISTRATION SPENDING RATE FOR VOLUNTARY PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THE COALITION SERVED AN AVERAGE OF 4,379 CHILDREN PER MONTH DURING THE YEAR 2021-2022 AND CONTRACTED WITH APPROXIMATELY 220 VPK PROVIDERS.

FROM THE FUNDS IN GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, SPECIFIC APPROPRIATION 85, 30,000,000 IS PROVIDED TO EXPAND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES AT OR BELOW 200 PERCENT OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AS LONG AS THE INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED 85 PERCENT OF THE STATE MEDIAN INCOME. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING, THE COALITION MUST MATCH THE STATE FUNDS ON A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR BASIS AND THE LOCAL MATCH MUST COMPLY WITH FEDERAL CHILD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT MATCHING REQUIREMENTS. DURING THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2022 AND 2021, THE LOCAL MATCHING REQUIREMENTS WERE MET.