School Readiness Child Care Programs
In 1999, the Florida Legislature enacted the School Readiness Act (s. 411.01, F.S.),
which consolidated each of the early childhood education and childcare programs into
one integrated program of school readiness services. This act created the Florida
Partnership for School Readiness to coordinate school readiness programs administered
by local school readiness coalitions at the county or multi-county level.
School readiness programs include, but are not limited to the following elements:
- Developmentally appropriate curriculum;
- Appropriate staff-to-children ratio and;
- Parents making an informed choice of child care providers.
School readiness programs are funded through a mixture of state and federal funds.
The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County administers the School Readiness Child Care Programs.
The following are some of the services provided through the School Readiness Programs:
developmental and growth screening, implementation of individual educational plans, coordination
of referral services, education on life style factors, transition to kindergarten, parent education,
community needs assessment, accessing community resources for health and nutrition, technical
assistance to parents and providers, staff education, classroom
education, and mentoring business partners.
Florida First Start
The Brevard County School District administers the Florida First Start Quality Initiative Program.
This family literacy program provides education and support services to families with birth through
three-year-old infants and toddlers in the surrounding areas of the Endeavor, Southlake and Riverview
Elementary Schools, the Cocoa High School Teen Age Parent Program and the Central Cocoa area.
In addition to home visits, a parent resource center is provided where weekly parent-child activities
are offered. Parent group meetings and developmental and health screenings are also offered as part of this program.
Early Education Training and Support
Devereux Florida provides comprehensive School Readiness education and training services for child care
providers, child care teachers, children and their families. These services are delivered to approximately
400 child care providers and families each year to enhance the cognitive, social, emotional and physical
development of children residing in Brevard County. Devereux also provides training on assessments,
screening tools and performance standards required by the Agency for Workforce Innovation / Office of
Early Learning and the Coalition. School Readiness Child Care Providers are eligible to receive coaching
and mentoring support, early education and support training, continuing education courses and mini-grants.
Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Program
House Bill 1-A (enacted in January 2005) created the mandated Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Education Program (VPK).
The Voluntary Pre-kindergarten Education Program (VPK) provides that each child residing in Florida who will
have reached 4 years of age on or before September 1 of the school year is eligible for this free pre-kindergarten
program. This program is designed to enhance each child's ability to make progress in the development of language
and cognitive capabilities through education in basic skills. The VPK program is administered by the Early Learning
Coalition and is funded with state funds.
|
|
|
©2008 Early Learning Coalition. All Rights Reserved.
Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County, P.O. Box 560692, Rockledge, FL 32956-0692
The Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County, Inc. is a not-for-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization.
Sponsored by the Agency for Workforce innovation. Office of Early Learning.
Last update:
|
|
