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Dear Provider,
I know you and your staff are busy cleaning, organizing and getting your infant rooms, VPK classrooms and front office in order and ready for the 2012-2013 school year, which begins Monday. There are a number of changes happening in the early childhood arena nationwide but most importantly right here in Florida.
As you may have heard ERS is out and the C.L.A.S.S. assessment is in. Right now, we are using the preschool tool but will soon also implement the just released toddler tool.
If you are a Provider on Probation (POP) please turn in your improvement plans, so you can move forward with your VPK program.
What children learn from birth to 5 is the foundation for the rest of their academic lives. We strive to be a resource for you. As providers we know that you will allow your knowledge to trickle down to the children in your care.
Let's continue to work together to ensure all Orange County children enter school ready to learn!
Karen Willis
CEO
Early Learning Coalition of Orange County |
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 VPK Awareness
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All 4-year-olds in the State are eligible for the Voluntary PreKindergarten program but many children in Orange County do not take advantage of it. The reasons for the lack of participation are numerous and while we are working to increase the enrollment number, we will need your help.
 This year we have launched a VPK Bumper Sticker Awareness initiative that everyone can take part in. We are asking you to give parents and staff a VPK bumper sticker on Monday, August 20th. As parents sign-in their children in the morning let them know that you would like for them to show their support for VPK by placing the sticker on their vehicle.
Each provider will be given a number of bumper stickers, while supplies last, so please stop by our office starting today. |
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Early Learning Information System
E.L.I.S. |
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The Early Learning Information System (ELIS) will be a new statewide computer system used by Florida's Office of Early Learning and the Early Learning Coalitions. It will be used to operate and manage the delivery of School Readiness (SR), Voluntary PreKindergarten (VPK), and Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services in Florida.
ELIS will go live April 2013 and our office is so enthused that we have our own slogan...ELIS, where information and technology come together. |
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Life-Meter Awareness & Thermometer |
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According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University at least 15 children have died this year due to hypothermia or heat stroke after being left in HOT cars, trucks, vans and SUV's.
Even the best of parents and caregivers can overlook a sleeping baby in a car; and the end result can be injury or even death. For that reason, we are urging all providers with valid commercial liability insurance to get the Life-Meter Thermometer & Decal installed in your vehicle.
We will provide the equipment but we need you to provide the vehicle. Be on the lookout for more information. |
New Early Intervention Screening Process |
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Beginning next month in September all School Readiness providers will be required to screen children from birth to 60 months.
4C Early Intervention will be conducting MANDATORY provider training during the months of August and September to review and discuss the specific details of the new requirements for providers.
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Early Learning Coalition of Orange County
1940 Traylor Blvd.
Orlando, Florida 32804
407-841-6607
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