Updates and News

• January 25, 2012: The South Florida's unemployment rate is 10.2 percent, a slight increase contributed to a departure from a busy holiday hiring season, read more.
• January 24, 2012: Florida's unemployment rate falls below 10.0 Percent for the first time in more than two and a half years, read more.
• January 24, 2012: MDC's Renowned School of Education Officially Names its State-of-the-Art Pre-School Lab, read more.
• January 24, 2012: The Department of Children and Family Services, Child Care Program Office, will be conducting two public workshops on February 29, 2012 and March 2, 2012 for proposed rule changes to Chapter 65C-22, F.A.C.  The Child Care Program Office is interested in comments from providers, our community partners and coalition staff, etc. related to the proposed rules changes
• January 17, 2012: Announcing the Fourth Annual Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! Join us in celebrating the successes of Florida's schools and students, by participating in the Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! "Take the Lead and Read" campaign. Administrators, teachers, students, and parents are all leaders and can take the challenge to lead others into success, read more!
• January 10, 2012: Read the latest issue of the ELC News Alert!
• January 5, 2012: Join us in celebrating Children’s Week 2012! Our event is on January 20 at the Miami Children’s Museum. There will be lots of great organizations joining us, including the Miami Fire-Rescue team, Read Conmigo, the Alliance for Early Care and Education and many more, read more!
• January 5, 2012: For Florida Voluntary Prekindergarten program providers and administrators, this link provides access to the secure readiness rate website for Florida VPK providers and administrators. This link can be used to login to your secured account to complete the verification, dispute, acknowledgment and other VPK Readiness Rate related processes. Go to VPK readiness rate website.
• January 4, 2012: VPK Providers: There are several changes to the readiness rate process and calculation this year. You should have received a letter from the Department of Education in December. Use the 4-digit User ID listed and the password “ready2012” to access your Readiness Rate. A copy of the letter can be found here.
• January 4, 2012: The Department of Children and Family Services, Child Care Program Office, will be conducting two public workshops on January 9 and 11 for proposed rule changes to Chapter 65C-22, F.A.C.  The Child Care Program Office is interested in comments from providers, our community partners and coalition staff, etc. related to the proposed rules changes. 
• January 4, 2012: Join us for the Wesley House Provider Mini-Conference “Take It to Heart” on Saturday, January 14. Presenters for the mini-conference include Keith Pentz, Education Consultant for Kaplan, and Amanda Moore, Statewide Inclusion Network Coordinator.  The focus of the three workshops is relationship building and the heart and mind connection for all children, infants through preschool, including special needs,  read more. To register, click here.
• December 27, 2011: Miami-Dade County will hold a workshop for interested child care providers to discuss the requirements to become a Head Start provider. These discussions will include future business opportunities with Miami-Dade County's Head Start Program, read more.
• December 23, 2011: The 41st Annual Florida Keys Health Fair will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2012, read more.
• December 19, 2011: Let’s Move! Child Care is an effort to promote children’s health by encouraging and supporting healthier physical activity and nutrition practices for children in child care. With more than 20% of children between 2 and 5 years old overweight or obese, the child care community is an essential ally in the effort to prevent childhood obesity, support children’s healthy development, and prevent the occurrence of later chronic disease. Read more!
• December 16, 2011: "It is unfortunate that the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services decided not to award Florida the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant which would have gone to the benefit of at-risk children," read more from Gov. Rick Scott regarding the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge.
• December 9, 2011: The Monroe County Take it to Heart mini conference will be held on January 14, 2012, read more.
• December 9, 2011: Open Forum Conference Call on Monday December 12 from 10am to 11am. Dial-in #: 786-389-5135 or 866-502-2994 Conference Code 802#
  The ELC Board of Directors has 3 provider representatives: for profit, faith-based and those serving children with disabilities. Last month's conference call was postponed due to technical problems caused by the flood in the ELC office. Make sure to be on the call this month to share your thoughts and concerns.
  
• December 6, 2011: Tax Credits Outreach Resources – Spread the Word, read more.
• December 6, 2011: Read the latest issue of the ELC News Alert!
• December 6, 2011: Bike and Safety Event - Miami Children's Hospital and Kohl's Associates in Action Team will be fitting children for bike helmets, read more.
• December 6, 2011: CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE! The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program is a partnership of community advocates and professional staff providing a powerful voice on behalf of Florida's abused and neglected children. They need you! Watch this video then visit http://guardianadlitem.org to find out how you can make a difference in a child's life.
• December 5, 2011: DCF updates the requirements for manual and mechanical dish washing, read more.
• December 1, 2011: The ODT training offered by Steps to Success, scheduled for January 31-Feb 2 has extended its application deadline to Monday, December 12. Program description, State of Florida Registry Trainer Application, Application to the ODT Facilitator Training Program.
• December 1, 2011: The U.S. Census Bureau released data on local county poverty rates Tuesday, revealing that child poverty -- individuals under 18 years old -- is on the rise in several populous counties in Florida, read more.
• December 1, 2011: Tantalizing tales and take-home books! Literacy effort puts 1,200 volumes in the hands of Keys kids, read more!
• November 30, 2011: Put on your thinking caps and your virtual walking shoes.
  Get ready for an exciting learning adventure! Welcome to KidVision VPK, read more.
• November 14, 2011: We have an exciting opportunity for you to interact with Provider Representatives sitting on the Early Learning Coalition's Board of Directors. We have scheduled monthly conference calls beginning in November for providers to voice their concerns, ask questions or just get to know the Board Members. Please join us today Monday, November 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. please dial our conference line at 786-389-5135 or 866-502-2994. When prompted for the code, dial 802#.
• November 9, 2011: Want to get your National CDA Credential? Click here for more details.
• November 8, 2011: The ELC Coral Gables Office is open on a limited basis. Due to the flooding we cannot accept visitors. Also, some staff members have been relocated, the best way to contact them is through email. Click here for our staff directory. Please be patient as we resume our regular operations. Thank you.
• November 3, 2011: In this issue of Parent Link, we are excited to provide you with a wide-range of information for the holiday season. With fun activities and special articles from our community partners, Legal Services of Greater Miami and Speech Therapy Center, we hope it brings some ease to the holiday madness and lets you focus on what's important during this time of year: family and friends.  Read More.
• November 2, 2011: Read the latest issue of the ELC News Alert!
• November 2, 2011: Children's Movement lays out its legislative battle plan. Read More.
• October 27, 2011: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Florida Keys AHEC are among the sponsors of this event.  Free tests and screens include:  cholesterol, blood glucose/diabetes, blood pressure, skin cancer screening, women’s health evaluation and pap smears, men’s health exam, children’s health evaluation and dental exam.  Read More.
• October 27, 2011: Please join Wesley House and ELC Monroe staff for the quarterly provider meeting.  Two provider workshops (Shared Interactive Reading and Fitness & Health in Childcare Settings) are also being offered.  Four (4) in-service training hours are available for attendees. Read More.
• October 26, 2011: The U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services announced today that 35 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico submitted applications for the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge. Read More.
• October 25, 2011: TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ is a unique fundraising initiative designed to raise funds for local non-profit organizations where PGA TOUR events are held. The WGC-Cadillac Championship is providing charitable organizations the opportunity to promote the sale of tournament tickets with 100% of the net proceeds from each purchase benefiting the promoting charity. Read More.
• October 21, 2011: Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September 2011 was 10.6 percent. Florida’s seasonally adjusted total nonagricultural employment in September increased by 23,300 jobs. Read More.
• October 19, 2011: Despite the efforts of certain anti-job organizations that protect the status quo for education in the state of Florida, Governor Rick Scott has submitted an application for the federal Race to the Top grant program.  The Florida Chamber of Commerce remains committed to preparing Florida to compete in the global marketplace by ensuring a quality education is available to all of Florida’s students. Read the rest of this message from the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
• October 18, 2011: The Florida Early Learning and Developmental Standards for Four-Year-Olds were formally adopted by the State Board of Education. These Standards create a common framework and language for providers of VPK Education Programs as well as School Readiness Programs serving four-year-olds for the purpose of teaching and learning. Click here to download the standards.
• October 13, 2011: Please join us for a Department of Education Rulemaking Workshop. The purpose of this event is to allow providers to contribute to the adoption of procedures for the DOE to calculate each VPK provider’s Kindergarten Readiness Rate. Download flyer here, read proposed rule changes here.
• October 13, 2011: To prevent mosquito-borne diseases, the Florida Department of Health recommends practicing: DRAIN and COVER! Read more.
• October 13, 2011: Each year, childcare centers, schools and individuals throughout Florida participate in the time-honored exhibition of "Hanging of the Hands," where works of art are hung throughout the Capitol Rotunda, creating a beautiful display for everyone to enjoy, read more.
• October 13, 2011: Gov. Rick Scott signs a proclamation in observance of Lights on Afterschool Day on October 20, 2011, read more.
• October 11, 2011: The Children’s Movement of Florida is launching its Dream Prizes promotion that will run Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 and is open to Florida residents, read more.
• October 7, 2011: Safety Savvy! A Guide for Safe Family Fun. In this issue of Parent Link we provide you a wide range of information, from seasonal safety tips to special articles and information that may be beneficial to you, your family, or someone you may know, read more!
• October 6, 2011: Appropriations Committee Releases the Draft Fiscal Year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services Funding Bill, read more.
• October 4, 2011: Reading Is Fundamental book distributions are back! In order to participate you must attend the information workshop, read more.

To read previous news and updates, click here.