June 2011

Newsletter

Legislative Outcomes

The outcome of the 2011 legislative session's impact on Florida's early learning community is listed below:

BUDGET - UPDATE

Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)

• Base Student Allocation (BSA) reduction of 7%.  This is the reimbursement rate that early childhood educators receive per VPK student.
  New Base Student Allocations:
  School Year      (540 hours)      $2,383
  Summer            (300 hours)      $2,026

• To keep provider revenues level, they have increased the class size ratio, meaning there will be more 4-year-olds in every classroom.
  New Class size Ratios:
  1 Teacher per 11 Students
  2 Teachers per 20 Students
  (Providers who have already submitted paperwork will not need to revise to increase class sizes.)

School Readiness

• The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County will experience a $1.4 million budget decrease effective July 1, 2011. With changes in our service delivery for school age children the Coalition should be able to absorb these cuts without disenrolling children from care.

BILLS - UPDATE

Office of Early Learning - Office of Early Learning will no longer be under the Agency for Workforce Innovation instead it will move to the Department of Education to administer School Readiness and VPK. Review SB2156.
VPK Good Cause Exemptions - VPK Readiness Rates may now be increased regardless of how many providers fail to meet them. CS/C/HB1255 places VPK providers on probation immediately if they fail to meet the established rates. Good cause exemptions may be granted if learning gains are documented with DOE approved pre & post assessment. Review CS/C/HB1255.
Family Child Care Homes & Gold Seal - Defines "household children" and gives discretion for their care unless they receive subsidized childcare services. Allows Gold Seal providers up to 1 year to correct Class III DCF Violations prior to losing Gold Seal designation. Review H139.
Background Screening - CS/SB1992 allows hiring of child care workers for training & orientation. No direct contact with children is permitted until Level II screening is complete. Review CS/SB1992.

WANTED: Family Child Care Home Provider Representative on the Coalition Board of Directors

The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc. is in search of its next Family Child Care Home Provider Representative.  The Board of Directors brings together representatives from the child care industry, private sector, childhood education professionals and community and government leaders to ensure consistent quality in early childhood education programs.

This is your opportunity to impact the future of the child care community in Pinellas County.

Do you meet the qualifications?  You must:

• be a Licensed Family Child Care Home Provider;
• have a current School Readiness or VPK Agreement;
• be available to attend/participate in the Board of Directors and Committee meetings;
• Board of Directors meetings are held bimonthly on the second Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. in Clearwater.
• Program Development Committee meetings are held bimonthly on the fourth Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Clearwater.
• Provider Support Committee meetings are held bimonthly on the third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. or Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Clearwater.

• Serve as an ambassador for the child care provider community.
• Share provider feedback with the Board of Directors
• Promote Board initiatives with providers

Review the full Board of Directors membership description.

If you meet the qualifications and possess the characteristics needed to be on our Board of Directors, we encourage you to submit an application.

Please submit your complete application to:
Janet Chapman, Executive Director
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc.
5735 Rio Vista Drive
Clearwater, FL 33760