Programs

  • School Readiness Program

    THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM (SR) OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE SO THEY CAN BECOME FINANCIALLY SELFSUFFICIENT, AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. SCHOOL READINESS CHILDCARE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEM IN OBTAINING AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE. CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FROM BIRTH THROUGH 12 YEARS OF AGE. THE ELC PROVIDED FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE FOR 4,292 CHILDREN AT 146 EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT MANATEE COUNTY.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $23.1M

  • Voluntary Prekindergarten Program

    THE VPK PROGRAM IS A FREE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINSTRATION OF THE VOLUTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THE ELC SERVED 2,932 VPK CHILDREN IN 118 VPK EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS. THROUGH OUTREACH AND AWARENESS, THE ELC PROMOTED THE VPK PROGRAM BY AIRING VPK PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, DISTRIBUTING INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS AT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS AND ADVERTISING THE PROGRAM THROUGH A VARIETY OF MARKETING OUTLETS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $8M

  • Comprehensive Consumer Education

    COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER EDUCATION: COALITION STAFF CONDUCT ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION IN THE OFFICE, PROVIDE LITERATURE IN THE LOBBY, AND PARTICIPATE IN MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS DAY OF HOPE, SAFE KIDS NIGHT, AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AT TITLE ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE COALITION'S FLEET, CONSISTING OF THE MOBILE LEARNING LAB, THE DREAM MACHINE, AND THE ELC EXPLORER ARE UTILIZED AT THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO DISTRIBUTE HIGH-QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS, PROMOTE THE SCHOOL READINESS AND VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION'S ROLE AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. THE COALITION ALSO MAINTAINS CONSUMER EDUCATION ON ITS WEBSITE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PAGE CONTAINS VALUABLE LINKS TO SCHOOL READINESS AND PARENT EDUCATION DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS THE FAMILY GUIDE FOR SELECTING QUALITY CHILD CARE AND QUALITY CHECKLIST. THE ELC CONTINUES TO PUBLISH ITS SEASONAL FAMILY MAGAZINE, NEXTGEN. THIS PUBLICATION IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MANATEE COUNTY CONTRACTED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PROVIDES A VARIETY OF INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON CHILD AND FAMILY-RELATED TOPICS. NEXTGEN ALSO INCLUDES A DIRECTORY OF ALL LEGALLY OPERATING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN MANATEE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, OVER 45,000 HIGH QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS WERE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. EARLY LEARNING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: THE ELC PROVIDED 62 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS ON 40 INDIVIDUAL TOPICS WITH 836 STUDENT CONTACTS, AND 153.6 TRAINING HOURS. TOPIC INCLUDED LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, INCLUSION, MATHEMATICS, STEAM, BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NUTRITION, AND FIRST AID AND CPR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELC PROVIDER COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 34 TEACHERS TOTALING 22 TECHNICAL OR COACHING HOURS, AND 12 SESSIONS PROVIDED IN CHILDCARE CENTERS ACROSS MANATEE COUNTY. EARLY LEARNING CLASSROOM QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS: THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF MANATEE COUNTY BRINGS EDUCATIONAL CONTINUITY AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS TO NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE COUNTY THROUGH OUR FLEET-BASED PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES AGES 3 TO VPK IN CHILD CARE CENTERS AROUND MANATEE COUNTY IN TRANSFORMED SCHOOL BUSES. WORDS ON THE BUS IS AN INITIATIVE WHERE WE BROUGHT MONTHLY BOOK-EMBEDDED VOCABULARY TO VPK SITES, USING THE MONTHLY SPOTLIGHT BOOK FROM THE SOAR IN 4 COMMUNITY-WIDE PROGRAM. WORDS ON THE BUS INTRODUCED PRE-WRITING SKILLS AND A REVIEW OF PREVIOUS WEEKS' VOCABULARY. AN AVERAGE OF 180 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN WORDS ON THE BUS. FRAME THEIR LEARNING IS A TEACHING SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP TEACHERS IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE AND RAISE THEIR CLASS? INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SCORES. THE TOOLS PROVIDED HELP TEACHERS ASK MORE THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS AND IMPROVE THEIR EXCHANGES WITH STUDENTS TO SPUR HIGHER-QUALITY INTERACTIONS, LEARNING, AND RETENTION. ELC COMBINES FRAME THEIR LEARNING AND STEAM BY OFFERING ON-SITE SESSIONS WITH TEACHERS AND THEN A STEAM VISIT WITH THE BUS WHERE STUDENTS EXPLORE VARIOUS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS NATURE, LIGHTS AND SHADOWS, AND BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. AN AVERAGE OF 225 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN FRAME THEIR LEARNING AND 135 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN STEAM. READINGPALS COMPLETED 25-30 WEEKS OF READING WITH TEN CLASSROOMS AT NINE CHILDCARE SITES FOR A TOTAL OF 135 CHILDREN SERVED. EVERY CHILD RECEIVED A BOOK, TOTALING 3,022 BOOKS. WITH THE HELP OF OUR 90 VOLUNTEERS, READINGPALS MENTORS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING EARLY LITERACY SKILLS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND REINFORCING THE LOVE OF READING. SAFETY SUMMER CONSISTS OF THREE VISITS THAT COVER THE TOPICS OF WATER SAFETY, GENERAL SAFETY, FIRE SAFETY, AND ALL ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BRADENTON POLICE, DEPARTMENT, PALMETTO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE PARRISH FIRE DEPARTMENT WENT TO 13 CHILD CARE SITES OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2023-2024 SUMMER. NEMOURS READING BRIGHTSTART IS AN INNOVATIVE, SUPPLEMENTAL EARLY INTERVENTION CURRICULUM SPECIFICALLY CREATED TO TEACH EARLY LITERACY AND FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS TO SMALL GROUPS OF THREE-FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR- OLDS SCREENED AND DEEMED AT RISK FOR READING FAILURE.. 209 CHILDREN WERE DEEMED AT-RISK FOR READING FAILURE, USING THE NEMOURS READING BRIGHTSTART INTENSIVE LITERACY INTERVENTION SUPPLEMENTARY CURRICULUM, 173 ACHIEVED AGE-APPROPRIATE LITERACY SKILLS THAT WERE PREDICTIVE OF BEING READY TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL READERS IN KINDERGARTEN. THE ELC PARTNERED WITH THE MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STEP UP SUNCOAST TO HOST TWO TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN EVENTS: BREAKFAST WITH A PURPOSE: SUMMER OF DISCOVERY AND SHINING A LIGHT ON ATTENDANCE - EVERY DAY COUNTS THE SUMMER OF DISCOVERY EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL PRE-K DIRECTORS, TEACHERS, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFF TO CELEBRATE EARLY LEARNING AND COLLABORATION. THIS YEAR, WE FOCUSED ON ENHANCING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS AND PROVIDING SUMMER LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE A SMOOTH, INTENTIONAL TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN. THE SECOND EVENT, SHINING A LIGHT ON ATTENDANCE, AIMED TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE AMONG EARLY LEARNERS. OUR TEAM SHARED DATA COLLECTION AND TRACKING STRATEGIES, PROVIDED MATERIALS FROM ATTENDANCE WORKS. COORDINATED APPROACH TO CHILD HEALTH (CATCH) IS A NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CREATED TO PROMOTE PRESCHOOLERS' PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. A VITAL GOAL OF THE CATCH PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AT SCHOOL AND HOME THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. THE ELC CATCH PROGRAM SERVED 13 SITES IN MANATEE COUNTY AND SERVED 231 CHILDREN. INCLUSION THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAFF COMPLETED 1,996 AGES AND STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS. OF THESE 1,996 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, 567 DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, AND FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED EARLY CARE PLANS, WHICH INCLUDE AGE AND SKILL-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES TO USE AT HOME. THE FAMILIES OF 62 CHILDREN WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING FURTHER EVALUATION AND WERE HELPED IN COORDINATING REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES. BATTELLE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS HELP DETERMINE HOW A CHILD IS DEVELOPING WITHIN THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. A PRE-TEST IS GIVEN NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEN 6-12 MONTHS LATER, A POST-TEST IS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE PROGRESS OF THE CHILD AND TO MEASURE THE EFFECT A CLASSROOM IS HAVING ON THE POPULATION OF STUDENTS.1216 BATTELLE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS DURING THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION PROVIDES A VISION AND HEARING SCREENING TO CHILDREN OF AGES 18 MONTHS TO 5 YEARS IN OUR SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM WHICH AIMS TO DETECT EARLY SIGNS OF DIFFICULTIES A CHILD MAY HAVE SEEING OR HEARING. CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAFF CONDUCTED HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS FOR 137 CHILDREN, 27 RECEIVING A REFERRAL FOR VISION AND 13 FOR HEARING. SPOT ON, SEEKS TO SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN BY OFFERING THEIR CAREGIVERS (AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATION, LIFE SKILLS, AND SELF-REGULATION STRATEGIES. SPOT ON WAS IMPLEMENTED IN SEVEN OF OUR CHILD CARE SITES AND SERVED NEARLY FIFTY CHILDREN HELPING TO COORDINATE THERAPY AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS AND FAMILIES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.2M