GOOD BEGINNINGS = GREAT ENDINGS!

The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County is dedicated to providing children and families in our community with access to quality early learning programs that nurture their learning potential and prepare them for their educational success. It is our mission to provide leadership and foster partnerships to optimize a quality early learning environment for our children through child care, voluntary pre-kindergarten and parent education.

Our Vision Statement - Children and families in our community will have access to quality early learning programs that nurture their learning potential and prepare them for their educational success.

Our Mission Statement - To provide leadership and foster partnerships to optimize a quality early learning environment for our children through child care, voluntary pre-kindergarten and parent education.

History - The Early Learning Coalition of Marion County, Inc. began operations as the Marion County School Readiness Coalition, Inc. in 1999 when Florida legislature created School Readiness Coalitions through F.S. 411.01.  The purpose of the Coalitions state-wide is to ensure that children at risk of academic failure are provided the tools and resources to assist them in being prepared to enter school, and eligible low-income working parents can access quality child care.  The Coalition serves as a community-based planning, funding, and service coordinating organization that designs and manages an integrated system of early learning services.  The Office of Early Learning (OEL) is charged with administering the state's early learning programs and provides oversight of Florida's School Readiness programs, and is the lead entity for implementing the state's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program.  The Agency's vision for Florida is "Children Ready to Learn, Families Ready to Earn".

Services the Coalition provides in Marion County:

• early education provider recruitment
• early education provider professional development
• development of community partnerships
• Child Care Resource and Referral - CCR&R
• school readiness program
• Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK)
• child development and health screenings
• child assessments
• Success By 6, in partnership with United Way of Marion County

The Coalition is a registered not-for-profit corporation serving Marion County, Florida.  Governance is provided through a 24 member Board of Directors comprised of local business leaders from the public and private sector.

New and innovative approaches for improving the quality and availability of early education opportunities for every child in Marion County while mazimizing efficiency, accountability and effectiveness remains a a top priority for  the ELCMC.

Coalition Plan - Early Learning Coalitions are required to operate based on their three-year plan approved by the Office of Early Learning (OEL). The detailed plan includes a community plan, Coalition governance, program administration, community coordination, processes with parents and providers, and quality activities and services.

Description of Services Provided:

Early Learning/School Readiness

• Includes extended-day and extended year
• Family eligibility and enrollment
• Provider eligibility
• Provider payments
• Child health screenings and referrals
• Child age-appropriate developmental assessment
• Provider technical assistance
• Provider professional development

Inclusion Program - includes the provision of assistance and consultation to child care centers, family child care homes and parents/caregivers regarding health, developmental, disability, and special needs issues of children, particularly children with disabilities and other special needs.

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) - free information and referral for anyone seeking a quality child care setting in Marion County

Early Learning and VPK provider professional development and training

Family support and parent education involves the nurturing and protection of children by encouraging, educating and providing resources for the adults who are responsible for children's care.

Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK)

• Provider eligibility and certification
• Child eligibility
• Provider payments

Quality Assurance and Monitoring

• Providers
• Sub-contractors
• Child care settings
• VPK classrooms
• Public & private grant funded programs

Child Care Executive Partnership (CCEP) - a public/private partnership program that helps employers meet the needs of a growing segment of their work force - working parents. Through this program, federal and state funding is matched with contributions from local governments, charitable foundations and participating businesses on a dollar-for-dollar basis to provide child care services to eligible families.

Public & Private Grant Funded Programs - The Coalition actively pursues funding from public and private funders to provide additional literacy and parent education programs, and to meet the mandated 6% community match for providing early learning services to eligible, low-income working families.

Quality Assurance and Monitoring is an essential component to the Early Learning Coalition of Marion County. Effective monitoring is the key to ensuring that quality is the main ingredient in all our programming.

The Coalition monitors early learning services and programs, resource and referral services, and voluntary pre-kindergarten eligibility and enrollment services. The Coalition also monitors funded summer programs and grant funded programs, as applicable.  We also complete health and safety checklists for childcare providers in order to provide them with the information needed to provide a healthy and safe environment for the children in their care.

The Coalition's programming and fiscal activities are monitored by the Office of Early Learning in Tallahassee, as well as an annual independent financial audit.

leadership and foster partnerships to optimize a quality early learning environment for our children through child care, voluntary pre-kindergarten and parent education.

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