Advocacy

Comprehensive Background Checks for Child Care Providers

    U.S. Representative Gwen Moore Introduced Legislation to Require Comprehensive Background Checks for Child Care Providers Yesterday, Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) introduced H.R. 3829,  the Child Care Accountability and Responsibility Act of 2012 or (CARE for Kids Act), ...read more

Early Childhood Education in Florida is at Risk!

Four bills propose sweeping changes to Florida’s early learning system.  They are: ·        PCB BCAS 12-04 by Business & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee ·        5103 by Representative Coley ·&...read more

2012 Legislative Tracking

Florida’s Office of Early Learning 2012 Legislative Tracking read more

Senate Presentation on School Readiness

A presentation on School Readiness given by the Office of Early Learning to the Senate PreK-12 Appropriations Committee on September 21, 2011. read more

Stepping Up For Florida’s Children

Editorial in the St. Pete Times about early learning legislation. read more

Letter to Community Partners and Providers

Letter from Executive Director Paul Sharff on the outcome of the 2011 legislative session and its impact to Florida's early learning system. Message to Community Partners and Providers read more

Legislative Wrap-up - May 2011

Outcomes of child care legislation of May 2011: Message from Executive Director of ELC-Manatee Legislative Wrapup SB 146 HB 139 HB 279 HB 353 HB 1255 read more

Children’s Campaign News Review

Children's Campaign Weekly Review of Children's News read more

2011 OEL Legislation Tracking

Legislation Directly Impacting the Agency for Workforce Innovation Office of Early Learning read more

VPK Budget Information

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Funding Information read more

School Readiness Budget Information

School Readiness Education Program Information read more

Afterschool Programs

Budget Fight Takes Shape (Afterschool Advocate) "Now is the time to rally in defense of afterschool programs," Grant said. "We're going to need every voice and every supporter if we are to make the progress our children and families need ...read more

Federal Budget Cuts

$1B Could Be Cut From Early Education Program  (WPLG Miami) If the cuts pass, more than 9,000 Florida Head Start students will lose funding starting March 4. Teachers could lose their jobs or have their salaries cut."That would be devastating ...read more

Federal Budget Cuts in Discussion!

FROM THE DESK OF JILL MOSOVICH, CHAIR OF PUBLIC POLICY - FLAEYC It is very important that as a first step in our pro-active approach to combat the draconian cuts in the Federal budget for 2010, we MUST make calls to ...read more

Bill Tracking through Children’s Campaign

See links below for bill sponsors, summaries, and latest activity. Promise 1 (child health including maternal health, KidCare, mental health, etc.) Promise 2 (child protection including foster care, adoption, independent living, etc.) Promise 3 (early learning and care including pre-k, child care, etc.) ...read more

Early Learning Budget Faces Major Shortfall

While the Governor develops his budget proposal for 2010-11, early childhood advocates should be aware that a very large funding gap is in the offing for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) and School Readiness programs. In fact, the legislature must potentially find $146.8 ...read more

Obama Administration Proposal Highlights Child Care ( January 27, 2010)

Administration Proposal Highlights Child Care  January 27, 2010    A Proposal to Help Working Families  On January 25, the Administration previewed a ...read more

Federal college loan program saves money by eliminating private lenders

- Read Miami Herald Op Ed piece - First Five Years Fund information sheet on The Early Learning Challenge Fund - Read The Facts Behind the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act read more

Funding Requirements for School Readiness and VPK

School Readiness Funding Requirements Program Information • Ensures children enter school ready to learn, while parents maintain employment. •Currently the waiting list has grown to more than 80,000 children. •Only 30% of all eligible, qualified children are actually served. ...read more

2010 Legislative Priorities

  Fully Fund Early Learning Programs • 856,634 children (age 0‐12) were living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level in 2007, meeting eligibility requirements for school readiness services. Only 247,349 children (less than 30%) received services in 2008‐09 due to funding limitations. • $37M ...read more

2010 Florida House and Senate Legislative Bills to look out for

Download 2010 Florida House and Senate Legislative Bills to look out for. read more

AELC Legislative Concerns for 09-10 Session

FUNDING FOR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS – SCHOOL READINESS & VPK SCHOOL READINESS Background Information TANF Recipients (required by law to serve) – children listed on child care authorizations from local Workforce partner agencies. Children at risk of abuse or neglect ...read more

2010 AELC Legislative information sheet

Download 2010 AELC Legislative information sheet. read more

AELC Florida Senate and House of Representatives Legislative Committees of Interest

Download AELC Florida Senate and House of Representatives Legislative Committees of Interest. read more

2010 Child Care Legislation Tracking Sheet

Our Mission To promote high-quality school readiness, voluntary prekindergarten and after school programs, thus increasing all children’s chances of achieving future educational success and becoming productive members of society. The Coalition seeks to further the physical, social, emotional ...read more

VPK funding is in danger of being cut up to 15%

Dear Manatee County Parents and VPK Providers,   VPK funding is in jeopardy! We need to engage all early learning partners and stakeholders to educate legislative members on the implications of reductions.   Please take a moment to phone or ...read more

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Funding

  Support the House budget proposal for VPK which allocates $402.3 million to preserve the high-quality programs Florida voters envisioned.   This would reduce the VPK per child spending by 1% in alignment with FEFP reductions of .74% providing equity in reductions for ...read more

Office of Early Learning’s Rule Promulgation Process

Rules play a crucial role in defining the processes by which Florida’s early learning system operates. The Office of Early Learning (OEL) at the Agency for Workforce Innovation, along with the Department of Education and the Department of ...read more