Focus Grants



The purpose of the Focus Grant is to enhance the early learning environments of child care programs who serve School Readiness children from Manatee County.  Each year, the grant will have a specific focus – determined by the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County for which child care programs can choose to apply and participate.  

Use of the Focus Grant includes, but is not limited to, the purchase of playground equipment, classroom materials, curriculum, or Environment Rating Scale books; and/ or other means in which child care programs can enhance their program or classroom environments.

Child care programs that currently have a signed School Readiness Agreement with the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County are automatically eligible for the Focus Grant for the 2010-2011 school year.   
This year’s Focus Grant (2010-2011) is designed to purchase the Environment Rating Scales for each Manatee County School Readiness provider.  Each site will be eligible to receive one Environment Rating Scale per age-level served.

For example, if your site serves infant/toddlers, preschoolers and school-agers, you will be eligible to receive three Environment Rating Scales (ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and SACERS).  If you are a family child care home provider, you will be eligible to receive the FCCERS-R which is designed to meet the needs of all ages.

If your early education site already has the Environment Rating Scales for each age group you serve, please indicate so on the application accordingly. We can instead purchase your site a copy of The Values Book, by Pam Schiller and Tamera Bryant, or From Parents to Partners, by Janis Keyser.

If you are interested in our Focus Grants or have any questions about the program, please call the Early Learning Coalition at (941) 757-2900 extension 250 or submit an electronic request for information.