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Serving Citrus, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Sumter Counties
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Inclusion Warm Line
Do you have questions about how best to serve the special needs children attending your facility?
Are you looking for inclusion training?
We’re here to help!
Call (877) 840-5437
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| Quality Initiative Programs |
Professional Development/Certification Reimbursement Program
The Coalition recognizes that enhanced teacher qualifications provide a direct benefit to the children enrolled in early learning programs. In order to assist teachers in this process, the Professional Development Reimbursement Program was designed reimburse teachers for approved training, coursework, and certifications (such as background screening clearance).
Note: program currently on hold due to lack of funds
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Teacher Incentive Payment Program
(TIP Program)
The Teacher Incentive Payment Program is intended to promote longevity in the employment of early learning teachers and to promote teacher training.
The program is designed to provide stipends to eligible school readiness teachers. The stipends are based on the length of time a teacher is employed by a school readiness provider and the number of additional training hours approved by the Coalition which are completed by the teacher, up to a maximum of eighteen hours per fiscal year.
Note: program currently on hold due to lack of funds
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Early Learning Provider Recruitment & Expansion Program
Recognizing population growths for children birth to five in each county serviced by the Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast, it is important to support initiatives to recruit new early care providers to increase the number of quality early care programs offered to children. In accordance with Coalition-approved Early Learning Program Operating Procedure (ELPOP) all providers have the opportunity to contract with the Coalition to provide quality, safe environments that promote social, emotional, and academic success.
The Coalition is committed to providing the necessary resources to recruit child care facilities and those interested in opening a child care facility in order to offer more opportunities to parents/caregivers for parental choice. The program has been expanded to include existing early learning providers that wish to increase their licensed capacity.
Note: program currently on hold due to lack of funds
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Accreditation Mini Grant Program
The Accreditation Mini Grant Program is intended to offer funding to early learning providers to help facilitate and maintain accreditation. The program is designed to assist programs through technical assistance and financial support in obtaining or maintaining accreditation as a contracted early learning provider.
Note: program currently on hold due to lack of funds
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Inclusion Mini Grant Program
The Inclusion Mini-Grant Program is intended to offer funding support to early learning providers serving children with a diagnosed special need identified with an active Individual Educational Plan (IEP) developed by the local school system, Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) developed by Early Steps/FDLRS, or a special need determined by a licensed physician/therapist. The Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast recognizes the importance of early learning providers enhancing their credibility as quality, inclusive child care providers.
Note: program currently on hold due to lack of funds
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| Coalition-Approved Curricula |
The Coalition is required to ensure that school readiness programs provide the elements necessary to prepare children for school by providing a curriculum that addresses acceptable practices based on the Florida School Readiness Performance Standards, including learning activities designed to enhance the following areas:
 Physical health
Approaches to learning
Social and emotional development
Language and communication
Cognitive development and general knowledge
Motor development
Character development
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Early Childhood Curriculum Approval Process
The Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast is responsible for ensuring that all school readiness providers use “appropriate curriculum”. The Coalition has approved the following curricula for use in school readiness sites:
Whole-day Curricula
1. Infant Toddler Planning Guide—Kaplan Press
2. A Planning Guide to the Preschool Curriculum—Kaplan Press
3. The Complete Daily Curriculum—Schiller/Phelps
4. High Scope Curriculum
5. High Reach Curriculum
6. Creative Curriculum for Infants and Toddlers
7. Mother Goose Time
8. Wee Learn—LifeWay Christian Curriculum
9. Theme Based Curriculum
10. HIPPY Program
11. Kids in Motion
12. Creative Curriculum for Preschoolers
13. Opening the World of Learning (OWL)
14. InvestiGator Curriculum
15. Essentials Preschool Curriculum
16. Horizons Preschool Curriculum
17. ELLM/ Plus
18. Pinnacle Curriculum
19. Life Essentials
20. Funshine Express
21. DLM Express
Literacy Curricula
1. Letter Works: Building Early Literacy Skills
2. Breakthrough to Literacy
3. Creating Readers
4. Woven Word—Committee for Children
5. Waterford Reading
6. My Florida Alphabet (My Animal Alphabet)
Math Curricula
1. Math Their Way
Character Development Curricula
1. Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum—Committee for Children
Supplemental Curricula
1. Handwriting Without Tears
2. Talking About Touching – Committee for Children
The Coalition recognizes that the Infant/Toddler and Preschool Planning Guides (Kaplan Press) are closely aligned with the Florida School Readiness Performance Standards and the Learning Accomplishment Profile assessment system. For these reasons, use of the Planning Guides is encouraged in school readiness sites. The activities included build the skills that are measured on the LAP assessments. They are a useful resource to assist teachers in planning activities designed to meet the needs of children as indicated on the LAP assessments and follow up parent and teacher reports.
The Coalition realizes, however, that there are other early childhood curricula that may be a valuable resource to teachers as they plan for the learning of young children. Many school readiness providers utilize a variety of curricula. The Coalition’s Advisory Councils are available to consider expanding the listing of Coalition-approved curricula to include other quality curricula that meet the standards required in Chapter 411 of the Florida Statutes.
The Advisory Councils have developed a procedure for school readiness sites to submit their choice of curriculum for approval. Guidelines for this procedure may be obtained at the link below.
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| Accreditation Information |
| Useful Links, Documents, and Information |
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) www.naccrra.org
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T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program
The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Scholarship Program provides scholarships for child care / early learning teachers and directors for educational costs to obtain a Child Development Associate credential or state equivalency certificate, Director's Credential or an Associate degree in early childhood at a community college. For more information about how to access a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship, visit the Children's Forum or click on the link. http://www.flchild.com/teach.htm
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The Children's Forum is a private, not-for-profit organization committed to enhancing and improving the quality, affordability, and availability of child care and early education through a broad array of programs, services, and publications. Parents, policy makers, early childhood teachers, directors, or academicians are invited to visit our website and learn more about the Forum. www.thechildrensforum.com
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