Serving Hendry, Glades, Collier and Lee Counties Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida

Presentation Overview Who is the Early Learning Coalition? What Does the Early Learning Coalition Do? How are we funded? How can you be involved?

Who are we?

Our Coalition Vision ALL children in Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee communities will be healthy, eager, and successful learners, supported by well-informed parents, involved citizens, and collaborative community partners. Our Early Learning programs will have high quality standards, comprehensive services, seamless delivery system with diverse settings, and well-educated, competent, and adequately compensated staff.

YOUR EARLY LEARNING COALITION The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is the administrator of state and federal funding for early learning programs These funds total approximately $40,000,000 dollars for our 4 county area The programs include resource and referral, School Readiness and Voluntary Pre- Kindergarten We have contracted with a Local Agency to administer these programs - COMMUNITY COORDINATED CARE FOR CHILDREN

Community Coordinated Care for Children, Inc (4C) Established in 1969 by the Human Services Council of United Way and the Orange County (FL) GovernmentEstablished in 1969 by the Human Services Council of United Way and the Orange County (FL) Government 501(C)3 private, non-profit organization501(C)3 private, non-profit organization Began serving SW Florida in July 2007 through a contract with our Early Learning CoalitionBegan serving SW Florida in July 2007 through a contract with our Early Learning Coalition Provides Services for Children in partnership with the CoalitionProvides Services for Children in partnership with the Coalition

Considered to be the “front door’ to all Early Learning Programs. Links made between parents and providers. All Florida residents eligible to utilize services to help them find child care, regardless of income level. Those meeting Income guidelines can also access SCHOOL READINESS programs (subsidies to help pay for child care) Early Learning Programs – Child Care Resource and Referral

Early Learning Programs SCHOOL READINESS This program is in place to ensure that all children are intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially ready to enter school and ready to learn, fully recognizing the crucial role of parents as their child's first teacher. Parents earning up to 200% of federal poverty guidelines can qualify for financial assistance to help pay for child care

School Readiness Services In … 6,760 children served in our 4-county area. 548 school readiness programs in private and faith-based centers, family child care homes, and school district programs

STATEWIDE Funding: approximately $490 million; Our Coalition has a School Readiness Budget of approximately $20 million dollars Even with this budget, over 4,000 children are on waiting lists for childcare in four-county area These children are at risk - Even though their parents qualify for assistance, there isn’t enough $$ to help them. SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM FUNDING

FY School Readiness Services for Children CollierGlades/ Hendry LeeELC-SWFL Total Total Children Funded ,6876,760 Waitlist numbers for 7/24/07 1, ,3594,125

Early Learning Programs Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Florida Voters passed a constitutional amendment in November 2002 to provide a FREE, VOLUNTARY Program for all Florida 4 year olds. First year of program was in the School Year

The Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) Education Program Our Coalition has a budget of approximately $20,000,000 for Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (Statewide budget: approx. $388,000,000) Summer program is 300 hours. The School- year program 540 hours PARENTAL CHOICE is critical component – private, public and faith-based providers Program is Voluntary and Free Budget does NOT include dollars for transportation

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Services In … …In our Second VPK year, we enrolled over 6,663 children in 199 VPK Providers in the Lee, Collier, Glades, and Hendry Communities.

FY Voluntary Pre-K Services for Children As of 6/30/07 CollierGlades/HendryLeeELC- SWFL Total Total Children Served School Year 1, ,3455,072 Total Summer Enrollments ,591 Total VPK Enrollment 2, ,217 6,663

EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS The Results Are Impressive! High Quality Early Learning Programs result in : Fewer children being held back a grade Children more likely to graduate from high school Children less likely to become involved in crime and delinquency Future Adults that are less dependent on welfare For every $1 spent on early learning, a return of $7 is generated due to factors sited above. Strongest results have been shown for at-risk and low-income children National Institute for Early Education Research, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J:

Other Results Children tested as they are admitted to Kindergarten in Public Schools to assess the results of Pre-Kindergarten Results after just the First Year clearly showed that children who participated do BETTER in learning assessments than children who did not participate in VPK

Demographics of our Coalitions Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten children 19% are English Language Learners 8% identified with Disabilities 43% qualify for free or reduced lunch RCMA (Redlands Christian Migrant Association) programs and children included in SW Florida coalition – many of these children live in extreme poverty

OUR CHALLENGES By 2013 all lead teachers of VPK must have a bachelor’s degree certified in early childhood education. Efforts to change to AA. The pay for teachers, and in particular early learning teachers is not very appealing Lack of Transportation – means children who need it most, may not be receiving Waiting list for School Readiness Programs (working poor assistance) of over 4,000 children

How can we improve? The Entire Community Needs to be Involved: More $$ could help get more children into school readiness programs More Children enrolled in school readiness can mean more parents can go to work, thus lower the number on welfare Investing in early learning helps prepare children for future school success Quality program help strengthen the future work force More $$ could help us save money as a society: For every dollar invested in quality care for children, more than $7 is realized by society.

How Can Business and Private Individuals be Involved: Child Care Executive Partnership: a public/ private partnership that matches funding for child care costs Helps businesses hire and maintain loyal and reliable employees by offering $$ for child care assistance. For every dollar raised in our community, we can receive a dollar match. These funds go under utilized most years Cultivate Florida’s future work force by reducing the need for social service programs as children grow

If you are interested in enrolling your business in the Child Care Executive Partnership, please see me after the program This is one of the few benefits where you can double your financial impact on employees with the $ for $ match

How Can Business and Private Individuals be Involved: SPONSOR A CHILD Over 4000 children are on the waiting list for school readiness programs A donation of just $284 will: –Allow a child to enroll in an early learning program for a year –LEVERAGE AN ADDITIONAL $4,448 in State and Federal Funds –Enhance and expand services to families who need your help

How $284 grows to $30,000 Your $284 dollar donation, with it’s match Of federal and state funding will become a total of: $4,732 and provide services for a child for one year.

Your $284 Investment Studies show for every $1 spent, a savings of $7 is incurred : (welfare, school retention, drop out rates, juvenile crime, etc.) Your investment, with it’s match to over $4,000….Becomes $30,000 in the future!

How Can Business and Private Individuals be Involved: Professional Development Scholarship Support At a minimum, all VPK Teachers must have a Child Development Associate Degree. Tuition Costs to teachers for this degree is approximately $500. State and Coalition professional development scholarships are very limited. Contributions to the Dr. Wanda Slayton Memorial CDA Scholarship Fund will help our teachers achieve their education goals and prepare our children to be successful in school and in life.

How Can Business and Private Individuals be Involved: Classroom Quality Enhancement Mini-Grants Children learn best in a literacy-rich environment with age-appropriate materials and a variety of hands-on learning centers and experiences. The Coalition offers Mini-Grants to teachers to improve the classroom environment, purchase high quality early education resources and emergent literacy materials. Contributions to the Coalition’s Mini-Grant Program will ensure that teachers have the resources they need to help children reach their highest potential.

On behalf of the Children of Southwest Florida, Thank you for your time and attention today