Did you earn $96,000 or less last year? You may qualify to have your federal tax return prepared, e-filed, and direct-deposited for FREE by trusted IRS-certified volunteers.
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VPK FAST TESTING - PM 2 For all our VPK Providers that started on August 11, 2025, with the District....
If you are following the district calendar and offering instruction three (3) hours each day, the window for PM 2 is open for you and will close in early February. Most provider testing windows will expire in the first week of February. All VPK Providers are responsible for calculating their program’s testing windows. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out or join us for one of our Help Desk sessions. Remember, for PM 2, testing cannot begin until at least 40% of your instructional hours are completed, and testing must be completed before 60% of your instructional hours are complete. Children must be tested during VPK instructional hours. Testing conducted outside VPK hours cannot be counted. Please remember that all tests are date and time-stamped. Children tested outside of instructional hours will result in noncompliance for testing.
ELCP sends reminders about testing window deadlines. After receiving your reminder, please double-check that all children are tested within the window. Remember, if you tested children before winter break and any children enroll after the break, they must be tested as well. The state rules require testing of all children enrolled during the window, with the exceptions outlined in the VPK Program Guide to FAST Star Early Literacy. If you have any questions, please contact us at contracts@elcpinellas.org so that we may advise you.
All ‘26-’27 CONTRACTING PROVIDERS - ANNUAL PROVIDER PROFILE UPDATES (APU)
All contracted providers should be in the process of creating and updating their Provider Profiles for the 2026-2027 program year that begins in July 2026. During APU, Providers will need to update their profiles and include all documentation for the ‘26-’27 program year before submitting the profile. Be sure all the information is as you wish it to be in July. It is also necessary to complete the Cost of Care Survey during this process. Both the Cost of Care Survey and the Profile must be completed and submitted for the Contract to be initiated. Programs submitting their profiles first will be the first to have their Contracts processed.
Any changes made to the profile after the contract is initiated will require ELCP to
cancel the contract and begin the process again, so it is critical to ensure all information
is accurate for the ‘26-’27 program year when submitting the profile.
CONTRACT HELP DESK The Contract Team is offering Help Desk sessions and support on the last Wednesday of each month. Please join us if you are interested in any of the topics listed below, or if you need help with any other contract issues or general questions. Please click on the link provided below at 1 pm on the dates indicated to participate. Contract Help Desk - Last Wednesday of the Month: 1 pm
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Contract Questions?
You are always welcome to contact your Contract Specialist directly, but if you have a general question, please send it to our contracts@elcpinellas.org inbox. Your Contract Specialists spend a good deal of time in the field, so if you have a pressing issue, try our email address.
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Quality Services: Classy Conversations
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Join us for CLASSy Conversations, our exciting series on the last Tuesday of each month. These live, virtual sessions foster familiarity with CLASS for new staff and ensure seasoned members stay sharp to avoid CLASS drift LEARN MORE HERE
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Welcome to this month's edition of "CLASSy Accreditation Corner." We are excited to
share some simple yet effective strategies for enhancing classroom quality, boosting
CLASS scores, and positively impacting child outcomes.
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Early Intervention Services Spotlight
Conscious Discipline SpotlightConscious Discipline
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Early Intervention Services is excited to kick off 2026 with a BRAND NEW e-course from Conscious Discipline! We will be offering “Responding to Anger & Rage” (at no cost) to individuals working in our School-Readiness and VPK contracted programs. This e-course comprises over nine hours of video content and a 70-page workbook.
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Responding to Anger & Rage e-course description: Intense emotions require an equally intense focus on healing. Gain a better understanding of rage and anger’s differences, origins, and impact, and explore solutions for managing yourself, de-escalating intense situations, and facilitating recovery and healing for all involved.
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Due to limited space, those who sign up to take the course will have 30 days from
the date of registration to complete and submit their certificate of completion to mcalifano@elcpinellas.org. If the course is not completed within the 30-day time frame, the individual will be removed from the course to make room for the next participant.
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To register, please submit the following to Program Supervisor MaryGrace
Califano at mcalifano@elcpinellas.org including contents below:
- First and last name
- School-Readiness contracted or VPK contracted program you are employed at
- Email address (where you will receive the e-course invitation and correspondences)
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Let's Talk About Emotions!
Talking about emotions with your child is crucial because it builds their emotional intelligence, helping them identify, understand, and manage feelings. This leads to better resilience, stronger relationships, improved mental health, and greater success in school and life by helping them cope with challenges and develop empathy. It validates their experiences, strengthens your bond, and gives them vital tools for navigating the world healthily.
On April 5th, Childcare professionals gathered at Calvary Kids Care for the Conscious Discipline training, Deep Dive into Perception and Composure. Our presenter, Nicole Mercer, discussed mindset and how perception creates our assumptions of others. Participants also explored the five steps of self-regulation and how they can incorporate Conscious Discipline's Safe Keeper Ritual into their classrooms. Here are some takeaways from the training:
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Discussion Questions:
• Why do you think Valentine is sad? Happy? Worried?
• How do you feel now?
• Can you think of a time when you felt sad? Happy? Worried?
• Can you think of a time when I felt sad? Happy? Worried?
• Is it good or bad to feel sad or worried? (Hint: all emotions are valid).
• What strategies do you have when you feel mad or worried?
Need more tips? Want to learn more about social-emotional activities to support your child's development? Help Me Grow Pinellas is here to help! Scan QR Code below or...
On April 5th, Childcare professionals gathered at Calvary Kids Care for the Conscious Discipline training, Deep Dive into Perception and Composure. Our presenter, Nicole Mercer, discussed mindset and how perception creates our assumptions of others. Participants also explored the five steps of self-regulation and how they can incorporate Conscious Discipline's Safe Keeper Ritual into their classrooms. Here are some takeaways from the training:
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ASQ UPDATE:
Please check the Provider Portal frequently to see if you have any screenings due.
Please be aware of the required DUE DATE column. Completing the
Developmental Screenings before the due date is necessary to avoid
progressive enforcement due to noncompliance.
When a screening request is due within 15 days of the due date, it goes into a YELLOW status. Screening requests are considered past due on the due date and go into RED status. Once past due, providers will be sent to enforcement to ensure ASQ completion.
Call Anjanette at (727) 400-4452 with ASQ questions or for assistance with ASQs.
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Sponsored by the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, Inc., the State of Florida,
and the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County.
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