Pinellas County
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June 2026

EARLY LEARNING DIGEST

Contracts

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The new ‘26-’27 contracts for both School Readiness (SR) and
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) require each provider to participate in an
annual provider orientation BEFORE their contract can be executed.


You MUST complete the orientation process to be contracted.

If you are contracting for both, you must complete the orientation for both.


If you need to complete the orientation for SR or VPK, please use the links below:

SR Orientation: https://elcpinellas.org/sr-contract-provider-forms-and-resources/

VPK Orientation: https://elcpinellas.org/vpk-contract-provider-forms-and-resources/


If you have questions or experience any problems during the orientation process,
please contact us at contracts@elcpinellas.org for assistance. We will also be available
to assist live on Wednesday, May 27th, at 1:00 p.m. during our Helpdesk hours.
Please find the link for the helpdesk below.


All ‘26-’27 PROVIDERS - ANNUAL PROVIDER PROFILE
UPDATES (APU) WERE DUE APRIL 1, 2026

All contracted providers expecting to contract for the ‘26-’27 program year should have already created their Provider Profiles. Contracts for the new year cannot be created without an updated profile. If you have not created and submitted your ‘26-’27 Provider Profile, please contact your contract specialist immediately for instructions. If you do not plan to contract for ‘26-’27, please let us know so we can remove your email from our reminder list.


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 need help with any contract issues or general questions. Please click on the link provided below at 1 pm to participate.


Contract Help Desk - Last Wednesday of the Month: 1 pm

Join the Meeting: Click Here to Join the Meeting!


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.

Reimbursement

Reminder for VPK Providers:

The 2025-2026 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Fall Program Year will end in May 2026 for most VPK providers. As a reminder, VPK guidelines require all providers who have received VPK funds to verify payment and the cumulative attendance hours for each child enrolled in their VPK program.

  • Providers whose VPK program ends in May 2026 should look for an email in mid-June 2026 with details regarding the deadline to complete the VPK End-of-Program-Year Verification Form. Please note that failure to submit the completed form by the deadline stated in the email will delay the release of your site’s final VPK reimbursement for the 2025-2026 VPK Program Year.
  • Providers whose VPK program ends in June 2026 will receive an email in mid-July 2026 regarding the deadline to submit their site’s VPK End-of-Program-Year Verification Form. Failure to submit the completed form by the deadline stated in the email will also delay the release of your site’s final VPK reimbursement for the 2025-2026 VPK Program Year.

Reimbursement Team Caseload Assignment

We’ve updated our caseload assignments. Please review the changes to
ensure you are contacting the appropriate Reimbursement Specialist,
Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Reimbursement Team Caseload Assignment & Contact Information

Summer 2026 School Readiness Provider Reimbursement

Summer 2026 is just around the corner, with the last day of school for Pinellas County students scheduled for May 28, 2026. The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County (ELC) is committed to supporting School Readiness child care providers in preparing for a successful summer season and is pleased to share reimbursement information for children participating in the Pinellas County School Board’s 2026 Summer Bridge and Summer Enrichment programs.

Please review the important information below regarding attendance expectations and reimbursement details for participating providers.

Summer 2026 School Readiness Provider Reimbursement

Early Childhood Institute
Invest in your growth and your program’s success at the 2026 Early Childhood Institute!
Join fellow early learning professionals for engaging sessions focused on
developmentally appropriate practices, social emotional learning,
behavior support,art & music, collaboration, and more.
 
Don’t miss the special Leadership Opportunity session focused on building sustainable early learning programs through smart marketing and family connection strategies.
  • Earn CEUs or PLN Credit
  • Connect with peers and vendors
  • Enjoy giveaways, prizes, and valuable resources
Leadership Opportunity: Thursday, June 11
Early Childhood Institute: Saturday, June 13
 
Register today and continue making a difference in the lives of young children and families!

Early Childhood Institute  Flyer

Leadership Session Flyer

Training Opportunities

Quality Services: Classy Conversations

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

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.

Click HERE for June Edition

Early Intervention Services Spotlight
Conscious Discipline SpotlightConscious Discipline

Behavior Buzz  

A safe place (also referred to as a calm-down corner) is a dedicated area within a classroom where children can go when they are experiencing big emotions or feeling overwhelmed. This is a space children CHOOSE to go to, NOT a place used as a consequence or to remove a child from daily activities.

 

This area should be located in a quiet corner of the room, away from high-traffic or highly stimulating areas. It should include soft seating, such as pillows or bean bags, and, if possible, soft lighting to reduce harsh sensory input. You should also include items such as sensory bottles, pinwheels, breathing technique posters, and Conscious Discipline visuals.

 

A teacher should make themselves available to support the child by co-regulating with them until the child feels calmer and is able to problem-solve. Children should be taught how to use the tools within the safe place, and the area should remain available whenever they need it. This space should be introduced to the class as a tool for working through big feelings, not as a play area with toys.

 

If you would like support setting up a safe place in your classroom or would like more information, please contact your Behavior Specialist. We are happy to help!

 

The photo above is courtesy of Ms. Inesta and Ms. Tanya’s VPK classroom at iDiscover.
Early Intervention Services is pleased to announce the launch of a new e-course from Conscious Discipline for 2026. “Responding to Anger & Rage” will be offered (at no cost) to individuals in our School-Readiness and VPK contracted programs. The course includes over nine hours of video content and a 70-page workbook.
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.

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. 

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) 

 Any questions? Contact mcalifano@elcpinellas.org.

What is a simple, age-appropriate way to explain Juneteenth, and why does it matter?
(Contributed by ChildCareEd.com and Brightwheel)

 

Young children learn through stories, songs, and play. A short, hopeful explanation
can help them understand important ideas like freedom and fairness without
overwhelming details. Try using simple phrases such as:

  • “Juneteenth is a day we celebrate freedom.”
  • “We remember people who worked for fairness.
  • “We celebrate by singing, reading, and making art together.”

These messages encourage kindness, inclusion, and belonging—
important values for every classroom and family.

 

Why it matters:

  1. Belonging: When children see history and culture respected, they feel safe, valued, and included. This supports healthy social-emotional development.
  2. Values: Juneteenth teaches fairness, resilience, and kindness in child-friendly ways. Keep conversations simple, positive, and hopeful.
  3. Community Connections: Celebrations help build classroom community
    and strengthen relationships with families, creating meaningful learning
    experiences together.

Keep explanations calm, brief, and reassuring. If a child asks a more difficult question,
you can gently respond: “A long time ago, some people were not treated fairly.
Juneteenth reminds us that freedom and kindness matter.”

 

Here are a few ways to celebrate with your child:

  • Freedom Flags: Children can design their own flags using red,
    white, and blue to represent what freedom means to them.
  • Red Color Collage: Use paper, fabric scraps, and stickers
    to create a red mural symbolizing strength and resilience.
  • Unity Bracelets: Make bracelets using red, black, and green
    string inspired by the Pan-African flag colors.
  • Red Sensory Bins: Fill bins with red rice, beads, and fabric for
    sensory exploration and play.
  • Community Garden Planting: Plant seeds in decorated pots while
    discussing growth, resilience, and nurturing freedom.
  • Red Foods & Drinks: Enjoy child-friendly treats like strawberries,
    watermelon, or red velvet cupcakes.
  • Music & Movement: Use drums or shakers to celebrate with rhythm, joy, and movement.

Have concerns or want more ideas? Complete our FREE developmental screening, and
Help Me Grow will follow up with results and support resources!

 

Call/Text: (727) 454-4547
Email: HMGP@elcpinellas.org
Visit: elcpinellas.org/helpmegrow

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: 

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. 

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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