EARLY LEARNING DIGEST

UPDATE: Reimbursement Contact Listing

We’ve made major updates to School Readiness (SR) caseload assignments—and it’s important that ALL providers take a moment to review the changes.

What’s new?
There has been a significant shift in assignments for SR Reimbursement Specialists.

What you need to do:

• Review the new SR Caseload Assignments carefully using the links below.
• Confirm your assigned SR Reimbursement Specialist.
• Update your records to ensure smooth communication and processing.

There are NO changes to VPK Reimbursement Specialist caseloads.

Need a little extra help with SR or VPK attendance submission
requirements—or what documentation is needed?

No problem! Just use the links below for step-by-step guidance:

• Additional SR Electronic Attendance Guidance for SR Providers
• Additional VPK Electronic Attendance Guidance for VPK Providers

Please be sure to review the updated caseload assignments effective March 1, 2026
at elcpinellas.org/provider-contracts-and-reimbursement. There have been some important changes, and we want to make sure everyone knows who their SR and/or VPK Reimbursement Specialist is and how to contact them.

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

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 that all the information is as you wish it to be by 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 before the Contract can 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 the
Early Learning Coalition (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.

For anyone who misses the April 1st deadline or needs assistance, the Coalition Contracts Team will be available on Thursday, April 2nd, from 2-4 pm in the Clearwater office to help and answer any questions you may have. Please bring your laptop, or you may use one of the computers in the lobby. Please ensure you contact your Specialist before visiting to confirm you have all the necessary documentation for upload.

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. 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 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.

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.

Behavior Buzz  

Music and movement are a MUST in early childhood classrooms! These activities not only strengthen fine and gross motor development, but also enhance cognitive skills such as attention span, pattern recognition, memory, self-regulation, language and vocabulary development, counting, and body awareness.

There are many ways to incorporate music and movement into your classroom routine. You can use it for transitions, during circle time, as a brain break when children need to get their wiggles out, or even as an activity on a rainy day when they can’t go outside.

Take a look at your daily practices—if you’re not already intentionally using music and movement in the classroom, there’s no time like today to get started!

(Pictures above are courtesy of Delores M. Smith Academy and Gingerbread School – Azalea)

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.