Are you a working family in the Big Bend region struggling to afford child care? The Early Learning Coalition Of The Big Bend (ELC) understands these challenges and offers vital support through the School Readiness program. This program is designed to provide child care tuition assistance to at-risk and low-income working families, ensuring children have access to quality early learning experiences.
Eligibility for the School Readiness program is determined by specific criteria mandated by law. The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend assesses factors such as your purpose for needing care (employment, education, etc.), your household income, and the number of individuals in your household. Due to funding availability, enrollment in the School Readiness program may involve a waitlist. To determine if you qualify and to apply, please visit Florida’s Early Learning Family Portal.
For further information about the School Readiness program and how the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend can help your family, please call us at (850) 385-0504. To find a list of child care providers contracted with the ELC who participate in the School Readiness program, you can click here for an updated list (as of September 20, 2024).
Understanding the School Readiness Waitlist
The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend is actively enrolling families into the School Readiness program as funding becomes available. If you are interested in receiving child care tuition assistance, it is essential to complete an application through Florida’s Early Learning Family Portal.
Child engaging in early learning activities with puzzles and alphabet letters
Upon submission, if your information suggests you meet the program requirements, your family will be placed on the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend’s waitlist. When funds are released, the ELC will contact you to arrange an eligibility appointment to finalize your application process.
If you have any questions regarding the waitlist or the application process, please do not hesitate to contact the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend at (850) 385-0504 for assistance.
Information for Families Currently on the Waitlist
To keep families informed, the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend has implemented a streamlined communication process for those on the School Readiness waitlist. As soon as funding opportunities arise, families on the waitlist will be promptly notified via email.
It’s important to regularly check your email inbox, including junk and spam folders, for updates. Please be aware that the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend cannot predict exactly when funding will become available for each family.
Be sure to look out for these two email notifications:
- “Notice of School Readiness Funding” from [email protected]
- “ELC New Enrollment Invitation” from Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region
For a quick guide to your next steps after receiving an email, download our Questions & Answers document.
If you have not received either of these emails, it means the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend has not yet invited you to enroll. Continue to monitor your email regularly. For any further inquiries, you can reach out to the ELC’s family services team at [email protected] or by calling 1.866.973.9030.
