Other Programs Not Managed by the Forum

Early Learning Quality Initiative

The Agency for Workforce Innovation's Office of Early Learning (OEL) administers the Quality Initiative (QI). The Quality Initiative is dedicated to ensuring the quality of early learning services for Florida's families by providing the early learning community with information, training, and technical assistance. QI activities align with the Agency's statewide early learning priorities: children, families, providers, early learning coalitions and other partners. Projects within the Quality Initiative focus on continual improvements to the statewide early learning system including: early learning guidelines, current research applications for the field, professional development for practitioners, best practices that respect and support families, and supports for local governance and partnerships.

To learn more about the Quality Initiative, visit the Agency for Workforce Innovation's Office of Early Learning or email Jennifer Ohlsen, Early Learning Program Manager, at 850-921-3469.

Inclusion Services

Florida Statute 402.3018 mandates the provision of a toll-free number to provide assistance and consultation specifically to child care personnel regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities and special health care needs. This number is known as the Warm-Line. The toll-free local Warm-Line is available to child care centers and family child care homes requesting information relating to the disability and special health care needs issues of the children they are serving.

Each school readiness coalition provides Warm-Line services for child care providers on topics including:

• Curriculum
• Strategies
• Child development
• Health
• Environmental adaptations
• Laws and regulations (i.e. The Americans with Disabilities Act)

The Goal of the Inclusion Services program is to advocate, facilitate, and support the inclusion of children with special needs and their families in quality early education and care environments.

The Inclusion Services program is administered by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation. For information on the Inclusion Services program, or information on the Warm-Line service provider in your area, call 1-866-357-3239 or email Amanda Moore.

Child Care Executive Partnership Program

The Child Care Executive Partnership (CCEP) is an innovative, public/private partnership program that helps employers meet the needs of a growing segment of their work force working parents. Funding for the CCEP program is provided annually through federal and state sources. These dollars are matched with funding from local governments, businesses, and charitable foundations, on a dollar-for-dollar basis and distributed to employees of participating business employers, and families on the local child care waiting list who qualify for child care assistance. These charitable donations to a local purchasing pool are managed by local school readiness coalitions.

At the state level, the CCEP is administratively assigned to the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Funding is authorized by the Florida Legislature through the Office of Early Learning.

To learn more about the Child Care Executive Partnership Program, visit the CCEP website or contact Natalie Sellars at the Agency for Workforce Innovation, Office of Early Learning.

Florida's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarden (VPK) Program

Florida's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) legislation was signed into law by Florida Governor Jeb Bush on January 2, 2005. This law created a program to prepare every Florida four-year-old for kindergarten and build a strong foundation for their continued educational success. The VPK program will provide each child the opportunity to perform better in school and throughout life with quality programs that invlude high literacy standards, accountability, appropriate curricula, substantial instruction periods, manageable class sizes and qualified instructors.

Download the VPK Legislation that was signed into law on January 2, 2005.

The Agency for Workforce Innovation's Office of Early Learning developed materials to answer questions about Florida's VPK program. Parents and providers are encouraged to use these resources to learn more about participating in this Florida's FREE prekindergarten program. Visit AWI's VPK information page or call 866-FL-READY (866-357-3239) for more information.

For Providers:

• VPK brochure in English
• VPK brochure in Spanish
• VPK brochure in Creole

For Parents:

• VPK brochure in English
• VPK brochure in Spanish
• VPK brochure in Creole