The ELC of Duval is pleased to announce the 2025-26 Professional Learning STEAM Grant. Contracted SR providers with the ELC of Duval as its home coalition may apply. Providers who received funding from the 2024-25 Professional Learning Grant are not eligible to apply. This application link will be activated on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 5 a.m.

The deadline to apply is 12:00 PM, Friday, December 19, 2025.   

PLEASE NOTE:  You will not be able to save your information on the application and return to it at a later time or edit your application once you have submitted. Make sure to review your responses and the documents you have uploaded BEFORE you submit your grant application! Notification of awards will be announced in January 2026.  Please direct questions to Johnna Daniels at jdaniels@elcduval.org

The ELC of Duval held a Provider Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Topics addressed included School Readiness funding and enrollment, CLASS Second Edition, DELDN upcoming meetings, VPK curriculum grant for Providers on Probation, and more. Click here to view the recording and click here to review the PowerPoint.

Let’s remind legislators that children are our most precious commodity! Please create children’s hand art for the Celebration of Hands 2026 display at the state Capitol Rotunda in Tallahassee. The ELC of Duval is collecting hand art from Duval child care and early learning providers until January 22, 2026. The hand art must be strung together and secured. Please do not send individual hands or any items larger than 11 x 14. Click here for tips and additional instructions. Please submit hand art to Charlene Gross at ELC of Duval, 6500 Bowden Road, Suite 290, 32216. Questions? Email cgross@elcduval.org.

RESCHEDULED! Join us for Making Budgets Work for Your Family – a FREE and fun finance workshop hosted by PNC Bank and the ELC of Duval. Grab your lunch and log in to this virtual workshop on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from noon to 1:30 p.m. It’s free. It’s practical. It’s for YOU.

There is a drawing for five (5) gift cards during the workshop! Click here to join the Teams meeting. Questions? Please email cgross@elcduval.org.

The SR Plus program helps low-income families pay for child care while lessening the effect of the “benefits cliff” when those families are no longer eligible for the School Readiness (SR) Program. Participating SR Plus families will pay an increased portion of the cost of their child care. The intent of the program is to ensure families are economically self-sufficient and capable of assuming the full cost of child care after exiting the SR Plus program. In essence, it supports families in accepting promotions while not losing their entire child care subsidy. To learn more, call 904-208-2044 or click here.

The New Worlds Reading Initiative is a FREE Florida literacy program for VPK through 5th grade public or charter school students currently reading below grade level. This statewide book delivery program is a collaborative effort with the Florida Department of Education, school districts, the University of Florida Lastinger Center, and others.

How do I know if my child enrolled in VPK is not yet reading on grade level? It means your child scored below the 40th percentile on FAST Star Early Literacy/Reading. Check with your VPK teacher. Once you’ve confirmed, apply here.

Downloadable Flyers for SR and VPK Providers

Join our network of more than 500 child care and early learning providers in Jacksonville. We are committed to supporting the growth and development of children in our community. By partnering with us, you have access to resources to share with families, including information about School Readiness, Voluntary Prekindergarten, Development Health and Inclusion, and more! Click on any of the links below to download the flyers to share with families.

School Readiness Flyer

Voluntary Prekindergarten Flyer

Developmental Health & Inclusion Warm Line

Child Care Resource and Referral

FREE MarcoPolo for Families App

The ELC of Duval is excited to provide families enrolled in the Duval SR and VPK programs with FREE access to the award-winning MarcoPolo for Families app! The app combines knowledge and play to enrich every curious mind’s experience. If you have a child enrolled in SR or VPK program, and are interested in accessing the app (a $79 value), click here to download the flyer with the QR code and instructions to enroll in the ELC of Duval school.

Board Appointments

The ELC of Duval is seeking to fill two (2) governor-appointed board positions at this time. For more information, please contact tbyrd@elcduval.org.