ELC NEWS ARCHIVE
Resourceful. Strategic. Efficient.
Read through past articles and view interviews related to the Early Learning Coalition,
the child care community in Pinellas County, and more!
Looking to interview someone from the ELC or request a speaker? Email whall@elcpinellas.org.
PINELLAS STATE LEGISLATORS HEARS FROM
CONSTITUENTS AT DELEGATION MEETING
January 29, 2021 – BayNews 9
Already dealing with a six percent budget “withholding,” acting Pinellas-Pasco County State Attorney Bruce Bartlett called on members of the Pinellas County Legislative Delegation on Tuesday not to go any further in reducing funding to his agency.
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FAMILY FRIENDLY PINELLAS PRESENTS
FIRST BUSINESS AWARDS
January 14, 2020 – St. Pete Area Chamber
Family Friendly Pinellas, a Thrive by Five initiative and subsidiary of Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County, recently launched its exclusive Family Friendly Business Award®. The Family Friendly Business Award® is a trademark-registered award recognizing businesses in Pinellas County creating friendly workplace environments for families.
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1,000 MORE STUDENTS ABLE TO ENROLL IN PINELLAS COUNTY EARLY LEARNING COALITION
November 27, 2020 – BayNews 9
Pinellas County’s Early Learning Coalition just got a big financial boost from the state to expand its school readiness program. Legislators added an additional $3.8 million to the ELC’s budget, allowing the organization to enroll 1,000 more preschoolers.
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TAMPA BAY CHILD CARE CENTERS FACING FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY AFTER STATE DEPT. OF EDUCATION COMPUTER MALFUNCTION
November 18, 2020 – WFLA Channel 8 News
A malfunction by yet another state computer system has threatened to sink day care centers throughout Florida that are barely managing to survive the COVID-19 crisis.
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WHO’S MINDING OUR LITTLEST CHILDREN? COVID’S IMPACT ON LOCAL CHILD CARE CENTERS
August 11, 2020 – 83 Degrees Media
The national debate of late is focused on the return of young people to grade school, high school, and college. But safe, high-quality childcare for infants, toddlers, and other preschool-age children is even more of a concern for parents getting back to work.
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FLORIDA VPK ENROLLMENT DOWN STATEWIDE AMID CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
August 9, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to strain residents’ basic needs, Pinellas County is partnering with two local agencies to distribute $34 million in federal CARES Act funding targeted towards child care facilities and nonprofits.
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FLORIDA VPK ENROLLMENT DOWN STATEWIDE AMID CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
August 6, 2020 – ABC Action News
TAMPA, Fla. — Enrollment in Florida’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program is down statewide in 2020, according to the Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas. This comes as many families are choosing to keep children home as COVID-19 spreads across the state.
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‘DON’T FORGET ABOUT US’ – PRE-K TEACHERS, STAFF WORKING THROUGH PANDEMIC FEEL FORGOTTEN
August 6, 2020 – ABC Action News
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — As communities hold meeting after meeting to focus on how to get teachers and students back to school safely, Pre-K and early learning teachers say they’ve already been facing the health dangers for months.
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VPK REGISTRATIONS FALL IN TAMPA BAY AMID CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS
August 3, 2020 – WFLA Channel 8 News
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — School is almost back in session in most Tampa Bay area counties, but parents of 4-year-old children are scrambling to find options while coronavirus cases continue to spread.
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TAMPA BAY ON BRINK OF CHILD CARE CRISIS AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
July 9, 2020 – Channel 8 News
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The Pinellas County Early Learning Coalition believes a possible child care crisis is underway due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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FLORIDA CHILDCARE FACILITIES ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL CAPACITY AFTER STATE LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS
May 26, 2020 – ABC Action News
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida childcare providers are now able to increase their classroom capacities back to normal numbers, calming fears for some facilities that they may have to close because they could barely make ends meet.
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TAMPA BAY ON BRINK OF CHILD CARE CRISIS AMID CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
July 9, 2020 – Channel 8 News
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – The Pinellas County Early Learning Coalition believes a possible child care crisis is underway due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More >
FLORIDA CHILDCARE FACILITIES ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL CAPACITY AFTER STATE LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS
May 26, 2020 – ABC Action News
PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — Florida childcare providers are now able to increase their classroom capacities back to normal numbers, calming fears for some facilities that they may have to close because they could barely make ends meet.
Read More >
REOPENING RESTRICTIONS TOO TIGHT,
CHILD CARE OPERATORS SAY
May 24, 2020 – Bay News 9
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Child care centers are in jeopardy of closing in Pinellas County because of the current classroom size restrictions, some owners say.
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AS TAMPA BAY GOES BACK TO WORK, CHILD CARE MAY BE IN SHORT SUPPLY
May 22, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
There’s a looming “catastrophic shortage” of options as child care centers deal with size limitations and increased costs. Many may never reopen.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CHILD CARE IS ESSENTIAL TO US ALL
May 10, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
It’s a fact that early education and childcare help prepare children for success. Pinellas is home to over 660 child-care providers (preschools, school-age programs and family child-care homes). The education and enrichment programs they administer play a critical role in childhood development — with life-long benefits.
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WHY WE’RE NOT READY TO SEND OUR TODDLERS BACK TO DAY CARE
May 4, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
Just because businesses are reopening doesn’t mean we’re ready to re-enter their doors during the coronavirus pandemic.
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ELC OF PINELLAS SEEKING SUPPLY DONATIONS TO HELP KIDS OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS
April 21, 2020 – Florida Politics
The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas (ELC) is seeking donations of cleaning and sanitary supplies to stock its facilities currently providing childcare for children of essential workers including first responders, grocery workers, delivery drivers, postal workers and health care professionals.
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CHILD CARE SERVICES FOR PINELLAS EMERGENCY WORKERS
April 21, 2020 – Tampa Bay Healthcare Collaborative
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NONPROFIT OFFERING FIRST RESPONDERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE
April 9, 2020 – ABC Action News
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DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, CHILD CARE FACILITIES RATE AS “ESSENTIAL”
March 26, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
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THRIVE BY FIVE PINELLAS TO ROLL OUT INITIATIVE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
February 24, 2020 – Tampa Bay Times
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