Financial Child Care Assistance
Are you struggling to cover the costs of child care? The School Readiness (SR) Program offers financial assistance to families for early learning and school-age care. Eligible families can receive aid to cover a portion of their child care expenses. Scholarships are based on factors such as household size and income.
What are the benefits
of the School Readiness program?
- Helps parents or guardians afford quality care for their children.
- Allows parents or guardians to work or go to school.
- Prepares young children to enter school ready to learn.
Who is eligible for child care assistance
with the School Readiness program?
- The parent (s) must work or participate in an educational activity, such as attending college or trade school, for at least 20 hours per week.
- Families must pay a copayment for child care based on income and family size.
- Children may be eligible if they have special needs or are at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment, or if their parents are homeless, victims of domestic violence, or low-income migrant families or farm workers.
- Expanded Funding is also available through our JWB SR+ program for families with children ages birth to age 5.
Do you qualify? Families earning $150,000 or less may qualify.
FAQ
Call our Family Services Department by dialing 727-400-4411, selecting option 3, and then option 4. Staff will assist you by making an appointment for you.
Clients are placed on the wait list once their applications are reviewed and approved. Children are removed from the wait list based on their priority group and the date the application was approved. If you want to know the application approved date, contact us by dialing 727-400-4411, then selecting option 3, then option 2 for the wait list.
Once you are approved for the waitlist, you will receive an automated electronic notification from the Division of Early Learning to the email you provided on the Family Portal Wait List application. If you have any other questions, please contact us by dialing 727-400-4411, then selecting option 3, then option 2 for the wait list.
If you have NEVER had a Family Portal Account, you may create one as a New User at http://familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com/Account/Login. DO NOT create another Family Portal Account if you have ever created one in the past. This will duplicate your family’s information. Please contact us at 727-400-4411.
Yes. Please log on to the Family Portal account you have already created. If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact the contact us at (727) 400-4411, select option 3, and then press 3 again. Do not create an account on your own as that will not link to your current eligibility.
- Download and print the Child Transfer Form.
- Complete the Transfer form with your current and new providers.
- Fax completed form to 727-400-4486 or drop off at one of the ELC locations.
- Once ELC has completed the transfer, you must sign the Payment Certificate for your child to show up on the new provider’s attendance roster. Log into the Family Portal. Under the School Readiness Funding section, you will click on the blue “Sign” button next to each of your child(ren)’s name(s)
- Please electronically sign the Payment Certificate exactly how your name appears on the record to complete the process.
- Your provider can then log onto their attendance roster and complete your child’s attendance.
- If you do not see the Payment Certificate in your Family Portal account within two business days, please call 727-400-4411.
- Please Note: If you do not sign off on the Payment Certificate, your provider’s payments may be affected. It is imperative that you complete the process ASAP.
- How do I temporarily suspend child’s care?
- If eligible for a Suspended Enrollment, download and print the Suspended Enrollment
Request Form. - Complete the Suspended Enrollment Request Form with your current provider.
- Fax completed form to 727-400-4486 or drop off at one of the ELC locations.
Instructions on how to complete your enrollment process
Parent or Legal Guardian(s) must register for a Family Portal account and submit the online application along with proof of eligibility (pay stub, school class schedule or proof of disability)
Contact us
Please get in touch with us to obtain
more information about our programs and services.
Apply for School Readiness
Determine if your family may be eligible child for the School Readiness program.
APPLY HERE
FREE customized
SR Provider listing
If you are interested in receiving a FREE more customized child care listing specific to your family needs, please complete the request for information form below and submit.
FREE LISTINGNeed to Recertify?
We have step-by-step instructions on recertifying your School Readiness application on your Family Portal account.
RECERTIFY INSTRUCTIONS HEREParent Forms
- School Readiness Scholarship Checklist
- Child Support Verification
- Employment Verification
- Self-Employment Verification
- Last Day of Employment
- Suspended Enrollment Request
- Child Transfer
- Notice of Change
- Disability Verification
- School/Training Verfication
- Declaration of No Purpose for Care
- Eligibility Appeal
- Client/Recipient Fraud Appeal Form
- Parent-Client Memo Policy Change and Documentation Requirement for Child Absences
- Formal Parent-Client Note for Child's At Home Illness Form