ELC's Family Services Department, 941 757-2900 ext. 2200, familyservices@elc-manatee.org

The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) School Readiness child care funding is currently available to eligible families. School Readiness funding assists families in obtaining affordable, high quality child care. Funding for these families is part of the Office of Early Learning budget that has earmarked 60 million dollars across the state to enroll children in programs designed to ensure school readiness and reading on grade level by third grade.

Interested families should visit the Florida Office of Early Learning’s Family Portal online and submit a School Readiness application. The Coalition anticipates being able to serve families who apply for funding starting in mid-July. Children are eligible for child care funding assistance from birth through 12 years of age. If families meet the below eligibility criteria, they may qualify for child care funding either through a referring agency or by applying to our wait list. 

Sharon Oakes, Chief Operations Officer of the Coalition, said: "We are excited for the opportunity to provide our families with the child care they need in order to provide for their children. It's been a difficult year for many of our clients, and we hope to relieve some of their worries with this funding."

ELC's Family Services Department, 941 757-2900 ext. 2200, familyservices@elc-manatee.org

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