The Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida’s mission is to work in collaboration with communities to develop successful learners and to support those in school for continued success. The organization serves the families of Collier, Glades Hendry and Lee Counties with a goal of making certain that children ages birth to five and beyond, has access to high quality early education experiences to cultivate their natural enthusiasm for learning.
Their vision of the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida is that all children in Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee communities will be healthy, eager, and successful learners, supported by well-informed parents, involved citizens, and collaborative community partners. They also work towards Early Learning Programs having high quality standards, comprehensive services, seamless delivery systems with diverse settings, and well-educated, competent, and adequately compensated staff.
In 1999, the Florida Legislature enacted the School Readiness Act (s. 411.01, F.S.), which consolidated each of the early childhood education and childcare programs into one integrated program of school readiness services. This act created the Florida Partnership for School Readiness to coordinate school readiness programs administered by local school readiness coalitions at the county or multi-county level. School readiness programs include, but are not limited to the following elements:
- Developmentally appropriate curriculum;
- Appropriate staff-to-children-ratio; and
- Parents making an informed choice of child care providers
The delivery system for school readiness programs is comprised of child care providers and of school-based sites operated by public and nonpublic schools. School readiness programs are funded through a mixture of state and federal funds.
Together, in FY2004-2005, The ELC-SWF contracted with Child Care of SW Florida, Inc. to provide school readiness services to a total of 7,426 children in 554 school readiness programs in Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry Counties. As of September 2005, there are a total of 3,101 eligible children on the waiting list.
