Build a World Class Workforce and Strengthen Adult-Child Interaction 2022-23

A high-quality education incorporates positive interactions between teachers and students. Beginning in August 2022, the CLASS scoring system expanded beyond School Readiness programs to assess VPK as well for high-quality interactions. Florida’s Department of Early Learning prioritizes investing in a workforce that will build the knowledge and skills that drive high-quality adult to child interactions. The ELCIRMO team announced and explained this initiative and bonuses available on January 4th. Click here to view the recording, and click here for the PowerPoint.

Step 1: Please read the information packet including checklists for you.

Step 2: Applications were due to the funds@elcirmo.org email or submitted in-person before March 17, 2023, without documentation to ensure you were eligible for the initiatives you applied for. (If an educator/provider wants to apply for a new initiative before the June 30, 2023, deadline, then their hire date must be after March 17, 2023.) Directors must submit an application for every initiative their staff applied for. Please review the official, comprehensive guidance.

Click here to view the FAQs or contact your Quality Specialist. Office hours are no longer active.

1. Recruit and Train: ALL teachers, directors, and owners – contracted or non-contracted – are eligible to apply here. This application is to be filled out by the educators and directors who would like to apply. Your early learning/child care provider also needs to submit an application. The provider only needs to submit this once: apply here if you’re an early learning/child care provider

1. 1. CLASS bonus $600
   2. Recruitment $500
   3. Health and Safety $700
   4. Upskill Directors $750

2. Child Success Grant: ALL teachers, directors, and owners employed by a contracted School Readiness or VPK provider with a CLASS composite score less than 5 or no score are eligible to apply here. This application is to be filled out by the provider only.

1. 1. Segment #1 $500-$600
   2. Segment #2 $700-$800
   3. Performance Bonus $500-$600
   4. CLASS Observer Director Training $1200-$2400

3. Continuous Quality Improvement: All contracted School Readiness and VPK Providers who have a CLASS composite score of 5 or higher are eligible to apply here. This application is to be filled out by the provider only. The approved provider must complete and submit this form within 15 days of the training plan’s end date. Click here for the form.
4. CRRSA Workforce Grant: This grant is for providers who have a CLASS composite score of 5 or higher and would like to participate in the CLASS Observer Training for Directors. This application is to be filled out by the educators and directors who would like to apply.

Step 3: The ELCIRMO staff will respond to tell you what courses and initiatives you qualify for. Please begin sending in or dropping off your financial paperwork as soon as possible to ensure payment is received in a timely manner.

Step 4: You will register for your initiatives as explained by the ELCIRMO staff member. This will be through Teachstone or the ELCIRMO calendar. If you do not have a Teachstone login, then please contact your Quality Specialist.

Step 5: Once you’ve completed the initiatives you qualified for, then submit the required documents to funds@elcirmo.org or drop them off to 10 SE Central Parkway, Suite 200, Stuart, FL 34994. The required documentation (depending on the initiative) may include but is not limited to: paystubs, certificates, transcripts,  W9, and Direct Deposit with your voided check/account information. (If you would like a paper check, then please email this information to funds@elcirmo.org and only submit a W9.)

If you’re not comfortable emailing this information, please drop it off to 10 SE Central Parkway, Suite 200, Stuart, FL 34994.

All courses must be completed and applications submitted no later than June 30, 2023 (NO EXCEPTIONS). There are limited funds for each initiative, so please get started early.