Give Your Child the Best Start with Quality Early Learning Services
Early Learning Builds the Foundation
for Your Child’s Success
Your young child needs a loving, safe, healthy environment -- and so much more.
In terms of brain development, there will never be a busier, more consequential time in your child’s life than the years from birth to age five. Your child’s brain is working overtime to build critical connections and foundations for the intellectual, social, and emotional skills that will impact their success, not only through the school years, but also for the rest of their life.
Early learning programs engage and stimulate brain development and skill-building, with age-appropriate interactions, activities, and learning opportunities that prepare your child for kindergarten and the school years that follow.
ELCOC can help you find the provider, program, and support you need.
Financial Assistance
For Early Learning
ELCOC coordinates Florida’s School Readiness Program in Orange County. This program offers eligible low-income working families support and financial assistance for quality child care and early education. As well as providing safe child care spaces, this program supports parents and prepares potentially at-risk young children for future school success, teaching important listening, learning, interpersonal, and emotional self-regulation skills.
Enroll Your Child In
Free Pre-K Program
Florida’s Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program is free for all four-year-olds residing in the state. ELCOC administers the VPK program in Orange County, offering parents a variety of providers and options for school year and summer programs and for children with special needs.
VPK prepares four-year-olds academically, emotionally, and socially for that first important school experience, laying a foundation for success that will serve them well in kindergarten and beyond.
Inclusion Services that Support Early Learners: Small Steps Big Outcomes for Children With Unique Needs & Abilities
We strongly believe affordable, quality child care and early education should be available to every family. ELCOC centers welcome all children, including those with special needs. Our Inclusion Specialists will work with you and your center’s staff to ensure that your child receives the care and support they need to thrive.
Choosing Care For Your Child
Whether you need occasional, part-time, or full-week child care for your infant, preschooler, or school age child, our Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) specialists are available to help Orange County families.
Call 407-522-2252 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or visit the offices located at 3500 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808.
Please note that we only make referrals, not recommendations.
School Readiness VS. VPK
ELCOC’s Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) specialists can help families determine their eligibility for the School Readiness Program and for VPK.
Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, or VPK, is free for all children who turn 4 years old on or before September 1st of that enrollment year.
Florida’s School Readiness Program offers financial assistance to qualified working families to help pay for child care or early education costs, such as after-school care, wraparound care, daycare, or preschool. For families who qualify, the program may cover child care for both preschool and school-age children.
Depending on each family’s financial needs and on the age of their child, they may:
- be eligible for both VPK and the School Readiness Program
- qualify for one program but not the other
Join Our Baby Institute Program
And Give Your Child A Head Start
You are your child’s first and most important teacher.
Babies don’t come with instruction manuals, but our free six-week Baby Institute provides the support and knowledge you need to raise a happy, healthy child and prepare them for the school years. The program includes six group sessions and five individual sessions, offering an opportunity to learn and to answer your parenting concerns and questions.