Florida’s School Readiness Program

Financial assistance, parental support, and early learning opportunities for eligible Orange County families

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Besides loving their children, parents and guardians are responsible for meeting their family's basic needs, such as food and shelter. As in many societies, parents need to work to provide these things and require dependable child care to make this happen. ELCOC recognizes that quality affordable daycare and early childhood development programs can be expensive and often outside the reach of some families. 

A woman stands confidently with her child on her hip. The woman and child are smiling, and the woman has dark, curly hair. The child is around 3 years old.

The good news is that Florida's School Readiness Program, administered in Orange County by ELCOC, helps to end this frustrating cycle.


The program provides eligible families financial assistance to enroll their children in quality child care and early learning programs. It is a win for the whole family: potentially disadvantaged children will be prepared to enter kindergarten ready to learn, while parents can work toward becoming financially independent. 

The School Readiness Program also recognizes parents as their child's first and most important teachers and role models.

In addition to providing financial childcare assistance, the program strengthens the family by providing information on parenting and child development and opportunities for parents to engage with their child's early education. 

The School Readiness Program includes:

  • Parent training on child development milestones and family well-being
  • Screening to assess each child’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development and recommend any necessary resources and assistance
  • Referrals to any needed health and educational specialists
  • Opportunities for parental involvement  
  • Child care services based on individual needs, which may include:
    • extended day and extended year care 
    • after-school care
    • school-age child care 
  • Assistance locating and choosing a child care provider through the Child Care Resource and Referral services (CCR&R) 
Pre-school students play with kitchen-themed toys in their early learning classroom.

The School Readiness Program works in cooperation with other programs for young children, such as Head Start, Early Head Start, and the Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program.

How to apply

To apply for School Readiness, CLICK HERE. For further instructions, watch the video below:

Which childcare providers participate in the School Readiness Program?

All participating providers must meet standards established by Florida’s Office of Early Learning as well as state and federal health and safety requirements.


Parents can choose to enroll their children in a variety of qualified early learning centers, including:  

  • private childcare centers and schools
  • faith-based childcare centers
  • public schools 
  • family childcare homes 

The funding you receive to help pay for your childcare are Childcare Development Funds (CCDF). CCDF is federal funding designed to provide equal access to a range of high‐quality childcare for eligible children. CCDF funds provide opportunities for School Readiness providers to receive training and technical assistance to enhance the quality of their childcare programs and the early
childhood workforce. These funds are also used to help connect parents with consumer education and provide access to a full range of childcare choices.
Your early learning coalition contracts with childcare providers to provide school readiness services. These providers must meet or
exceed state and local requirements for health and safety. We recommend you review the inspection information for the provider
you have selected to care for your child. The inspection reports will provide information on the following: the date of the provider’s last health and safety inspection, past three years of inspection reports, with a history of any health and/or safety violations, provider’s Gold Seal status.

Here are some helpful resources:

4C, on behalf of the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, also provides Childcare Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services.
CCR&R is the front door for family services in your county. CCR&R staff will let you know about community resources, child care
listings and other information that may be of assistance to you. Please contact your early learning coalition and ask to speak to a
CCR&R specialist for further assistance.
If you have any questions or need any further assistance with your child care provider you may contact 4C at (407) 522‐2252 ext
2210.

FAQ

Eligibility is determined by parents’ gross income and must not exceed 150% of the federal poverty level. Families pay a copayment for childcare based on income and family size. 

View the 2023-24 Sliding Fee Scale Chart 

School Readiness childcare assistance is available to Orange County parents or families who:

  • Are working or participating in an educational activity such as attending college or trade school at least 20 hours per week.
  • Temporarily or permanently disabled as documented by a physician and/or a Social Security Award letter.

You may apply for School Readiness services by clicking HERE. 

Once you apply your application is reviewed and you are contacted by email. If you are potentially eligible, you are placed on the waitlist until enrollment takes place, depending on availability of funding. Once funding for School Readiness becomes available, it is distributed based on the date of the approved application.

Preliminary documentation is required before your application will be validated:
Income verification form (new job or paid by cash)

  • Verification of Employment form can be obtained HERE.
  • Pay stubs (last 4 weekly pay stubs, last 2 pay stubs if paid bi-weekly or semi-monthly, or last pay stub if paid monthly)
  • Self-employment documentation (most recent tax return or YTD (Year-To-Date) business records with invoices and receipts for expenses). Please use the self-employment document template HERE.
  • Education documentation (enrollment verification and schedule or ELC education/training form)
  • Social Security disability documentation statement from physician and SS award letter

If you move and have a new address or change your phone number or other contact information, be sure to update your records with us at 407-522-2252 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or visit the offices at 3500 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808. 

Our trained Childcare Resource and Referral team is available to assist you, at no cost, to discuss available options while you wait. For information on CCR&R services, please call 407-522-2252 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. or visit the offices at 3500 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32808.