School Readiness & Child Care
The Early Learning Coalition (ELC) of North Florida wants your feedback on some important School Readiness issues. Please complete our short survey and share your thoughts. Click here to take survey.
ECS4Kids provides School Readiness Services to families in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. Families must meet specific eligibility criteria, and there is often a waitlist, so it’s important to apply as soon as possible.
Schedule an appointment with a Family Services Specialist or Child Care Resource and Referral specialist by clicking the button below.
How to Apply for School Readiness
To apply for the School Readiness Program, visit the Statewide Family Portal on any computer, tablet, or mobile device by clicking the button below.
The Florida Division of Early Learning has created helpful videos to guide you through the School Readiness enrollment process:
- How to Complete the School Readiness Enrollment Process (5:50)
- How to Complete Developmental Screening Questionnaires (6:32)
- How to View Screening Results (2:15)
- How to Update Consent Settings (2:35)
As new guides and training videos are developed and made available, we will add these to our website for your convenience. For additional assistance with the Family Portal or if you are unable to access any of these options, contact ECS4Kids at one of the offices listed at the bottom of this page.
Please note: When applying for School Readiness Services, you will be required to upload one supporting document to verify eligibility for the program. A list of acceptable proof of eligibility documents will be available in the application process. This list will vary based on the information entered in the application.
Qualifying for School Readiness Services
To qualify for School Readiness services through ECS4Kids and the ELC of North Florida, you must:
- Reside in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau, Putnam or St. Johns County.
- Parent(s)/guardian(s) must be working or participating in an educational activity such as attending college or trade school at least 20 hours/week.
- Gross income must be at or below 150 percent of federal poverty level for family size.
- Families must pay a copayment for child care based on income and family size.
Other children may be eligible if they have special needs, are at risk of abuse, neglect or abandonment, their parents are homeless, victims of domestic violence or are low-income migrant families or farm workers.
Income Eligibility
Eligibility depends on your income and family size. Here are examples of income limits:
- A family of two can qualify with income up to $30,660 and continue services until earning over $51,381 (85% of the State Median Income).
- A family of three can qualify with income up to $38,370 and continue services until earning over $63,471.
- A family of four can qualify with income up to $46,800 and continue services until earning over $75,561.
For more information, click here to access the 2024-2025 Sliding Fee Schedule.
School Readiness Plus Program
The School Readiness (SR) Plus program helps low-income families transition off full child care subsidies by reducing the impact of the benefits cliff. When a family’s income exceeds the eligibility limits for the full School Readiness subsidy, SR Plus ensures they can continue to afford child care by gradually increasing their copayment. This program supports families as their income rises, allowing them to accept promotions or pay raises without losing the entire child care subsidy.
SR Plus is available to families who recently exited the School Readiness (SR) program because their income exceeded 85% of the State Median Income (SMI). The program continues to assist with child care costs until family income reaches 100% of the SMI. To qualify, families must meet two main criteria: they must have exited the SR program due to income eligibility, and their income must fall between 85% and 100% of the SMI.
Click here for the SR Plus Sliding Fee schedule showing the income limits and household sizes that qualify for this program after a family has participated in the School Readiness program.
For more information regarding eligibility for the School Readiness Plus Program, please call 1-800-238-3463 and speak with one of our Family Services team members.
School Readiness Waitlist
If you qualify for School Readiness services but current funding prevents immediate enrollment, you can join our waitlist. Wait times can vary depending on available funding or when spots open as families leave the program. Since funding opportunities can arise unexpectedly, it’s important to get your name on the waitlist by applying for School Readiness services through the link above.
Once you’re on the waitlist, please keep your household and contact information up to date. If we are unable to reach you, we may have to remove your name from the waitlist, and you won’t be notified of available spots.
Don’t Qualify?
If you don’t qualify for School Readiness, ECS4Kids provides free Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) services. These services connect families to child care providers that meet their specific needs, including location, cost, and the age of their children, regardless of income. CCR&R can help you find options, but we recommend visiting providers and using quality indicators to make the best choice for your family.
Reporting Fraud
School Readiness is funded by state and federal taxes. If you suspect fraud involving the School Readiness or Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs, contact ECS4Kids at 1-800-238-3463 ext. 2246 or email fraud@ecs4kids.org. Your information will be kept confidential.
Click here to view the ELC of North Florida’s Anti-Fraud Plan.
Contact Us
You can reach ECS4Kids by calling our main office at 904-726-1500 or toll-free at 1-800-238-3463. For assistance specific to your county, please use the phone number listed below. We can often assist over the phone, but if you prefer an in-person visit, our offices are located throughout the counties we serve. Contact the office nearest you for directions.
You can also apply for School Readiness Services by clicking the button below.
ECS4Kids offices are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for holidays. To contact us, call the ECS4Kids administrative office or a location near you:
- Toll-free: 1-800-238-3463
- Administrative Office: 904-726-1500
- Administrative Office Fax: 904-726-1522
- Baker County: 904-259-4225
- Clay County: 904-213-3939
- Nassau County: 904-432-0009, ext. 2626
- Bradford County: 904-964-1543
- Putnam County: 386-385-3450
- St. Johns County: 904-770-2565
You can also use our online scheduling feature by clicking the button below.