Families whose:

• • Gross income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level for family size.

*Gross income is before taxes, insurance, and other deductions are subtracted. Amounts represent 150% of federal poverty level effective 1/17/2024. The Census Bureau adjusts the federal poverty level annually.

• • Parent/guardian is working or attending school at least 20 hours per week, or a combined 40 hours per week for two parents/guardians (or are exempt from work due to age or disability).

If your annual income exceeds the amount above, a Client Services Counselor may be able to assist you with other creative financial assistance options. Call 352-369-2315. 

Other children may be eligible if they have special needs; are at risk of abuse, neglect, or abandonment; or if their parent(s)/guardian(s) are experiencing homelessness or domestic violence.

If you believe you may be eligible, please click the button below, which will take you to the Department of Education, Division of Early Learning Family Portal. Log in or create an account to complete an application. For assistance with creating a Family Portal account, click the yellow button below for a video with step-by-step instructions.

Family Portal

Family Portal Training Videos

Please feel free to visit the Coalition office for personal assistance with your application as well as access to computers and scanners.

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Identification – Provide one photo identification or two forms of identification without a photo to verify each adult’s identity:

• Government-issued, valid picture identification, such as
  • Florida driver’s license
  • Florida identification card
  • Passport
  • Immigration card
  • Student identification
• Employment identification
• Immunization record

Guardianship Documentation – Provide any one of the following for each child needing care:

• Child’s birth certificate with the parent’s name or maiden name
• Court order or other legal documentation that substantiates the adult’s relation to the child
• Valid Department of Children and Families (DCF) or CareerSource referral that includes the parents’ names
• Documentation of receipt of relative caregiver payments or Florida Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits on behalf of the child
• A notarized statement from the child’s parent, listing the applicant as responsible for the child’s care
• Official school records
• A notarized statement from a medical professional

Proof of Marion County Residence – Provide any one of the following:

• Florida driver’s license
• Florida identification card
• Vehicle registration
• Current, signed residential rental agreement or receipt of rental payment that contains a name and address, dated within 12 months of the date the application is submitted
• A notarized statement from the child’s parent/guardian AND a letter from a landlord or property owner who confirms the child resides at the address shown in the notarized statement. Parents must submit new documentation at each eligibility determination.
• Electric, gas, water, cable, internet, or landline home phone bill, dated within last 12 months
• Paystub from a current employer dated within 12 months, that includes applicant’s home address
• TANF child care authorization
• Medicaid-eligible status
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) award letter
• Mortgage statement
• Current property tax assessment, dated within 12 months of eligibility determination, showing a homestead exemption
• Military order showing the child’s parent as a service member in the U.S. Armed Forces assigned to duty and residing in Florida
• Notarized Affidavit of Residency
• If none of the above supporting documents are available for a family experiencing homelessness, provide a letter from a housing shelter OR a notarized statement from the child’s parent/guardian

Note: a P.O. Box does not establish residency

Verification of Child’s Age – Provide any one of the following for each child needing care:

• U.S. Child’s birth certificate
• Court ordered Guardianship
• Child’s life insurance policy that has been in force for at least two years
• U.S. passport
• Immunization record that is signed/stamped by public health officer/licensed physician
• Valid military dependent identification
• Lawfully admitted alien document (I-94, I-94A, I-97, I-551)
• Certificate of citizenship or Naturalization
• Certificate of Baptism, including affidavit

Verification of Child’s Citizenship – Provide any one of the following for each child needing care:

• U.S. Child’s birth certificate
• Proof of child’s Medicaid eligibility
• U.S. passport
• Lawfully admitted alien document (I-94, I-94A, I-97, I-551)
• Certificate of citizenship or Naturalization

Family Size Documentation – Provide one of the following for each parent/guardian and child in the household:

• Social Security card
• Birth certificate
• Driver’s license

Household Income Documentation – Provide documentation of ALL earned and unearned income for ALL household members, as applicable. This may include:

• Paystubs – current and consecutive paystubs showing the most recent four weeks of pay. Paystubs must include the gross income and number of hours worked during each pay period.
• Verification of Employment (VOE) – If you have not been employed long enough to have four weeks of paystubs, your employer can complete a VOE.
• Child Support – documentation of the child support payments received and paid out for the most current four-week period.
• Alimony – documentation of alimony payments for the most current four-week period.
• TANF – documentation of TANF income
• Veterans Benefits – documentation of any Veterans Benefits
• Social Security benefits/Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – documentation of benefits
• Proof of Self-Employment Income – Appropriate documentation sufficient to determine hours worked and income, such as business account ledgers, written documentation from customers or contractors, or Federal tax returns. Click Here for a self-employment calendar.
• SNAP benefits, listing all household members
• Reemployment assistance/Reemployment compensation benefits – documentation of benefits
• Temporary Cash Assistance – documentation of benefits
• Adoption subsidy – documentation of benefits
• Worker’s compensation – documentation of benefits
• Retirement benefits – documentation of any additional retirement benefits

Separation/Divorce Documentation, if applicable – Provide the following if the child’s parents are separated or divorced:

• Copy of Separation or Divorce papers or a notarized statement

Work Exempt Documentation, if applicable – If a parent/guardian is exempt from work due to disability or retirement, provide any one of the following:

• A verification of disability form completed by a physician
• SSI Disability award letter from the U.S. Social Security Administration
• Retirement income benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration

Education/Training Program Documentation, if applicable – If a parent/guardian is enrolled in high school, a GED program, technical or vocational program, associates degree, or bachelor’s degree program, provide any one of the following:

• An official school schedule from an accredited educational institution
• Proof of enrollment from an accredited educational institution, on official letterhead, that contains the class schedule. Documentation should include the dates the semester/training period starts and ends.
• Completed Verification of Education form

Zero Balance Transfer Form, if applicable – If a parent/guardian has previously received Florida School Readiness child care subsidy, provide the following:

• Zero Balance Transfer form from previous child care provider

Child Care Authorization Referral, if applicable – If a parent/guardian receives TANF, Relative Caregiver Funds, Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP), Transitional Child Care (TCC), Transitional Education (TED), Protective Supervision/Investigation, or Foster Care, the following must be provided:

• Valid Child Care Authorization form from the referring agency

If a required document is not available, please contact the Coalition for additional documents that can be provided.

Depending on your individual circumstances, additional documentation may be required.

Once you have completed and submitted your application, Coalition staff will follow up with you by email within 20 calendar days. If you are potentially eligible, you will be placed on a wait list until funding is released.

Once funding for your child(ren) is available, you will be contacted by email for additional information about enrolling with a School Readiness contracted child care provider. If you do not enroll with a School Readiness provider within 30 calendar days of funding being released, your application will be dropped. If you are on the wait list for six months, you will have to revalidate your application to keep it active. You will receive an email reminder if you need to revalidate.

Child care providers who have contracted with the Coalition have met specific quality, health, and safety standards that support the early care and education needs of your child. Your School Readiness provider will:

• Support you as your child’s first teacher
• Provide you with child development information
• Use a developmentally appropriate curriculum
• Provide opportunities for parental involvement
• Help prepare your child for success in school

The Coalition contracts with licensed child care centers, license-exempt faith-based child care centers, and family child care homes. You can select the School Readiness contracted provider of your choice.

Families pay a copayment for child care based on income, the hours of care needed, and family size, Click here for the Florida Division of Early Learning Sliding Fee Schedule. Your child care provider may have additional fees that are not covered by School Readiness financial assistance. Providers must provide you with a list of fees charged, which may include registration fees and differentials. You will pay these fees directly to your child care provider.

An important factor in ensuring every child is ready to succeed in school is early identification of risks for developmental delays or disabilities. The sooner children receive support for developmental concerns, the better the outcomes will be because children’s brains are developing most rapidly in their first five years.

Each School Readiness child will receive a developmental screening within their first 45-days of enrollment and annually thereafter. This screening will assess your child’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Resources and assistance are provided if needed in any of these areas. For more information on the Florida Rules that requires screening of children in the School Readiness Program, click here.

Missing just one or two days of preschool every few weeks makes it harder for children to develop the skills they need to be successful in school. Develop good attendance habits early. Be sure to ask your child care provider about their attendance policy, and talk to them about any attendance challenges you may have. Your provider may be able to assist you with finding solutions.

As a participant in the School Readiness financial assistance program, you are required to sign your child in and out of your child care program every day your child attends and at the end of each month. An authorized family member or friend may also sign your child in/out. Signing a child in/out when they have not attended is fraud. When signing your child in/out, be sure to:

• Indicate the exact time
• Use your full signature
• Sign in/out each child individually

Your child care provider may accept electronic signatures.

Families can choose the School Readiness contracted provider that best meets the needs of their child(ren) and may change their provider. To change providers, request a Zero Balance Transfer form from your current child care provider, showing that you have satisfied your copayment or entered into a payment plan. Contact the Coalition for assistance with transferring your child(ren) to a new provider.

It is your responsibility to notify the Coalition within 14 days if any of the following has changed:

• Contact information – address, email address, or phone number
• Household composition or marital status
• Work status – job loss, new job, change in hours, etc.
• School status – no longer attending, new schedule, change in hours/credits, etc.
• Income status – an increase in your income

If there has been a change in your purpose of care, for example a parent/guardian is no longer working or attending school at least 20 hours per week, you will have three months to re-establish your purpose for care. You will continue to receive School Readiness services during this time.

Intentionally deceiving, omitting, or misrepresenting information in order to receive School Readiness benefits is fraud. This includes not reporting changes to the Coalition.

Families eligible for School Readiness financial assistance who move to a different Early Learning Coalition service area may continue to receive School Readiness services during their 12-month authorization period. Contact the Coalition for additional information and assistance with transferring your services.

School Readiness services are provided for 12 months, or the duration determined by a referring agency if applicable. Forty-five days before your services expire, you will receive an email. You will then need to log into your Family Portal account to submit your redetermination application. If you do not submit the application by the redetermination date, your School Readiness services will be terminated.