About

Need Childcare? We're Here to Help! 

The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County prepares local infants, toddlers and preschool children for lifelong success through access to quality early learning programs. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, our tiny but mighty team serves more than 4,000 children and 150 childcare providers every year. 

Administering and overseeing the local integrated system of early care and education across Sarasota County, we connect income-eligible families with childcare financial assistance through our School Readiness Program. As managers of the state’s local Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program, we also offer free preschool to all Florida 4-year-olds, regardless of family income. 

As the premier hub for local preschool teacher training, we offer a free, tiered Apprenticeship program for new and rising preschool teachers. We also host ongoing, comprehensive professional development workshops and one-on-one coaching for both directors and teachers year-round. 

To simplify a stressful search, the ELC provides parents with free customized lists of childcare sites, touring tips for evaluating sites, and tools to identify “high-quality” such as our exclusive Look For The Stars rating system and CLASS assessment scores. In an effort to meet needs beyond our scope, we also refer our families to partner agencies across the community. 

With early literacy serving as a key component to kindergarten readiness, the ELC works hard to build home libraries for our littlest learners. And we do it in an intentional, meaningful and magical way thanks to our enthusiastic volunteers and compassionate donors. From our Pen-Pal-esque program, Literacy Buddy Project, to our arts-infused Storybook Street event, we distribute 18,000 free books every year.

We strive to give the area’s youngest generation a high-quality, well-rounded, enriching childcare experience so they can thrive by the age of five.