Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

09/04/2026

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We’ll reopen with normal hours on Tuesday, September 2, at 7:00 a.m. Wishing you a safe and restful holiday!

08/17/2026

Apply for New Worlds Reading for the 2026–27 school year! Eligible families get free books and activities starting in October. 📚
Apply at www.newworldsreading.com/en/enrollment

Submit your New Worlds Reading application for the 2026-27 school year! Eligible families receive free books and activities throughout the school year starting in October. Learn more and apply at www.newworldsreading.com/en/enrollment

08/10/2026

Here comes a brand-new school year! 📚 We are cheering on Manatee County students as they start their first day of kindergarten or return to their classrooms to begin another year of growing and learning. We hope you have a great first day back to school! 🎉

08/06/2026

The August Parents’ Pages newsletter is available on the Florida Division of Early Learning website! Check out articles this month about What Every Parent Should Know About VPK, Back-to-School Success Starts at Home, and more by visiting: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/early-learning/parents/parent-pages.stml

08/04/2026

Join Soar in 4 Manatee tomorrow, Wednesday, August 5th, from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm for a FREE Family Night at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Enjoy free admission for your whole family, tour the museum, receive literacy materials, and books to support your child's classroom learning at home through exploration and play.

For more information, visit https://soarin4.org/soar-in-4-events/

07/30/2026

New books mean new stories to share! A big thank you to MIDFLORIDA Credit Union for its generous book donation. These books will help the ELC encourage early literacy and place engaging stories in the hands of children all throughout our community.

07/28/2026

I Have My VPK Certificate... Now What?

Congratulations! You're one step closer to an amazing VPK year. 🌟 If you've received your child's VPK Certificate of Eligibility but aren't sure what to do next, we're here to help!

Have questions? Call our Family Services team at 941-757-2910, and they will be happy to walk you through the next steps of choosing a VPK provider and what paperwork you may need.

For more information on Florida VPK, visit https://elc-manatee.org/Voluntary-Prekindergarten-VPK

07/27/2026

Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the impact of ReadingPals! We hope you'll join us virtually this Thursday, 7/30.

Register today! bit.ly/ReadingPals-event

This Thursday! ⏰ Join us virtually for the ReadingPals 2026: Annual Learning & Impact Gathering!

We’re bringing together volunteers, educators, and advocates across Florida for an inspiring event featuring a keynote from Kent Johnson, CEO of Highlights for Children.

It’s not too late to join the conversation and celebrate the power of mentorship!

Register now ➡️bit.ly/ReadingPals-event

United Way of North Central Florida, United Way of Northwest Florida, United Way Broward, Citrus County Education Foundation, United Way of Suwannee Valley, ReadyKids FL, Flagler Volunteer Services, Inc., Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties, United Way of the Big Bend, Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, United Way of Marion County, Uplift Literacy, United Way of Central Florida

07/22/2026

🎓 Your graduate is ready for anything... and their learning journey is just beginning!

Don't forget to activate your FREE year of MarcoPolo World School: Transition to Kindergarten and Beyond! Your graduate already has access to engaging games, videos, and activities that will help them build confidence before kindergarten.

Getting started is easy:
1. Scratch off the panel on the back of your access card to reveal your activation code.
2. Scan the QR code (or visit the link on the back of the card), enter your code, and create your free account.
3. Download the MarcoPolo World School app, create your child's profile, and let the learning begin!
Here's to a summer of learning, exploring, and growing! 🌞

07/20/2026

🖍️ 📓✏️ Florida’s Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday starts 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬! Stock up on qualifying back-to-school supplies, clothing, computers, and more exempt from tax before kids start school on Monday, August 10!

For more information and a list of qualifying items, visit floridarevenue.com/backtoschool.