Early Learning Coalition Of Sarasota County

06/12/2026

Meet Lily, our new website chatbot! 🌼

Lily is here to help families, educators, and community members find answers faster. Ask about child care, VPK, financial assistance, educator support, and more, right from our website.

A huge thank you to the incredible Wingard team for helping bring Lily, and our new website, to life. We’re so grateful for your creativity, guidance, and partnership in making this happen for us!

Visit elcsarasota.org to say hi!

06/11/2026

🎥 Lights, camera, kindergarten readiness!

Our CEO, Alison Fraga, stopped by ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB to share easy, everyday ways families can help children build kindergarten-ready skills during the summer months because learning doesn't stop when the classroom does.

Joining her in the studio were our new summer interns, Iriah and Noah, who had the exciting opportunity to experience local media and community engagement firsthand.

Stay tuned for the full Suncoast View segment.
🌼 Visit our website to discover easy, everyday ways to build kindergarten-ready skills at home this summer: elcsarasota.org/summer-learning/

06/10/2026

We’re excited to share that Laurie McCracken was elected by the provider community to serve as the Private Child Care Provider Representative on our Board of Directors! 🎉

Laurie is the founder and owner of Baby Fox Academy of Florida, an early learning program that began with just four children in her home and has grown into a thriving multi-site organization serving children, families, and educators across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

With more than 30 years of experience in early childhood education, Laurie brings valuable insight shaped by classroom experience, program leadership, and systems-level advocacy.

We look forward to the perspective and experience she will bring to the board.

06/08/2026

We’re kicking off our new Summer Learning series ☀️

Simple, everyday moments can make a big impact in the early years. Today’s idea: water play!

Whether it’s a water table outside, a bucket on the patio, or cups and toys in the sink, water play invites children to explore, experiment, and learn through hands-on fun.

It doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful. A simple setup can lead to so much discovery, curiosity, and connection at home.

06/05/2026

Finding child care doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. 🩵

We’re here to help you every step of the way, from personalized listings to understanding quality, financial assistance, and more.

You deserve support in this process.

Start your search today 🌼
elcsarasota.org

06/03/2026

Summer fun and water safety go hand in hand. 🏊‍♀️☀️

Through the AQUALibrium Drowning Prevention Program, eligible children ages 2½–8 can receive FREE swim lessons designed to build skills and safety awareness.

Learn more: www.bigdreamsthroughsmallsteps.org
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/250976081627161

06/02/2026

🎓 Kindergarten, here they come! ✨

Congratulations to all of Sarasota County’s VPK graduates!

We are cheering for every single graduate stepping into this exciting new chapter - kindergarten! 📚

05/29/2026

Real talk: you might qualify for child care help and not even know it... 👀💛

School Readiness is a financial assistance program that helps eligible families pay for child care.

And yes… more families qualify than they think.

See if you’re eligible in seconds using our online pre-screening tool. It’s quick, simple, and can help you understand if you may qualify for financial assistance with child care.

You might be surprised! 🌟

🔗 Visit elcsarasota.org/school-readiness-calculator/ to get started.

05/28/2026

We’re proud to see our CEO, Alison Fraga, joining Bosses for Babies — a statewide initiative focused on supporting family-friendly workplaces and stronger outcomes for children and families across Florida.

Alison’s leadership continues to reflect our commitment to building stronger communities through support, connection, and investment in families. 💙

Please join us in welcoming Alison Fraga of the Early Learning Coalition Of Sarasota County to Bosses for Babies!

Alison believes strong workplaces are built when employees feel supported, valued, and connected. Through family-friendly practices and employee wellness initiatives, employers can create environments where both businesses and families thrive.

We’re proud to have Alison as part of a growing movement working to strengthen outcomes for children, families, and Florida’s future workforce.

Learn more and get involved ➡️ bit.ly/bossesforbabies

05/28/2026

We still can’t get over our new website and branding… 🌼
A HUGE thank you to the Wingard team for making this happen for us!

We’re so grateful for your creativity, collaboration, and care in bringing our vision to life.

We hope you all love it as much as we do, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re missing out. 😉

🌱 elcsarasota.org