Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.

History of the ELC of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc.

In the summer of 1999, the Florida Legislature passed the School Readiness Act (s. 411.01, F.S.). Its goal was to consolidate Florida's early education programs into a more efficient and cohesive system to deliver increased opportunities for children to achieve educational and personal success.

Both Pasco County and Hernando County formed School Readiness Coalitions incorporated as private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) agencies in early 2000. In 2005, a state mandate to decrease the number of School Readiness Coalitions became the impetus to consider alternative strategies for operations. Both Pasco and Hernando Counties united their services and enhanced one another's comprehensive programs to provide optimal outcomes for young children and families.

Our merged Coalition Board is charged with the oversight of all early learning programs to include School Readiness and Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten in Pasco and Hernando counties including funding, contract management, and monitoring. The Coalition and Board work closely to coordinate a system of programs that jointly comprise a comprehensive set of services for children ages 0-8 and meet the specific needs of our counties.

Additional items of interest:

2008/2009 First Annual Early Learning Conference; 1st annual Storybook Forest Event
2009/2010 Winner of WEDU’s Be More Humble People’s Choice Award; Winner of Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Non Profit of the Year Award; Second Annual Early Learning Conference; 2nd annual Storybook Forest
2013/2014 Sixth Annual Early Learning Conference; 6th annual Storybook Forest; Developed QRIS – Sunshine Stars – program
2014/2015 Seventh Annual Storybook Forest; 7th Annual Early Learning Conference
2015/2016 8th Annual Storybook Forest; 8th Annual Early Learning
Conference; Nominated for WEDU’s Be More Humble, Be More Entertaining and Be More Unstoppable – Non Profit of the Year Award; Nominated for Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Non Profit of the Year Award
2016/2017 Ninth Annual Early Learning Conference; 9th Annual Storybook Forest; ELC the Elephant arrives – the Coalition’s new mascot
2017/2018 Tenth annual Early Learning Conference held on October 21, 2017; New Executive Director, Steve Knobl, Ph.D. joins the Coalition as of January 1, 2018; Coalition named winner of WEDU’s Be More Humble “People’s Choice” Award on February 22, 2018; 10th annual Storybook Forest held on March 9, 2018
2018/2019 11th Annual Storybook Forest on March 2, 2019; Nominated for Non profit of the year award for the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce banquet; 12th Annual Early Learning Conference on October 19, 2019
2020/2021 12th Annual Storybook Forest on March 7, 2020; Embracing a New Start 13th Annual Early Learning Virtual Conference on November 14, 2020; Launch of Early Learning Literacy Initiatives: Literacy with Friends and Hometown Heroes virtual reading program Spring 2020; the Nemours BrightStart Program for Early Literacy Success (NBS!) Fall 2020; Launch of "Loving Start" with infant's first book for new moms in partnership with hospitals or clinics 2021.

New book helps new moms read to their newborn babies

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021

A “Loving Start” for new moms and newborns

Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Early Learning Coalition’s Loving Start donates books to Pasco, Hernando hospitals

Date: Friday, October 22, 2021

The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. launches LOVING START a new early literacy program for parent and child.

Date: Monday, October 4, 2021

PHELC receives $60,000 grant from 'No Kid Hungry' to help fight child hunger

Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Feeding Tampa Bay and ELC of Pasco and Hernando food distribution

Date: Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Summary: In partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay, The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando County will be hosting a mobile pantry/food distribution (drive thru), the first Wednesday of June 2, July 7 and August 4. The food items will vary based on what is provided for the event, which could include produce, meat, dairy and non-perishable groceries free of charge. The ELC Pasco Hernando team will be there to also distribute early learning resources to families at the event. more…