Understanding School Readiness And Special Needs: Why Every Family Should Know About This Opportunity

By Tina Gill, Owner, Castles of Imagination Preschool

If you've ever worried about how you're going to afford quality childcare while working or going to school, I want you to know something:

There is help available.

Every year, I meet families who have never heard of Florida's School Readiness Program, or who assume they won't qualify. I also meet parents of children with special needs who don't realize there are additional supports available through the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC).

As someone who has spent more than two decades advocating for children and families, I wanted to take a moment to explain what School Readiness is—and why it means so much to me personally.

What is the School Readiness Program?

The School Readiness Program, administered locally by the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC) under the leadership of Dr. Fred Hicks, helps eligible working families and families attending school pay for quality childcare.

Rather than covering the full cost of care, School Readiness acts as a scholarship. Families pay a copayment based on their household income, while the state covers the remaining tuition directly to participating childcare providers.

This program helps thousands of Hillsborough County children access safe, nurturing early education while giving parents the opportunity to work, attend school, and build a better future for their families.

School Readiness and Children with IEPs

One of the questions we receive most often is:

"My child has an IEP. Does that make a difference?"

The answer is yes.

Children who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or certain special needs ( with diagnosis) may receive priority when applying for School Readiness services.

Parents should also remember that when renewing their School Readiness benefits, they should submit their child's most current IEP or diagnosis  as part of the renewal process. Keeping documentation current helps ensure the Early Learning Coalition has the information needed to determine eligibility and provide appropriate services.

For many families, these programs work hand in hand—providing both educational support through the school district and financial assistance for childcare through the Early Learning Coalition.

Why This Matters to Me

This isn't just information I learned in a training.

It's part of my story.

In 2001, I left my career as a corporate trainer, cashed in my stock options, and purchased Castles of Imagination. I thought I was simply opening a preschool.

Instead, I found my life's purpose.

Over the years, I met children who struggled with behaviors, developmental delays, autism, ADHD, communication challenges, and medical diagnoses. Like many providers at the time, I didn't always know how to help.

One child changed that forever.

His name was Jacobi.

When we asked him to leave our program because of behaviors we didn't yet understand, it set off a chain of events that ultimately led to the tragic loss of his little sister, Malia. Her mother told me something I'll never forget:

"Malia was sent by God to save others."

Those words changed the direction of my life.

From that day forward, we became a non-expulsion preschool. Instead of asking children to leave, we committed ourselves to learning how to support them.

The Fight for the Special Needs Rate

A few years later, while reading through Florida statutes and provider contracts, I discovered something that almost no one seemed to know about.

Providers serving children with disabilities who had an IEP, Family Support Plan (FSP), or diagnosis  could receive a Special Needs Rate (SNR)—additional funding intended to support lower teacher-to-child ratios, specialized staff training, adaptive materials, and the additional resources required to successfully include children with disabilities.

At the time, I was told it wasn't possible.

I was told Tallahassee wouldn't allow it.

I was told "no" more times than I could count.

But when I read the contract, I knew the Special Needs Rate was there for a reason.

So I kept asking questions.

I wrote letters.

I exchanged countless emails.

I challenged policies that I believed placed unnecessary barriers in front of children and families.

When I couldn't get answers, I decided to go straight to the source.

Sometimes Advocacy Means Showing Up

One morning, I learned that Rodney McKinnon, then the Executive Director of Florida's Office of Early Learning, would be speaking at a conference in Orlando.

I wasn't invited.

I got in my car anyway.

After his presentation, I introduced myself.

I told him I had been trying unsuccessfully to reach him because I had children with disabilities who deserved access to supports that already existed in state policy.

He listened.

Then he handed me his business card—with his personal cell phone number—and said:

"I'll help you."

I'll never forget that moment.

Rodney later shared that his commitment to this issue was deeply personal. As a child, he had a stutter and received services through an IEP himself. He understood what early support could mean for a child and their family.

It was a full-circle moment that reminded me why advocacy matters.

Changing the Process

The work wasn't over.

There were still meetings.

Documentation.

Forms.

Questions.

More documentation.

More forms.

There were moments when it felt like every answer came with another hurdle.

But we kept going.

Eventually, we worked together to create a clearer process for providers requesting the Special Needs Rate. One of the verification forms developed during that work continues to be used today by the Early Learning Coalition.

It wasn't about making things easier for one preschool.

It was about making them better for every child who came after.

Why I Share This Story

Parents often assume programs like School Readiness are simply financial assistance.

They're so much more.

They represent opportunity.

They represent inclusion.

They represent the belief that every child deserves access to high-quality early education, regardless of their abilities or their family's financial circumstances.

I have spent more than twenty years fighting for children who are too often told they don't belong.

Because they do.

And if sharing this story helps one family discover resources they didn't know existed—or gives another provider the confidence to advocate for a child—then every meeting, every email, and every obstacle was worth it.

If you have questions about School Readiness, IEPs, or finding a preschool that embraces inclusion, we'd love to help point you in the right direction.

At Castles of Imagination, we've always believed that every child deserves a place where they are known, valued, and supported.