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Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential

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Created in partnership with the Florida Department of Education and the Division of Early Learning, the UF Lastinger Center for Learning’s Flamingo Literacy Micro-Credentials are available at no cost to Florida instructional personnel in an effort to create accessible and on-demand reading professional development. They give instructional personnel an opportunity to work at their own pace while implementing classroom strategies in real time and receiving individualized feedback and one-on-one support from an assessor. 

What does it do?

The Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential prepares early learning instructional personnel and child care providers to:

  • Support student outcomes for school readiness
  • Identify literacy difficulties accurately
  • Apply evidence-based practices
  • Engage in effective progress monitoring and intervention  

Who should participate?

Birth through PreK instructional personnel (public or private), including but not limited to:

  • Teachers
  • Program Directors
  • Interventionists
  • Instructional Coaches
  • Head Start Personnel

When does enrollment begin?

Next offering: May 28 – July 30, 2024

Stipend availability and amounts for coursework that begins after February 19, 2024 is not guaranteed. Emergent Micro-Credential coursework must be completed by June 16, 2024 in order to be eligible for the current $2,000 stipend.

You will receive notification of stipend availability when you receive your welcome email, approximately one week before coursework begins.

The Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential can be completed in 15 weeks. Access the document below to learn more about upcoming offerings, enrollment dates, and FAQs.

Why participate?

  • $2,000 completion stipend for *eligible early child care personnel and early learning instructional staff
  • Build emergent literacy knowledge and skills with high-quality content

  • Earn 60 inservice hours/6.0 CEUs
  • Supports language and literacy requirements for the CDA professional portfolio

See below for Emergent Micro-Credential stipend eligibility prior to June 30, 2023 and on/after July 1, 2023.

Stipend Eligibility

  • Completion on or before June 30, 2023: prekindergarten instructional personnel as defined in 1002.55, 1002.61, 1002.63 and childcare personnel as defined in 402.302(3) and 1002.88(1)(e) who work at School Readiness (SR) and/or VPK contracted provider.
  • Completion on or after July 1, 2023: prekindergarten instructional personnel as defined in 1002.55, 1002.61, 1002.63 and child care personnel as defined in 402.302(3) and 1002.88(1)(e) who work at childcare facilities licensed under 402.305, family child care homes licensed under 402.313, large family child care homes licensed under 402.3131, public or non public schools exempt from licensure under 402.3025, faith-based child care providers exempt under 402.316, before or after school program described in 402.305, or a child development program that is accredited by a national accrediting body and operates on a military installation that is certified by the United States Department of Defense.

Upon successful completion of the Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential, our Stipends Processing Team will reach out with next steps to complete the stipend application.

View stipends and check your eligibility with our self-check tool on the Stipends Hub.

How does it work?

The Emergent Literacy Micro-Credential is a hybrid model of online modules, instructor-supported online courses, and job-embedded practicum:

Component 1

Delivery Method: Online, Instructor-supported 
Flamingo Early Learning course | 20 hours 

  • Preschool Language Development
  • Desarrollo del Lenguaje en Niños Preescolares
  • The Building Blocks of Preschool Literacy  
  • Language Development for Infants and Toddlers

If an instructional personnel has already earned mastery in one of the three courses, they will directly enroll in Component 2. 

Component 2

Delivery Method: Asynchronous online
Emergent Literacy Modules | 20 hours

  • Oral Language and Shared Storybook Reading 
  • Alphabet Knowledge and Print Awareness 
  • Phonological Awareness 
  • Emergent Reading and Writing 

Instructional personnel have the option to test out of Component 2 via a pre-test. If mastery is earned during the pre-test, they will enroll in Component 3.

Component 3

Delivery Method: Online, instructor-supported, job-embedded practice
Practicum | 20 hours

This 20-hour job-embedded practicum provides instructional personnel with personalized feedback from their navigators as they implement the strategies from Components 1 and 2 in real-time in their classrooms. The practicum activities are designed to be added to a CDA portfolio. 

If you want to receive direct communication about our programs, including updates or enrollment notifications, please fill out our Program Interest Form!