8605 Erie Road,
Parrish, FL 34219
(941) 545-6380
Preschool/VPK and Wrap-Around Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Enrollment
FORZA Child Development Center
DCF Licensing #C12MA0342
Options for 3-and-4-year-old Students
Faculty and Staff
Traci Morris
Director
Traci Morris is a dedicated wife, proud mother, and seasoned early childhood educator with over 33 years of experience—from caring for infants to teaching VPK. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in Early Childhood Education as well as a Director’s Credential. Traci is known for nurturing young minds with patience, passion, and genuine care.
Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Traci is deeply rooted in her community. She has been married to her husband, Jim, for over 33 years, and together they have raised three children: Ben, Seth, and Abigail.
Outside of her professional life, Traci enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends—whether it’s camping adventures, family cookouts, or capturing life’s special moments through photography. She also finds peace and inspiration on long bike rides, exploring nature, and clearing her mind. With a lifelong love for learning and exploration, Traci dreams of traveling more and experiencing the beauty of the country she calls home.
School Calendars
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Curriculum
GOAL of ELLM/Plus
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Every Child Enters School Ready to Learn, Ready to Read, and Ready to Succeed
The Objectives of ELLM/Plus are to:
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Increase achievement of 3-and-4-year-old children.
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Provide regular and ongoing literacy training to all participants.
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Build children's cognitive development through literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, motor experiences, and physical health.
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Expand children's vocabularies and refine their understanding and comprehension of words they know and use
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Encourage children's curiosity, persistence, and creativity
Benefits of early education and VPK / Preschool:
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The most important growth and development in the brain happens by the age of five.
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The early years are the learning years.
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A child’s ability to be attentive and to follow directions emerges in the early years.
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Structured early learning fosters these abilities for later success in school and in life.
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Pre-K prepares children to be ready for school. Children who participate in high-quality early childhood education programs develop better language skills, score higher in school-readiness tests and have better social skills and fewer behavioral problems once they enter school. They are also better prepared for Kindergarten, especially in the areas of pre-reading, pre-math and social skills.
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​Pre-K enhances what a child learns at home and instills a love of life-long learning.
​Highlights of the Preschool Program

Curriculum

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Focuses on reading, writing and social skills
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Prepares children for Kindergarten
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Instructors​
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Ratios are 1 instructor to 10 children
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Highly qualified lead teachers are CDA certified
​Transportation
Parents are responsible for their child’s transportation
ELC of Manatee County
​​Note To Parents Interested in the VPK Program:
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​​Parents who are interested in enrolling their children in a VPK Program are now required to log on to www.elc-manatee.org and complete the online application. On the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County website, you will need to create a family portal to apply for VPK. A copy of the birth certificate and a proof of residency will need to be uploaded. Once the voucher has been approved, it needs to be signed by the parent and presented to the school of choice.
Please find the office location below for the ELC:
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Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County
600 8th Avenue West
Suite 100
Palmetto, FL 34221
Phone: 941-757-2900
www.elc-manatee.org ​​