FY17 Pre-School Partnership Grant (Tier I &II) FAQ

FY17 Pre-School Partnership Grant (Tier I &II) FAQ

Can state-funded preschool partner with licensed child care sponsored by churches for the grants?

Yes, as long as no part of the program’s curriculum is religious in nature. All religious symbols or materials should be removed from the area used by the preschool program.

Can a district only apply for one grant in Tier 1 and one grant in Tier 11?

Correct, an applicant can apply for either a Tier 1 Planning or Tier 2 Implementation grant. Applicants cannot apply for both grants in the same year.

Are these the same funds available to CommunityEarlyChildhoodCouncils?

No, CECCs are not eligible to serve as applicants or co-applicants. However, school districts and their child care partners are encouraged to coordinate and collaborate with their local councils.

I received the Preschool Partnership Grant Communicationgrant information and I want to see if my program at XXXXXXX Preschool will qualify for this grant as well as what is the obligations we will have if chosen for the grant? Can you tell me what requirements there are to qualify? We are a Stars 3 program and a Private School as well.

Generally speaking, all licensed child care providers are eligible to participate as co-applicants in the Tier 1 or Tier 2 grant application process.

A level three (3) rating or higher in Kentucky All STARS is not a pre-requisite for Tier 1 or Tier 2 funding. However, grantees are expected to develop full-day, high-quality early childhood services for at-risk preschool children. For grant purposes, “high-quality” is defined as achieving level three (3) or higher in Kentucky All STARS. In Tier 1, child care providers and school districts are expected to focus on building partnerships and planning outcomes. Tier 1 applicants should clearly describe goals for reaching level three (3) or higher in Kentucky All STARS.

In Tier 2, child care providers and school districts must demonstrate the ability to implement or enhance a full-day, high-quality early childhood program. This includes agreeing to and participating in phase one (1) of Kentucky All STARS migration which involves coaching, mentoring, training and technical assistance. Through this process, it’s expected that Tier 2 grantees will achieve level three (3) or higher in Kentucky All STARS.

Child care provider cannot apply for funding without a school district partner or partners, and the school district(s) must serve as the applicant and fiscal agent.

I had a call from a provider with a question about this. She wanted to know if she filled out the letter of intent, or if she should reachout to the school district, or if she should do nothing at this time and wait for the district to reach out to her.”

Only school districts can serve as applicants. However, licensed child care providers are encouraged to contact their school districts about partnering for a Tier 1 or Tier 2 grant.

Quick questions on the Preschool Partnership Grant(s). First question comes from a district (XXXXXX) with no licensed/certified child care facility in the district. The Tier I “Planning” RFA clearly states what to do in this case on the cover’s “special instruction” section and on page 4, #3 under “requirements.” However, for the Tier 2 “Implementation” grant, there are no instructions on what to do if there is no licensed/certified child care facility in the district. Are they even eligible to apply for Tier 2? (I do see that Head Start may serve as the co-applicant.)

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), all counties accept Martin County have at least one child care provider. School districts are encouraged to review publicly available data in the Kentucky Integrated Child Care System (KICCS) available here: https://prdweb.chfs.ky.gov/kiccspublic/providersearchpublic.aspx.

The following sites are identified in XXXXX County: XXXX County Early Head Start (Type I), XXXXX Preschool/Day Care (Type I), and XXXXXX Kids (Type I). Head Start may serve as a co-applicant but partnerships must avoid duplication of full utilization agreements and must not supplant federal Head Start funding.

Tier 2 applicants are expected to partner with one or more licensed child care provider.

Finally, is the recorded webinar a duplication of the information that will be presented at the technical assistance sessions? (i.e., should a grant writer take-part in both?)

Yes. There will be one pre-recorded webinar posted on KDE’s website (TBA), and information from this session will be repeated five times in regional sessions (face-to-face). Times and locations for the regional sessions are identified in the grant application available here:

http://education.ky.gov/districts/business/Pages/Competitive%20Grants%20from%20KDE.aspx

We have to get board approval to more forward, so we're in a bit of a time crunch. Where can we access this form? I've been on the website and only see the RFAs. Can you please provide specific guidance on submitting a letter of intent? Also, is there more specific information available about the "Level 3 STAR rating?" Does this mean licensed child cares that are already a level 3 in the old system? Do all schools come in at a level 3? Are we applying as a district or per school (confused because each school is rated individually and there is no district rating, as I understand it). Sorry for all the questions, but time lines are so very quick and the transition from old rating to new rating system adds an additional dimension of confusion.

Information about the letter of intent is available on page 6 and 8. The form is available on page 8. Please email this information to: by August 1, 2016.

The grant is intended to incentivize public-private partnerships to develop full-day, high-quality early childhood programs for preschool children eligible for assistance from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). For purposes of the grant, “high-quality” means a STARS level three (3) rating or higher in Kentucky All STARS.

In Tier 1, child care providers and school districts are expected to focus on building partnerships and planning outcomes. It is not necessary to have three STARS in Tier 1, but planning should reflect effort to achieve a STARS level three (3) or higher in the new system. In Tier 2, child care providers and school districts must demonstrate the ability to implement or enhance a full-day, high-quality early childhood program. This includes agreeing to and participating in phase one (1) of Kentucky All STARS migration which involves coaching, mentoring, training and technical assistance. Through this process, it’s expected that Tier 2 grantees will achieve level three or higher.

Is the preschool grant opportunity for districts or can individual schools apply?

The opportunity is open to school districts (applicants) and child care providers (co-applicants). Individual schools may not apply directly for preschool partnership grant funds.

What exactly is this grant?? What would be considered at risk children??

During the 2016 legislative session, House Bill 303 established funding to incentivize cooperative public/private partnerships between public school districts and child care providers to develop full-day, high-quality programs for at-risk preschool children. The incentive grant program represents an opportunity for school districts and child care providers to improve the quality of early childhood services in their communities.

For the purposes of this grant, preschool children are defined as three- or four-year-old children with disabilities and four-year-old children eligible for state-funded preschool and assistance from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

More information about state-funded preschool is available here: http://education.ky.gov/curriculum/conpro/prim-pre/Pages/default.aspx.

More information about CCAP is available here: http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dcc/ccap.html.

Our district (XXXXXX County) is very excited to apply for the Preschool Partnership Grant. While reviewing the request for application yesterday, we wanted some clarification regarding the difference between the recorded webinar (August 1st) and the Technical Assistance Session. If we patriciate in the webinar is that the same information that is provided during the technical assistance session?

Yes. The same information will be provided through the webinar and the regional technical assistance sessions (face-to-face). The webinar will be a pre-recorded session.

I want to know is this grants for my daycare centers? If so what do i need to do to get the grants

FY17 Preschool Partnership Grant information for Tier 1 and Tier 2 is available here:

http://education.ky.gov/districts/business/Pages/Competitive%20Grants%20from%20KDE.aspx

I am preparing the “Intent to Apply.” We have not determined the Child Care Provider(s) at this time. May I simply put “To be determined” in this section?

Yes, this is acceptable for “Intent to Apply”.

I have received a question from a district regarding the Preschool Partnership Grant. The release states that a letter of intent is due by August 1st. However, the district is having difficulty finding the letter of intent. Additionally, there were questions regarding if the child care that is partnering with a local district has to already have a star rating of a 3 as well as the state funded preschool. Lastly, the district wanted to know if the grant is by specific siteswithin the district since each site obtains a rating instead of an overall district rating.

Information about the letter of intent is available on page 6 and 8. The form is available on page 8. Please email this information to: by August 1, 2016.

I am a Head Start Teacher for XXXXX.

Can I apply for the Partnership Grant to collaborate with area childcare centers for Readiness for Kindergarten?

The opportunity is open to school districts (applicants) and child care providers (co-applicants). Individual teachers may not apply directly for preschool partnership grant funds.

I am fairly new to the center environment and have not dealt with the grant process. Is this something I am qualified for?? If so please explain. I'm in XXXXX co., XXXXXX and Learning Center

FY17 Preschool Partnership Grant information for Tier 1 and Tier 2 is available here:

http://education.ky.gov/districts/business/Pages/Competitive%20Grants%20from%20KDE.aspx

I am a Health and Safety Coach for XXXX. I provide technical assistance services to 145 providers. 107 of these providers are licensed child care centers. Do I qualify?

The opportunity is open to school districts (applicants) and child care providers (co-applicants). Individual technical assistance providers may not apply directly for preschool partnership grant funds.

My question concerns the ALL STAR Level 3 participation requirement.

At this time, it is my understanding that only the Public Pre-K Centers have been awarded a rating of Three STARS. Has anyone else had the opportunity to participate in the new rating system? Is this requirement optional? Am I misunderstanding this requirement?

If a school district applies for Tier 2 for 2016-17 school year will they be required to provide a full day program during this year?

Providing a full-day program is not a pre-requisite for Tier 2 funding. However, grantees are expected to develop full-day, high-quality early childhood services for at-risk preschool children. For grant purposes, “full-day” is defined as an early childhood program providing a minimum of six hours of operation, four or five days per week. In Tier 2, child care providers and school districts not currently implementing a full-day schedule will be expected to provide full-day program services during the program year.

Does a private child care provider have to be providing child care assistance?

No, the child care provider must be licensed and in good standing. Preschool children served with preschool partnership grant funding must be eligible for CCAP assistance.

More information about CCAP is available here: http://chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dcc/ccap.html.

If district applies for Tier I during 2016-17 will they be able to apply for Implementation the next school year?

Yes.

Head Start is only to be used if other partners are not available--correct?

Head Start may serve as the co-applicant regardless of the number of potential child care partners in the school district, but partnerships must avoid duplication of full utilization agreements and must not supplant federal Head Start funding.

Must a district have utilized the Tier 1 grant before applying for the Tier 2 grant?

No. School districts may apply directly for the Tier 2 grant with at least one licensed/certified child care service provider identified as the co-applicant. In Tier 2, applicants are expected to build upon existing school district and child care partnerships to implement or enhance full-day, high-quality early childhood services for at-risk preschool children. If a strong partnership hasn’t formed yet, applicants may consider applying for a Tier 1 planning grant first.