Transcript FY13 Universal Prekindergarten (UPK) Grant

Universal Pre-Kindergarten
(UPK) FY13 – Summary
February 2012
0
UPK Policy Objectives for FY13
(1) Further Alignment of UPK with the Quality Rating
Improvement System (QRIS):
• Current UPK programs must be at least a level 3 in QRIS in order to
be eligible for the renewal grant.
(2) Increase Access to UPK Funds:
• In addition to being at least a level 3 program, current UPK
programs must also demonstrate that they serve “high needs
children”* to be eligible for the renewal grant.
• Programs will be required to conduct formative assessments and
screenings to identify “high needs children.”
(3) Increase the Number of Programs Participating in
UPK:
• Any program that attains at least a level 3 in QRIS and serves “high
needs children” will be considered a UPK program and can apply for
the open competitive grant.
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Overview of the Eligibility Requirements
Money Allocated
FY12 UPK Eligibility Criteria
Competitive Grant for Current UPK
Programs
Open Competitive Grant for New UPK
Programs
$5.5 million
$500K
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Must be at least level 3 in QRIS
However, current programs that are not level 3
will be grandfathered in for only one year.
√
√
Must provide screening and/or
formative assessment scores for “high
needs children”
√
√
Must provide a competitive
compensation package for lead
teachers
√
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Must demonstrate PreK-3 alignment
with the school district in which they
are located
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Anticipated RFP Posting
February 2012
June/July 2012
Must serve “high needs children”
Program match required
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FY 13 UPK Funding Formula

Funding will be limited up to a maximum
of 5 “high needs children” per classroom.

There are 391 UPK classrooms:
 391 classrooms x 5 “high needs
children” = total of 1955 “high needs
children.”

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
However, not all programs have 5 preschoolers in
their program. Therefore, formula calculates to
fund the specific number of students in their
programs if they have less than 5 preschoolers.
Total “high needs children” = 1,833
FY 13 UPK Funding Formula
(cont…)
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
1833 students x $3,009 = $5.52 million
for the renewal grant.

$6 million – $5.52 million = $485,000
available for open competitive grant.

Enables EEC to fund 32 additional
classrooms (at 5 children per class) for a
total of 162 children.
FY13 Funding Range
Number of
High
Needs
Children in
Classroom
FY13
Grant
Amount
5
1 High
Needs
Child
2 High
Needs
Children
3 High
Needs
Children
4 High
Needs
Children
5 High
Needs
Children
6+ High
Needs
Children
$3,009
$6,018
$9,027
$12,036
$15,045
$15,045
Use of FY13 UPK Funds
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
UPK funds should not be used to
help programs move up in QRIS
because other funds will be used
for that.

UPK funds should be used toward
reasonable and ordinary expenses
linked to QRIS standards.
UPK Grant Program Eligibility
Evolving to Align with QRIS
Criteria
FY07
FY08 FY10
FY11 and
FY12
EEC Licensed or License-Exempt

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Use one of the EEC-selected assessment tools for at least
one year*
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Use Early Childhood Program Standards For Three
and Four Year Olds and Guidelines for Preschool
Learning Experiences
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Or
Used as
selection
priority
Have teacher/provider with BA in each UPK
classroom/setting
Have National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC) accreditation or New England Association
of Schools and Colleges or for family child care, National
Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) accreditation or
a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or higher
 **
Serve or willing to serve children receiving financial
assistance
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Provide access to full-day full-year services
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Participation in QRIS
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 **

*The EEC-selected assessment tools include: Work Sampling, High Scope Child Observation Record (COR), Creative
Curriculum, Teaching Strategies GOLD and Ages and Stages (programs using Ages and Stages are transitioning to other
tools for the purpose of assessment).
**NEASC included in FY08 accreditation options; CDA or “higher” included in FY09 and forward as accreditation
alternatives for family child care.