Utah School Readiness Initiative High Quality School Readiness Grant

Grant Title: Utah School Readiness Initiative High Quality School Readiness Grant
Funding Source: Utah General Fund
Maximum Award Amount: Unknown
Expected Number of Awards: Unknown
Estimated Total Program Funding: Unknown
Application Deadline: April 1, 2016, 5:00 p.m.
Program Start Date: July 1, 2016
Program End Date: June 30, 2017
Contact Information: schoolreadiness@utah.gov

Purpose

The High Quality School Readiness (HQSR) Grant is defined by the Utah School Readiness Initiative, Utah Code §53A-1b-106 (hereafter called the Initiative). The purposes of the Utah School Readiness Initiative are to increase school readiness, improve academic performance, and reduce remediation costs associated with poor academic outcomes. One component of the Initiative is the HQSR Grant Program. The HQSR Grant Program provides resources to existing early education programs administered by Local Education Agencies (LEAs), private child care providers, and home-based educational technology programs. The grants are available to programs serving economically disadvantaged three- and four-year-old students who are not receiving special education services. It is highly encouraged that programs serve students with disabilities in an inclusive environment (i.e., with both typically developing students and students with disabilities being educated together in the same room).

Eligibility Requirements

Programs must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for this grant. Applications from inclusive programs are encouraged.

  1. Applicant must be an existing, quality early childhood education program, primarily serving typically developing students.
  2. Applicant must be an eligible (as defined by Utah Code §53A-1b-107 to 109):
    1. LEA or charter school using federal (Title I) or state education funding for its current early childhood education (pre-kindergarten) program (these programs apply through the USOE); or
    2. private child care provider; home-based educational technology provider; or charter school that does not use federal or state education funding for its current early childhood education (pre-kindergarten), and uses a private or third-party provider on its campus (these programs apply through DWS).
  3. Applicant’s school readiness program must serve economically disadvantaged students, as defined in Utah Code 53A-1b-102(2).
  4. Applicant’s school readiness program must currently exhibit some elements of high-quality programs, as defined in Utah Code 53A-1b-105.
  5. Applicant must have, or be willing to obtain, a data system with the capacity to collect longitudinal, academic outcome data, including special education use by student. Applicant must also be willing to partner with the USOE to provide each student with a statewide unique student identifier.
  6. Pay for Success participants (i.e. entities with a results-based contract under Utah Code 53A-1b-110) are not eligible for this grant.
  7. Applicants must file one application for each tax identification number. Where there are multiple sites under one tax identification number, applicants must apply for all sites using a single application.

Addendum

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