Program Improvement Requests - Due Date Extended
The Office of Head Start recognizes that many grantees are working on funding applications in response to the Head Start and Early Head Start expansion announcements. In order to assure everyone has sufficient time to devote to these efforts, the due date for Program Improvement requests (see ACF-PI-HS-09-08) is being extended by one week, to July 17, 2009.
HEAD START ARRA FUNDS
The Announcements for Head State and Early Head Start expansion are now posted on Grants.gov. The funding Announcements are available on-line at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-SA-0087.html (Early Head Start expansion) DUE JULY 9; and at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2009-ACF-OHS-SH-0089.html (Head Start expansion) DUE JUNE 23.
For the Grants.gov announcement & application for Head Start ($1 Billion) click HERE.
For the Grants.gov announcement & application for Early Head Start ($1.1 Billion) click HERE.
GRANT APPLICATION NOTICE
The U.S. Department of Education released the notice for applying for the Teacher Quality Partnership Grants, created under Title II Part A of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. (See a summary at http://www.naeyc.org/policy/federal/pdf/SummaryEcProvisionsHeoa.pdf)
The deadline for submitting an Intent to Apply is June 26. The deadline for submitting the application is July 23. The Department will conclude application reviews by September 21.
The Teacher Quality Partnership Grants are a new opportunity for federal funding to improve early childhood educator preparation, including compensation, mentoring and coaching. Applicant partnerships must include an institution of higher education that prepares teachers and a high-need school district. A partnership may include a high-need early childhood program, defined as a licensed or regulated child care, Head Start, or state prekindergarten program located within a high-need school district). If the partnership includes one or more early childhood education programs, it must use the grant funds for mentoring and coaching educators and for compensation initiatives rewarding educators who obtain an Associate or Baccalaureate degree.
To read more about the purpose of the program and how to apply, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-12180.htm
NC SPECIAL PROVISION DRAFT
The House budget may include a special provision that creates a task force to study the consolidation of early childhood education and care agencies and programs in North Carolina. This provision is not a study of More at Four and Smart Start, but a structure for examining all of the issues around coordinated and efficient delivery of early education and is inclusive of all early education and care agencies and programs, including the Head Start – State Collaboration Office. It is expected that a resulting plan for consolidation will be implemented July 1, 2010. Click HERE for the draft Special Provision for the State Budget.
Newsworthy...
The document,"A System of Designation Renewal of Head Start Grantees: Report of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Re-designation of Head Start Grantees," presents findings and recommendations of that expert panel. To view the document online, click HERE.