Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning recently awarded early education capacity-building grants totaling more than $870,000 to 14 applicants representing 19 prekindergarten programs in 13 Indiana counties. All recipients are located in counties whose residents are eligible for the On My Way Pre-K program for the first time in the 2019/2020 school year. On My Way Pre-K was expanded statewide as a result of House Enrolled Act 1628, signed by Governor Eric J. Holcomb in May of 2019.
On My Way Pre-K is Indiana’s state-funded prekindergarten program for low-income children. The program, which is free to families who qualify, is currently enrolling eligible 4-year-olds for the 2019/2020 school year. Families may check eligibility and apply here.
The capacity-building grants are awarded to early learning providers and county coalitions to serve more prekindergarten children and increase the quality of early education opportunities provided in Indiana.
Among the recipients:
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Clay Academy, LLC |
Shelby |
$22,710.59 |
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Mt. Vernon Early Learning Academy - Mini-Marauder Preschool |
Hancock |
$17,416.70 |
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Shelbyville Central Schools |
Shelby |
$144,811.32 |
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Capacity-building grants may be used for the following purposes:
- Training and professional development of teaching staff;
- Classroom materials that demonstrate increased outcomes for children or increased instructional practices for educators;
- Evidence-based curriculum or instructional materials including professional development for teaching staff to utilize the curriculum;
- Family engagement activities or materials and/or marketing and communication materials; and
- Other relevant needs to help expand capacity and/or improve quality programming to help programs reach Paths to QUALITY™ level 3 or 4, which is the requirement for a provider to be eligible to be an On My Way Pre-K provider.
Grant awards are for one year with the option to request a no-cost extension if additional capacity-building activities remain that have not been completed after one year. Nonprofit applicants interested in receiving funding for items not allowable had the opportunity to apply for a limited pool of separate grant funding from Early Learning Indiana.
All applicants were required to secure matching funds—between 5 and 50% of total budget—from local businesses or other stakeholders who will benefit from the community improvement associated with these capacity-building grants.
