Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Schooling (Hawaiʻi P-20), in partnership with the Government Workplace on Early Studying (EOEL), has been awarded an almost $20 million federal grant to strengthen the early childhood care and training (ECCE) workforce, broaden entry to early childhood companies and create seamless early studying alternatives for youngsters from start by means of third grade.
The federal grant is a renewal of the Preschool Growth Grant—“Our Keiki, Our ʻOhana, Our Future Venture” — initially awarded to the state in 2018. The funding will herald over $6.6 million a 12 months for 3 years.
The renewal grant affords Hawaiʻi a possibility to reassess, re-imagine and restart as Hawaiʻi emerges and recovers from the pandemic. Hawaiʻi envisions a stronger infrastructure for a coordinated effort that addresses equitable entry to high-quality packages and companies for all youngsters from start by means of 5 years previous statewide, to help their well being, security and readiness for lifelong studying.
“Supporting our kids right this moment helps to make sure a sturdy future for everybody in Hawaiʻi. We’re excited to work with the whole early care and training group to make an impression,” stated Stephen Schatz, Government Director of Hawaiʻi P–20 Partnerships for Schooling.
By means of the PDG B–5 Renewal grant, Hawaiʻi will attempt to attain this imaginative and prescient by:
- conducting a statewide wants evaluation to find out the present panorama and the potential impacts of the pandemic;
- creating a strategic plan knowledgeable by the brand new and former wants assessments to enhance the utilization, timeliness, effectivity, and effectiveness of companies and strengthen governance for our combined supply system;
- connecting households to help and companies to satisfy their wants;
- constructing on the suggestions of a 2022 workforce compensation research; and
- creating a standardized high quality enchancment mannequin.
“We sit up for working collectively to construct a robust and complete early childhood system by means of the ‘Our Keiki, Our ʻOhana, Our Future Venture.’ Addressing short- and long-term targets by means of this grant will be certain that all Hawaiʻi keiki have a robust basis upon which to construct their future,” stated Yuuko Arikawa-Cross, director of the Government Workplace on Early Studying.
Hawaiʻi P–20 and EOEL will work intently with the Early Studying Board (ELB) to make sure profitable grant implementation over the three-year interval. The ELB contains illustration from Hawaiʻi Departments of Well being, Schooling, Human Companies, and the College of Hawaiʻi System, in addition to non-profit businesses and group companions.
Subgrants can be awarded to public entities to strengthen the early studying system’s infrastructure—together with the ECCE workforce — by means of peer mentoring and apprenticeship packages, and a wage complement initiative. Subgrants can be additionally awarded to non-public entities by means of a aggressive grant course of to boost mum or dad’s information and household engagement; ship program high quality enchancment practices (e.g., psychological well being consultative help companies, trauma-informed care workshops, and a shared companies mannequin for household childcare house suppliers); and broaden Early Head Begin – Household Baby Care partnership packages to extend entry and availability of toddler and toddler care. Requests for Proposals can be solicited throughout spring 2023.
The federal PDG B–5 program is a aggressive grant designed to enhance states’ early childhood methods by constructing upon present federal, state, and native early care and studying investments. This system was established in 2015 by means of the bipartisan Each Scholar Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Schooling Act (ESEA). Whereas funding for these packages is appropriated to the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS), these packages are collectively administered by HHS and the U.S. Division of Schooling (ED).
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