0 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) FY13 February 2012

UPK Policy Objectives Implemented in FY11 and FY12 For FY11 and FY12, the following policy objectives were implemented to begin alignment with UPK and QRIS: 1.For FY12, UPK programs were required to participate in QRIS by June 1, 2011; 2.Programs shall use a portion of UPK funding to support progress on QRIS for FY12; 3.An agreement to allow EEC staff to conduct on-site ECERS/FCCERS reviews; 4.An agreement to provide staff information, including compensation and education level, through EEC’s registry or other designated mechanism; and 5.An agreement to provide child level data, with parent consent, allowing children to be assigned a State Assigned Student Identification (SASID) number. UPK grantees were notified that FY11 was a planning year for the purpose of restructuring UPK in FY12 and beyond. UPK grantees were also notified that, subject to EEC Board approval, programs may be required to be level 3 in QRIS by FY13. 1

FY12 UPK General Information Approximately 6,100 UPK students. Approximately 3,300 subsidized students. Approximately $5.5 million distributed to UPK programs. 2

FY12 Funding Formula Based on the funding formula from FY09: (Total Classroom Enrollment x $500) + (Total Classroom Subsidized Enrollment* x $1500) = Total UPK Grant *For the purposes of the FY12 grant, “subsidized enrollment” was defined to include the following: EEC-subsidized children (i.e., children accessing care through contracts or vouchers); Children funded with Head Start dollars; Privately subsidized children from families meeting EEC income eligibility criteria (i.e., total household income at or below 85% of the state median income) with supporting documentation from the program; and For public school preschool programs, the proportion of children qualifying for free/reduced lunch in the district will be used to approximate the number of subsidized children. 3

FY12 Funding Formula (cont…) In order to be eligible to receive the full award amount, programs must be providing full-day, full-year services: Full-day, full-year programs were defined as operating for at least 231 days and 2079 hours per year. For programs providing less than full-day, full-year services, award amounts have been proportionately reduced based on the number of hours that a classroom/family child care home is in operation per year (as reported in the FY09 UPK Classroom Quality RFR Questionnaire). Classrooms/family child care homes operating for: Three-quarters time care (1560 through 2078 hours per year) will receive 75% of their annual grant award; Part-time care (1080 through 1559 hours) per year will receive 60% of their annual grant award; and Less than part-time care (less than 1080 hours per year) will receive 50% of their annual grant award. 4

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. *See Appendix for complete definition of “high needs children.” 5

FY13 Grants Available There will be two grants for FY13: (1) A competitive grant for current UPK programs: $5.5 million allocated for this grant. Anticipated date for the Request For Proposal (RFP) to be posted is February (2) An open competitive grant for new UPK programs: $500,000 allocated for this grant. Anticipated date for the RFP to be posted is June/July

Eligibility for Competitive Grant for Current UPK Programs In addition to the eligibility requirements from FY12*, current UPK programs must: (1) be at least a level 3 in QRIS; (2) demonstrate that they serve high needs children; (3) provide screening and/or formative assessment scores for high needs children; (4) provide a competitive compensation package for lead teachers; (5) program match is required; and (6) demonstrate PreK-3 alignment with the school district in which they are located. *See Appendix for FY12 eligibility criteria. 7

Eligibility for Competitive Grant for Current UPK Programs (cont…) There is one exception to the first criterion (UPK programs being at level 3 in QRIS): Current UPK programs who do not satisfy level 3 in QRIS may be grandfathered in for only one year. If the UPK programs fail to satisfy level 3 in QRIS by the end of FY13, they will not be eligible to apply for the FY14 UPK grant. 8

Open Competitive Grant for New UPK Programs Any program that participates in QRIS and has at least a level 3 will be considered a UPK program and can apply for the open competitive grant. To be eligible, the new UPK programs must: (1) satisfy the UPK FY12 eligibility requirements; (2) be at least a level 3 in QRIS; (3) demonstrate that they serve high needs children; (4) provide screening and/or formative assessment scores for high needs children; (5) provide a competitive compensation package for lead teachers; (6) program match is required; and (7) demonstrate PreK-3 alignment with the school district in which they are located. 9

10 Overview of the Eligibility Requirements

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.” 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 11

Market Rate Study th percentile average daily rate = $54.09 EEC average daily rate = $34.88 $ $34.88 = $19.21 (difference to get children to the 75 th percentile) 40% of $19.21 = $11.53 per day $11.53 per day x 261 days = $3,009 per student

FY 13 UPK Funding Formula (cont…) 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. 13

14 FY13 Funding Range

Use of FY13 UPK Funds 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. 15

Appendix 16

Definition of “High Needs Children” Include children who have multiple risk factors linked to poor school and life outcomes: i. Children and parents with special needs; ii. Children whose home language is not English; iii. Families and children involved with multiple state agencies; iv. English language learners; v. Recent immigrants; vi. Children with parents who are deployed and are not living on a military base; vii. Low-income households; viii. Parents with less than a high school education; and ix. Children who are homeless or move more than once a year. 17

18 UPK Grant Program Eligibility Evolving to Align with QRIS *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. Criteria FY07FY08 - FY10 FY11 and FY12 EEC Licensed or License-Exempt Use one of the EEC-selected assessment tools for at least one year* Use Early Childhood Program Standards For Three and Four Year Olds and Guidelines for Preschool Learning Experiences Have teacher/provider with BA in each UPK classroom/setting Or Used as selection priority 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 Provide access to full-day full-year services Participation in QRIS