§ 4014. Early education

(a) Grants. The Secretary may grant funds for voluntary early education programs. The funds may be used for personnel costs, training of parents and staff, materials and educational equipment, and other costs related to early education programs.

(b) The Secretary shall solicit proposals for early education programs from community organizations serving young children. Community organizations include school districts, other public agencies, including Head Start programs, and private agencies, including child care programs and parent-child centers.

(c) The Secretary also shall investigate to determine those areas that are not served by early education programs and whose children are in greatest need of such services. In those areas, the Secretary shall provide assistance in preparing proposals for grants. In conducting the investigation, the Secretary shall collect and analyze demographic factors that are likely to predict unusual community needs for early education services. The Secretary shall distribute the results of the analysis to all interested persons.

(d) The Secretary shall evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:

(1) The program will serve additional children with special needs, such as those who are economically disadvantaged, those who have limited English language skills, those who have a disability, or those who have experienced or are at risk of abuse or neglect.

(2) The program will rely on early screening of children's development to determine need.

(3) The program will provide experiential learning activities that are developmentally appropriate for three- and four-year old children. Such activities may be provided in home or group settings or a combination of the two.

(4) The program will include active parental involvement in program design and in making decisions about services.

(5) The program has been cooperatively developed by community and school organizations that serve young children in a town or group of towns.

(6) There is a demonstrated need for the program.

(7) The program considers the transportation needs of children and parents.

(8) The program enables children with disabilities to be served in settings with peers who do not have a disability.

(9) The program includes voluntary training for parents.

(e) The Secretary shall give preference to programs to be offered in parts of the State that do not have early education services at the time of the application.

(f) Grant proposals shall be submitted to the Secretary. Grants shall be for one year but may be renewed. No grant may exceed $30,000.00. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, set other terms of the grant. (Added 1987, No. 68, § 3; amended 2011, No. 58, § 6, eff. May 31, 2011; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 239, eff. Feb. 14, 2014; 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 81.)