FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Application

  Funding Opportunity Details For Additional Information and to Apply -
Login | 
Register to iowagrants.gov  -267363-FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Application Early Childhood At-Risk Application Deadline: 01/22/2020 4:30 PM  

Award Amount Range:Not ApplicableProject Start Date:07/01/2020Project End Date:06/30/2021Award Announcement Date:03/06/2020Eligible Applicant:public schools, non-profit licensed child care centers, Head Starts & comm. action agencies in Iowa
Program Officer:Amy StegemanPhone:515-725-2273 xEmail:amy.stegeman@iowa.govCategorical Area:Early Childhood Services & Supports  Description  
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Shared Visions Preschool: Child Development Programs for Preschool Children At-Risk and Their Families
 
APPLICATION
2020-2021
(Renewal option up to five years contingent upon annual legislative appropriations)
 
Availability of Funds:
Grant application

awards are contingent on the 2020 legislative appropriation.  Additional application requirements may be added if legislatively mandated.  Applicants will be notified of any changes to the application.
 
APPLICATION DEADLINE:   January 22, 2020 by 4:30 PM
 
Contact: Amy Stegeman, Consultant
Iowa Department of Education
Grimes State Office Building
400 East 14th Street
Des Moines, IA  50319-0146
Amy.Stegeman@iowa.gov
 
OVERVIEW and GENERAL INFORMATION
Introduction
In 1988, the Iowa Legislature established Iowa Code 256A creating the Child Development Coordinating Council (CDCC) and funding the Shared Visions Preschool Programs.  The mission of the CDCC is to advocate for Iowa’s children and families and support model comprehensive child development programs for children at-risk and their families.  The CDCC advises the Iowa Department of Education (Department) regarding the administration and implementation of state funded at-risk programs for children ages birth to five.  The Department administers the Shared Visions Preschool Program which provides comprehensive quality preschool program experiences for children meeting identified risk factors who are ages three to five years. 
The Department is issuing a competitive application to fund Shared Visions Preschool Programs.  The purpose is to solicit applications that will enable the Department to select applicants to participate in providing a Shared Visions Preschool Program created in accordance with Iowa Code section 256A,

Iowa Code section 279.51, and the rules in 281--Iowa Administrative Code 64. 
 
Eligible Applicants
Any public school, non-profit licensed child care center, Head Start agency, community action agency, or other public, non-profit agency in Iowa may apply.  It is required that applicants meet program requirements as outlined in Iowa Code section 256A, Iowa code section 279.51, and 281— Iowa Administrative Code 64. Eligible applicants may provide services to children ages three to five years in Iowa and must be able to meet primary and secondary enrollment requirements as defined in 281-Iowa Administrative Code 64. 
 
Application and Grant Information
Applications are competitive; consequently, all required components of the application must be completed following the stated instructions and submitted in a timely manner to be considered for funding. 
Funding for the Shared Visions Preschool Program is limited; therefore, the application process is highly competitive, and it is likely that not all applicants will receive funding. 
Services must be classroom-based, and applications are site specific.  Applicants who wish to provide services in multiple locations or sites must submit an application for each.  The Department would need to administer a process of renegotiation with an awarded applicant if a location change would be requested after funding is awarded. 
Annual reporting is required and will include a mid-year budget report, year-end report, and renewal application. Other information needed to determine how well the goals and objectives of the grant are being met may also be requested per 281-Iowa Administrative Code 64.17.  
Program Period
Grants will be awarded for one year with a renewal option for up to five years provided grantees meet program requirements. All funding is contingent on annual legislative appropriations. The funding period for Year One - FY21 is July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.  Renewal years include: 

Year Two - FY22: 
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Year Three - FY23: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
Year Four - FY24: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024
Year Five - FY25:  July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
 
Services to be Delivered and Performance Criteria
Awarded applicants are expected to:

Follow program requirements as outlined in281--Iowa Administrative Code 64, Iowa Code section 256A
, and 
Iowa Code section 279.51.
Enroll no fewer than 80% of age-eligible children who are from families at or below 130% of the federal poverty guideline
(primary eligibility:281-Iowa Administrative Code 64.7) 
Enroll no more than 20% of age-eligible children based on other at-risk factors (secondary eligibility:281-Iowa Administrative Code 64.8)
Meet the program standards and accreditation criteria of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards,
orHead Start Program Performance Standards
Maintain the program standards identified in the awarded application throughout the 5-year grant cycle (unforeseen circumstances resulting in a request to change program standards will be considered at the discretion of the Council)
Provide comprehensive services in a classroom-based setting  
Maintain a classroom ratio of 1 adult for every 8 children
Maintain an agreement with
Teaching Strategies, LLC under the Iowa 
GOLDState Service Umbrella Agreement and complete three state-determined checkpoints with all enrolled children (CDCC Policy, 2013 - see attachments section)
Provide requested information to allow the Department to create unique student ID numbers
Provide an annual in-kind match of at least 20% of the total grant award
Immediately inform the Department of any budget revisions to allow for negotiation (281-Iowa Administrative Code 64.18)
Complete a mid-year budget report and year-end report in a format determined by the Department (281-Iowa Administrative code 64.15)
Complete annual renewal applications for continued funding for up to five years (last year being FY25), contingent on annual legislative appropriations
Maintain records to include, but not limited to: (281- Iowa Administrative Code 64.15)

information on children and families served
direct services provided to children,
record of expenditures,
other appropriate information specified by the council necessary for overall evaluation.
 
Procedures Used to Determine Approval
Applications will be reviewed for eligibility. All those submitted by an eligible applicant will be reviewed and scored by trained persons with expertise in child development programs.  The scoring rubric to be used can be found in Iowa Grants in the Attachments section for this Funding Opportunity or on the Department of Education website on the Shared Visions Preschool Program web page. Review forms will be used to record points and comments made by grant reviewers.  Final scores of the applications will be determined based on all completed reviews and then ranked accordingly.  In the event grant applications receive an equal number of points that necessitates a further determination of whether an applicant is to receive a grant, an additional review shall be conducted. 
All applicants will receive notification of approval/non-approval for funding no later than March 6, 2020.   
Awards will be finalized for each successful applicant within the Iowa Grants System. Assurances shall be signed by an official with authority to bind the applicant and shall be submitted to the Department through the online application system, IowaGrants.gov, prior to the award of any funds under this program.
Due to limited funding, grant awards will be targeted to those areas or communities in Iowa where there is a high percentage of child poverty, a high number of unserved eligible children, and evidence of factors creating an increased need for quality child development programs serving children meeting the identified risk factors.
The Department and CDCC are committed to ensuring there is statewide distribution of funds while providing funds to programs serving children identified as most at-risk. The number of grants to be awarded will be determined based on quality of grant application, established need, and available funding.  Budget negotiation may be necessary to accommodate the obligation of all funds. 
All grant awards are contingent upon the 2020 legislative appropriation and legislative sessions each succeeding year through FY 2025.
 
Submission of Application
The Department must receive the application by 4:30 PM Wednesday, January 22, 2020 through the online grant application system, IowaGrants.gov.  This is a mandatory requirement and will not be subject to waiver as a minor deficiency. 
This is a competitive application.  Please adhere to all requirements and instructions within each form of the application within IowaGrants.gov.  Any information submitted separately from the application will not be considered in the review process.
 
Application Components
The application consists of the following required components:                                                                               
Program Summary12 pointsDocumentation of Need 72 pointsProgram and Classroom Information16 pointsService Description Plan72 pointsParent/Family Engagement(16 points)Health and Safety, Medical/Dental Services, Nutrition Services(20 points)Developmentally Appropriate Programming(16 points)Other Resources and Services(20 points)Staff Certification/Development Plan12 pointsCommunity Collaboration and Letters of Support16 pointsProgram Evaluation16 pointsProgram Budget12 pointsAssurancesRequired, Not ScoredCover Sheet - General InformationRequired in Iowa Grants, Not ScoredMinority Impact StatementRequired in Iowa Grants, Not ScoredTotal Possible Points:228 points
                           
                                                          
                                                                     
Requests for Reconsideration and Contract TerminationInformation on requests for reconsideration and contract termination may be found in281--Iowa Administrative Code 64.
281—64.24(256A,279) Request for Reconsideration.A disappointed applicant who has not been
approved for funding may file a Request for Reconsideration with the director of the department in
writing within 10 days of the decision to decline to award a grant. In order to be considered by the
director, the Request for Reconsideration shall be based upon one of the following grounds:
1. The decision process was conducted in violation of statute or rule;
2. The decision violates state or federal law, policy, or rule (to be cited in the Request);
3. The decision process involved a conflict of interest.
Within 20 days of filing a Request for Reconsideration, the requester shall submit all written
documentation, evidence, or argument in support of the request.
 
Critical Dates for the Application Process

Application Process
Critical Dates
Application open and directions available
 
November 15, 2019
Recorded webinar available on the Department’s website to review legislation and the application process
December 13, 2019
Deadline to submit questions in writing; email Amy Stegeman at amy.stegeman@iowa.gov
January 6, 2020
Application due to the Department via www.IowaGrants.gov.
January 22, 2020
by 4:30 PM
Notification of awards. 
Grant Awards are contingent upon the 2020 legislative appropriation.   
March 6, 2020
Contracts Issued/Awards Finalized
Within 45 days of state appropriation being finalized
 
      Attachments  Click on the File Name to open attachment 
DescriptionFile NameFile SizeCDCC Policy Regarding Child Assessment and Student Identifier NumbersCDCC Policy Regarding Child Assessment and Student Identifier Numbers.pdf120 KBIowa Code - Chapter 256A govern the Shared Visions Preschool Programs.Chapter 256A Child Development Assistance.pdf57 KB281-Iowa Administrative Code 64 governs the Shared Visions Preschool Program.Chapter 64 - 281.64 Revised 2018.pdf126 KBThis document shows class size maximums by program standards.Class Size Maximum by Program Standards.pdf170 KBFY21 Budget Guidance - This document should be used to guide development of a grant budget.FY21 Budget Guidance.pdf99 KBScoring Rubric for FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Application - This rubric outlines the amount of points available and how applications will be scored.FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Scoring Rubric.pdf367 KBThese are instructions for completing the FY21 Shared Visions Preschool application.Instructions for Completing the FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Application.pdf536 KB2019-2020 Income Eligibility Guidelines - These need to be used by programs to assist with enrolling children whose families meet primary eligibility of the Shared Visions Preschool Program. *Note: These guidelines will be updated in early 2020.Shared Visions Preschool Income Eligibility Guidelines 2019.pdf301 KBThis document is referenced in the Staff Certification/Development Plan form of the application. It should be used by applicants when determining whether staff qualifications align with the selected program standards.Staff Qualifications by Program Standards.pdf157 KB   Website Links  Click on the URL to go to website 
URLDescriptionhttp://www.educateiowa.gov/pk-12/early-childhood/shared-visions-preschool-programDepartment of Education - The Shared Visions Preschool Program web page offers more information about the grant and program requirements.https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/45-cfr-chap-xiiiHSPPS - This link provides access to the Head Start Program Performance Standards.https://educateiowa.gov/sites/files/ed/documents/IQPPSandCriteria2017withformnumbering.pdfIQPPS - This link provides access to the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards.https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/accreditation/early-learning/naeyc_elp_accreditation_standards_and_assessment_items_2019.pdfNAEYC - This link provides access to the NAEYC Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items.http://teachingstrategies.com/Teaching Strategies, Inc. - All awarded grantees are expected to maintain an agreement with Teaching Strategies, Inc. under the GOLD State Service Umbrella Agreement and complete three state-determined checkpoints with all enrolled children.