EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROVIDERS HOST COMMUNITY MEETING
TO GATHER INPUT ON APPLICATION FOR PRESCHOOL FUNDING

A collaborative team of community partners who focus on early childhood education in the Davenport/Blue Grass/Buffalo/Walcott area are coming together to apply for funding through the new Statewide Voluntary Preschool program for Four-Year-Old Children. The initial partners in this effort are hosting a community meeting for parents and home daycare providers on Wednesday, June 27th at 2 p.m. at the Children’s Village West at 2826 West Locust Street to gather additional input.

The purpose of the new funding program is to provide an increased opportunity for young children in Iowa to enter school ready to learn by expanding voluntary access to quality preschool curricula for four-year-old children. The allocation of funds is intended to improve access to quality early childhood education (providing a minimum of 10 hours per week) and provide a predictable, equitable and sustainable funding method to increase the number of children participating in quality programs. The program does not guarantee access to preschool for all four year olds, but does help to improve both access and quality of available programming.
More information will be provided at the meeting about expectations of the Statewide program, how the funding will be distributed, and what steps the partners are taking to build a successful application.