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FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Conference

FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Conference. FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant (Fund Code 391) Renewal Conferences. Today’s Agenda . Welcome Overview of the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Questions and Answers

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FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Renewal Conference

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  1. FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning EnvironmentsGrant Renewal Conference

  2. FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant (Fund Code 391)Renewal Conferences

  3. Today’s Agenda • Welcome • Overview of the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant • Questions and Answers • Grant Posting/Grant Timeline/Submission Deadline • Grant Application Components • Purpose • Eligibility/Funding • Grant Priorities and Requirements • Online Application • Budgetary Guidance & Allowable Use of Funds • Online Application and Mail Submission Process • IPLE Planning for the Future

  4. Questions and Answers (FAQ) To ensure consistency in responses • At the end of the Renewal Conference presentation, an EEC staff member will record questions. • Those questions will be reviewed and answered in the FAQs. • All other questions must be emailed by March 21, 2014 by 4:00 PM to EECSubmission@massmail.state.ma.us • Subject line: FY 2015 IPLE – Code 391 • The FAQ document will be posted online on or around April 2, 2014 • The FAQ document then becomes an official part of the Grant Application.

  5. Posting of Grant Related Information • Grant Posting Available: • On EEC’s website at http://www.mass.gov/eec under Funding Opportunities- -Open Renewal Grants • Grantees are responsible for checking EEC’s website for any updates to the Grant Application Information.

  6. Grant Application Timeline

  7. Grant Submission Deadlines The EEC Central Office must have the following by April 17, 2014 by 4:00 PM Mail submission: • One (1) original hard copy • One (1) hard copy Notification of Online Application Submission: • To alert EEC of your grant submission, please email EECSubmission@massmail.state.ma.us with the subject line “FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant- YourAgency Name.”

  8. Grant Application: Follow the Checklist • The Checklist is completed in the Online Gant Application. The Checklist includes the following components of the Grant Application: • Contact Information (Part 1) • Communities Served (Part 2) • Languages Served (Part 3) • Lead Agency Budget (Part 4) • Subcontractor Budget (Part 5) • FY 2015 Budget Summary (Part 6) • Narrative Questions (Part 7) • Projected Deliverables (Part 8) • Required Grant Forms (Part 9) • Preschool Tuition and Sliding Scale Rate Schedule • Preschool Tuition Policies and Procedures (provide sections applicable to Preschool Only) • Checklist (Part 10) • Cover Page (Part 11) • Indirect Cost Approval Letter (N/A for 391)

  9. Grant Appendices (For reference only) • Appendix A: Online Application Instructions • Appendix B: FY2015 Fund Code 391 Budget Guidelines   • Appendix C: Grant Payment Terms, Grant Expenditures, Termination, Recoupment of Funds, and Relevant Law    • Appendix D: FY 2015 Fund Code 391 Grant Eligibility Amount • Appendix E: List of Towns and Cities in each EEC Region • Appendix F-1: Demographic Information Regarding Cities and Towns in Massachusetts • Appendix F-2: Demographic Information Regarding Cities and Towns in Massachusetts • Appendix G: Supplemental Information for FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments • Appendix H: Resources for Grantees • Projected Deliverables (Part 8) Guidelines • WIDA's Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support Dual Language Learners • http://www.wida.us/DownloadDocs/standards/EarlyELD/WIDA_2013_EELD_Standards.pdf • The Pre-K Science and Technology/Engineering Standards (STE)http://www.mass.gov/edu/docs/eec/2013/20131009-pk-sci-tech-standards.pdf

  10. EEC’s Strategic Linkages: Supporting Diverse Learners “To assure every child a fair and full opportunity to reach his full potential by providing and encouraging services which maximize a child’s capacity and opportunity to learn, which strengthen family life, and which support families in their essential function of nurturing a child’s physical, social, educational, moral, and spiritual development.”

  11. FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant • The Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant (IPLE), formerly known as Chapter 188/Phase I Direct Services of Community Partnership for Children Grant (CPC), was designed to support inclusive preschool learning environments serving preschool-age children with disabilities in early education and care settings with their same-aged peers without disabilities. Purpose:

  12. Are YOU eligible to apply? • This is an application for renewal. • All current IPLE grantees seeking to renew their grants for fiscal year 2015 must apply for funding using this application. • Only lead agencies or their sub-recipients that received IPLE grant funds in FY 2014 are eligible to apply for these funds, provided that the FY 2014 lead agencies or sub-recipients continue to meet the grant eligibility requirements. • All renewal funding awards will be based on the quality and completeness of the renewal application and will be reviewed in accordance with the required grant services.

  13. IPLE Eligibility Requirements • To be eligible to apply for funding through this FY 2015 renewal grant, applicants must: • Continue to meet the criteria for offering an inclusive preschool learning environment (Required Services section). • Continue to offer inclusive preschool learning environments in the same IPLE funded programs and IPLE funded classrooms that served children through the FY 2014 IPLE Grant. • Continue to be in good standing with EEC by ensuring the satisfaction of all requirements the FY 2014 IPLE grant. • Ensure that all public school preschools and center-based programs anticipated to receive FY 2015 IPLE funding are participating in the Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) and must be self-assessed and final submitted at QRIS Level 1 or higher by the FY 2015 Grant Application submission date.

  14. Funding and Distribution of Grants • EEC anticipates that up to $9,019,279 may be made available for the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant. • A list of the FY 2015 Eligible Grantees and their maximum grant eligibility amount is listed in Appendix D: FY 2015 Fund Code 391 Grant Eligibility Amount. • In the event that either a reduction or increase in funding occurs in this account, EEC reserves the right to reduce or increase grant awards and to require that grantees complete a new budget reflecting the altered amount.  EEC reserves the right to modify required services or priorities associated with this grant. Funding is subject to State and Federal budget allotment and appropriation

  15. Grant Priorities: Through this renewal grant, EEC seeks to continue to: • Support program capacity to offer inclusive preschool learning environments in center-based programs and public school preschool programs; and • Enhance program quality by continuing to require IPLE funded programs to participate in QRIS.

  16. Required Services: Grantees must implement the Grant Renewal Priorities and continue to provide the following required services: • I. Provide an inclusive preschool learning environments in the same IPLE funded programs and IPLE funded classrooms that served children through the FY 2014 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant. • These educational settings must continue to meet the standards and requirements of an inclusive preschool learning environment

  17. I. Provide Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Settings • Services must be provided in public schools, Head Start programs, and/or EEC -licensed early education and care programs. For the purpose of the grant these educational settings are referred to as IPLE funded programs. • In the event that an FY 2014 IPLE funded setting (classroom, school or program) no longer meets the definition, grantees must notify EEC of their intent to redistribute funding to other programs or classrooms provided those classrooms satisfy the definition and criteria of an inclusive preschool learning environment.

  18. I. Provide Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Composition of Children Enrolled • At least 15% of the children enrolled in each IPLE funded classroom must have a documented disability for the classroom to be considered an inclusive preschool learning environment. • For each child who is enrolled in an IPLE funded program and participates in the IPLE funded classroom as a “child with disability”, the IPLE program is required to have a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place that documents each child’s special education needs and describes the services that are being provided to meet those needs.

  19. I. Provide Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Class Size and Teacher-Child Ratio • When the classroom has up to five children with disabilities, total class size may not exceed 20 children with one teacher and one aide. • When the classroom has six or seven children with disabilities, total class size may not exceed 15 children with one teacher and one aide. • For the purpose of the grant, these classrooms are referred to as IPLE funded classrooms, as the funding provided through Fund Code 391 must support the cost of salaries and fringe benefits of the preschool teacher and preschool paraprofessional/ assistant teachers who provide direct program services within these designated classroom setting(s).

  20. Required Services II. Support the development and early learning of children with and without disabilities in inclusive preschool settings through the implementation of a developmentally appropriate and inclusive early childhood curriculum aligned with: • The Massachusetts Preschool Early Learning Guidelines; • The Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for Preschool and Kindergarten; • Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement Standards for Center-based /School-based programs; and • The Early Childhood Program Standards for Thee and Four Year Olds 

  21. Required Services: QRIS & PQR III. Participate in the Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) • ensure that IPLE funded programs and schools continue to participate in QRIS and engage in QRIS program improvement activities that will support their advancement to the next level in the QRIS Standards. • Each Program Administrator, Preschool Teacher, and Paraprofessional working at the program or school funded through the IPLE Grant must be registered in the Professional Qualifications Registry (PQR) ensuring that information related to Education, Work Experience, Educational Training, and Professional Development completed within the last five (5) years is reported and maintained in the appropriate sections in the PQR.

  22. Required Services: Pre-K to 3rd Grade Alignment IV: Engage in efforts to support enhanced Pre-K to 3rd Grade Alignment to improve outcomes for children. Examples may include strategies that address the following: • school and classroom instructional learning environments; • the use of instructional tools and practices; • data and assessments to inform the instruction of children; • transitions and pathways for learning; • administrators and leadership quality; • mechanisms for enhanced cross-sector alignment with grades kindergarten through third grade; • the engagement of families in their children’s learning; and • ongoing teacher quality and capacity.

  23. Required Services: Pre-K to 3rd Grade Alignment • To support enhanced Pre-K to 3rd Grade Alignment in FY 2015, grantees are strongly encouraged to engage in efforts that furthers the incorporation and implementation of • The Pre-K Science and Technology/Engineering Standards (STE) • WIDA's Early English Language Development Standards: Massachusetts Guidelines to Support Dual Language Learners. See Appendix H for additional information

  24. Brain Building in Progress • As a strategy to engage families in their children’s learning, grantees are required to incorporate, as appropriate, the approved tagline for the Brain Building in Progresscommunications initiative on appropriate marketing and communications materials and resources that are funded in whole or part through this grant.   www.brainbuildinginprogress.org. • The Brain Building in Progress website promotes programs, activities, and sites where early education innovation is happening and will offer individuals, families, community organizations, policy makers, and business leaders tangible ways they can get involved and take action.  http://www.eec.state.ma.us/BBIPmaterials.aspx.

  25. FY 2015 Reporting Requirements • Grantees will be required to submit a midyear and final programmatic performance report and one final financial report (FFR1) on the use of grant funds on or before August 31, 2015. EEC will provide the grantee with the format for such reports. • EEC may require additional data beyond that specified above; therefore, EEC reserves the right to require grantees to report as specified by EEC.

  26. Click the Link to Online Application • From the Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Webpage CLICK the link to the Online Application. • This will take you to the Introduction page.

  27. Accessing the Online Application: Introduction Page • Enter the Online Application by clicking Complete Online Application.

  28. Select your Agency from the Drop-Down Menu

  29. Create a Password • Please write down this password for your records. You will need this password to access your Online Application in the future. • The next time you log into the Online Application, the system will prompt you to enter your existing password.

  30. Steps to Complete the Online Grant Application

  31. FY 2015 Fund Code 391 Budget GuidelinesAppendix B: • Outlines allowable and unallowable use of grant funds, and explains expectations the budget sections.

  32. FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant: • IPLE renewal grants may be used to fund: • Preschool teachers’ salaries • Paraprofessionals’ salaries • Staff fringe benefits • Children’s transportation cost* to and from inclusive programs • The Subcontractor Budget (Part 5) must be used for each sub-recipients • EX: LEAD AGENCY A has an eligibility amount is $50,000 and the LEAD AGENCY A has a subcontracted agreement with AGENCY B and intends to disperse $20,000 of IPLE funds to AGENCY B • Lead Agency Budget (Part 4) is completed for $30,000 for Lead Agency A • Subcontractor Budget Part (5) is completed for $20,000 forAGENCY B

  33. Allowable Fund Use: • Instructional/Professional Staff:Educator/Instructor costs associated Preschool Teachers Salariesused to fulfill the grant requirements in the designated IPLE funded settings. • Instructional/Professional Staff:Aide/Paraprofessional costs associated with Preschool Paraprofessionals salaries used to fulfill the grant requirements in the designated IPLE funded settings). • Fringe Benefits: Fringe benefits are allowances and services by employers to their employees as compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages. Fringe benefits include Federal Tax, State Tax, FICA, Mass Unemployment, Health Insurance, Worker's Compensation, Medicare, SUTA, Other Retirement Systems, Other Fringe costs, as applicable.

  34. Allowable Fund Use Continued: • Salaries and Fridge are subject to the following restrictions: • Limited to Preschool Teachers and/or Paraprofessional positions in designated IPLE funded classrooms only. These positions are those that are directly included for maintaining the required adult/child ratios. • Salary costs for Preschool Teachers and Paraprofessional in public schools settings must be proportionate to the number of children without IEPs, as not to supplant federal special education entitlement funds (Fund Code 262). The portion of the staff time to be paid with these grant funds must be reported in the budget, under Full Time Equivalence (FTEs). • In the event that funding cannot be used in those classrooms or programs, because the setting no longer meets the definition, funding may be redistributed to other programs or classrooms, provided that those classrooms satisfy the definition and criteria of an inclusive preschool learning environment as set forth in this grant application.

  35. Allowable Fund Use Continued: • Other Costs/Direct Service Transportation: Costs of transporting children enrolled in IPLE funded settings. • Direct Service Transportation is subject to the following restriction: • Limited to transportation cost for children enrolled in IPLE funded settings without IEPs. For children with IEPs, costs for transportation services are allowable only when transportation is not included as a related service in a child’s IEP. • Subcontractors: Funds paid out to another program or agency to carry out a part of the grant. For purposes of FY 2015 grant application, the term subcontractors is synonymous with the term sub-recipients in the FY14 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant. • All subcontractors and partners performing services on behalf of the applicant to meet the required services of this grant proposal must be approved by EEC. • If an applicant proposes subcontracting some of its required services, the applicant must submit the proposed subcontracted services from each subcontractor and other partners as part of its grant application response. • The Subcontractor Budget (Part 5) must be used for each sub-recipients

  36. Unallowable Fund Use: • Grant funds cannot be used to replace or supplant federal preschool special education funds provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - 2004 (IDEA-2004) , federal Head Start funding, or state supplemental Head Start funds; • Grant funds cannot be used to support classrooms where children with documented special needs and/or disabilities comprise over 50% of the classroom enrollment, as these settings are considered substantially separate learning environments; • Grant funds cannot be used to contribute to the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS); • Grant funds cannot be used to contribute to costs related to salaries, consultants or stipends for one-on-one aides or special education specialists or substitutes; • Transportation cost for students with disabilities, where these services are delivered through a child’s IEP are not an allowable use of 391 funds;

  37. Unallowable Fund Use: • All Administrative and indirect costs for the Lead Agency and Subcontracted/Sub-recipients are not an allowable use of funds, as this grant funds direct service activities only. • Administrators • Contractual Services • Supplies & Materials • Travel • Capacity Building • Equipment • Other Costs • Indirect Cost  • Lobbying Expenses: Grant funds shall not be used to cover costs incurred by employees, lobbyists, or consultants to influence anylocal, state or Federal legislation or policy in either the state or Federal Legislative or the Executive branches.

  38. Narrative Questions (Part 7) • Instructions:The following section is designed to address how IPLE funded programs and public schools will continue to meet the grant requirements as outlined in the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant (See “Required Services” of the FY 2015 Grant Application for additional information.) • Please ensure that responses provided in this section are aligned with your responses in the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Projected Deliverables (Part 8) of this Online Application. • All questions must be answered in the space provided. Character Limit including spaces: 2000 per question. • FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant has three Narrative Questions – All questions require a response. • Responses should reflect activities related to all IPLE funded program and schools.

  39. Narrative Questions (Part 7) Providing Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments 1. As the lead agency for the FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant, how will your agency ensure that the programs and public schools that will receive IPLE funding in FY 2015 continue to provide the required services, as outlined in the FY 2015 grant application, and fulfill the fiscal and programmatic reporting requirements of this grant?

  40. Narrative Questions (Part 7) Supporting Children and Families During TransitionsMany young children with disabilities and their families make many transitions across and between services, service providers, and settings by the time they enter preschool. This may include: • changes across the day, such as moving from home to an early education and care program or an inclusive special education preschool setting; • moving from one activity or classroom to another within the same program/school; and/or • changes across time, such as moving from early intervention into a preschool program, and then onto kindergarten. 2. Please describe the strategies employed by the IPLE funded programs and schools to support children's positive adjustments during the various transitions times, as described above. Also, include examples that highlight successful strategies and collaborations currently used to reduce the number o f transitions experienced by young children with and without disabilities and their families participating in this grant-funded project.

  41. Narrative Questions (Part 7) Supporting Children's Kindergarten Readiness through High Quality Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments3. How will programs and schools funded through the Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant continue to enhance quality through theirparticipation in the Massachusetts Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)? Please address both: the successes, challenges, and lessons learned in FY 2014; and indicate specific strategies each IPLE funded programs/ schools will engage in FY 2015 to support advancement towards meeting the QRIS Standards at the next QRIS level(s).

  42. Projected Deliverables (Part 8) There are 4 sections of questions that are organized by "Required Activity." • Required Activities 1 and 3 require responses specific to public schools that receive these IPLE funds. • Required Activities 2 and 4 require responses specific to EEC-licensed programs that receive theses grant funds. • If this grant provides funding to more than one public schools and/or more than EEC-license programs, please ensure that information pertaining to these settings are included in your responses. • If the answer is "0" for "Total for the YEAR" then an explanation must be provided in the description. ALL questions require a response and description. Please limit the brief description to 400 characters.

  43. Projected Deliverables (Part 8) The Projected deliverables require responses specific to both FY2014 and FY2015: • FY 2014 IPLE services that were completed between July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 (FY 2014) and • FY 2015 IPLE services that your agency anticipates completing between July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015 (FY 2015). • If the answer is "0" for "Total for the YEAR" then an explanation must be provided in the description. • ALL questions require a response and description. Please limit the brief description to 400 characters.

  44. FY 2015 Fund Code 391 Projected Deliverables (Part 8)Appendix H: • Provides additional guidance for projected deliverables and outlines information to include in Description.

  45. Grant Administrative Forms Commonwealth of Massachusetts Standard Administrative Forms: • A signed Commonwealth Terms & Conditions form  • W-9 with DUNS #  • Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing  • Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment (EFT) Form  • Federal Funding and Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Reporting Requirements If not already on file with the EEC, you will need to fill out and mail to the EEC: You do not need to email these materials the Administrative Forms, please only sign and mail these in with your grant application.

  46. Online Application Submission: • SUBMIT ONLINE: Once your Online Application is complete, click Submit at the bottom of the home page to send your Online Application to EEC. • Once submitted, an Applicant will be able to print their entire application as a PDF by clicking Print Summary. Please ensure that your checklist is complete and accurate at this time.

  47. Online Application & Mail Submission: • To alert EEC of your grant submission, please email EECSubmission@massmail.state.ma.us with the subject line “FY 2015 Inclusive Preschool Learning Environments Grant Submission Confirmation - YourAgency Name”. • Obtain the appropriate signatures on the cover page (all signatures in blue ink) and additional attachments, if necessary. • Mail the printed PDF summary and one (1) original and one (1) copy to EEC with the Required Grant Forms, and any necessary administrative forms. • EEC’s mailing address is displayed at the bottom of the cover page. The ENTIRE submission process must be completed by: April 17, 2014 BY 4:00 PM (email, online, mail must be submitted and in the EEC office)

  48. EEC: IPLE Planning for the Future • Gathering Stakeholder Feedback • Discussion – Suggestions • Questions • IPLE Working Group (TBD) • Present to EEC Advisory Council & EEC Board Committees • Propose Recommendations to EEC Board • EEC Board Vote on Recommendations

  49. EEC Contacts • Evelyn Nellum • Phone: 617-988-6646 • Email: Evelyn.Nellum@massmail.state.ma.us • Elizabeth Bryant • Phone: 617-988-6617 • Email: Elizabeth.Bryant@massmail.state.ma.us

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