ARRA and Early Childhood

1. ARRA and Early Childhood Office of Early Childhood Education and Family Services Lindy Buch, Ph.D., Director Noel Cole, MA, Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator Gary Schafer, Department Manager Vanessa Winborne, MPH, Early On (Early Intervention) Coordinator

2. Early Childhood Purposes for ARRA • Create jobs and promote recovery • Assist those most impacted by the recession • Invest in infrastructure to provide long-term economic benefits • Stabilize local budgets to avoid reductions in essential services

3. Early Childhood Principles and ARRA • Spend funds quickly • Improve student achievement • Ensure transparency, reporting and accountability • Minimize the “funding cliff”

4. ARRA Early Childhood Funding • Head Start and Early Head Start • Child Care and Development Block Grant • Early Childhood Advisory Council • ECIC Lead • Basis for 2010 Early Learning Challenge Grant Program • Title I • Other ESEA Programs • IDEA Part C and Part B, Section 619

5. Michigan-Specific Issues/Ideas • Local collaboration theme • Great Start Collaboratives • Systemic opportunities • Collaborative recruitment and enrollment • Developmental screening • Quality improvement • Professional development • Inclusion • ELL/Dual language learners • Parenting education and services/family literacy programs • Increasing enrollment/tuition subsidy

6. Title I, Part A Recovery Funds • Consistent with district Title I goals and needs for improvement • Increase dosage in GSRP/Head Start • Full-day, full-week, full-year • Serve more eligible children • 4 year olds • 3 year olds • Parent education/family literacy • Professional development • All community early childhood providers • Blend with other ARRA early childhood funds • Other sustainable improvements to local early childhood programs

7. Other ESEA Possibilities • Title I School Improvement Grants • Education for Homeless Children and Youth • National School Lunch Program Equipment Grants • Enhancing Education Through Technology • Facilities Grants and Bonds

8. IDEA, Part B, Section 619Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Ideas • Increase inclusion options by improving community early childhood settings • Purchase assistive technology devices • Purchase assessment materials • Professional development; inclusively! • “Early Childhood Teacher Consultant” positions

9. More ECSE Ideas • Local “Inclusive Options Advisory Committees” • Demonstration sites for inclusive preschool programs • Fund the additional costs for “wrap-around” for children with IEPs who need additional care • Improve ECSE curriculum with materials and support for implementation • Collect and analyze data on implementation of new ideas

10. Ideas for Early On®Part C of IDEA • Any allowable Part C purpose • Purchase sustainable equipment • Assistive technology • Assessment items • Professional development for Part C providers and partners • Increase community program quality to provide natural environments • Increase Child Find activities and community networks • Health community; ABCD model • Child care community

11. Applications and Funding • ECE&FS may assist OSI on Title I Part A grants if line item 118 (preschool services) is utilized • ECE&FS manages 619 and Part C grants • ARRA allocations are posted on MDE website • Part C MEGS application for first 50% is available • 619 application will be available SOON • Applications for 50% are due July 1 • Funds will be available as soon as applications can be approved • We are working on procedures for the second 50% • Awaiting federal guidance on reporting requirements

12. Contact Us: Office of Early Childhood Education and Family Services 517-373-8483 FAX 517-335-0592 Lindy Buch buchl@michigan.gov Nole Cole colen@michigan.gov Gary Schafer schaferg@michigan.gov Vanessa Winborne winbornev@michigan.gov