November 2, 2016

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENTOF EDUCATION

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Ms. Jeana Ross

Secretary ofEarly Childhood Education

Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education

P.O Box 302755 

Montgomery, AL 36130

Dear Ms. Ross,

This letter is in response to Alabama's request to amend its approved Preschool Development Grant -

(PDG - D). The U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(the Departments) approved Alabama's grant projects and scope of work on August 10, 2015. On May 

31, 2016, the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education submitted an amendment request, 

proposing to make an amendment to Alabama's Preschool Development Grant application.

As you are aware, the Departments have the authority to approve amendments provided that such a 

change does not alter the scope or objectives of the approved proposal. On September 14, 2015, the 

Departments sent a document to Project Directors describing the process by which amendments would 

be reviewed and approved or denied. To determine whether approval could be granted, the Departments 

have applied the conditions noted in that document and compared it with PDG program requirements 

and conditions.

Alabama has made a request to make a Category Three amendment to the State's Preschool 

Development application. A Category Three Request involves a budget revision of more than $500,000 

across categories, projects or years. The proposal demonstrates that the grantee is conducting 

meaningful activities, staying within scope of application, and is able to meet goals on performance 

measures and outcomes. Alabama' s budget request does not impact reductions in performance goals.

Alabama requested this budget amendment due to the fact that the total of all the necessary budget 

adjustments they are proposing is greater than $500,000.00. We understand that the rapid growth of

Alabama's state pre-K program has led to a larger than expected number of requests for improving 

existing pre-K programs. This amendment will allow Alabama to add to the number of improved

classrooms using PDG-D funds to exceed the goals established in its original application. Alabama 

proposes to move the funds from the contractual category to subgrantees in order to support and improve 

the quality of existing classrooms and increase the number of improved classroom slots. The budget 

amendment requested includes a decrease in the amount of the Contractual (line item 6) by $958,033 for 

a line item total of $1,947.373.00.
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This amendment request will not impact Alabama's overall PDG-D goals, but will ensure Alabama can

continue to make progress on its PDG-D scope of work activities. The Departments agree to approve

this amendment based on the rationale provided by the State that this amendment will not result in a

change in Alabama 's PDG performance measures, outcomes, or participation rates.

Please note that this letter will be posted on the Department of Education's website as a record of the

amendment request and our approval. Any budget changes are recorded in the GRADS 360 system and .

the detailed budget request issaved in the official grant file.

We are confident that Alabama will continue its comprehensive efforts towards building successful state

systems of early learning. If you need any assistance regarding PDG-D, please do not hesitate to contact

your Project Officer, Tanesha Hembrey, at (202) 260-1719 or Tanesha.Hembrey@ed.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Libby Doggett

Deputy Assistant Secretary

Office of Early Learning

Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

U.S.Department of Education