Reviewers “evaluate the degree to which the proposed program responds to the needs of the community in relation to available or unavailable services…” Justification of Program Options Justify how program option or combination (center or family care, length of program day, etc.) is best fit for community. Justification includes: number of children served by each option per day; days per week; weeks per year (min. 48 weeks/year) number of home visits and socializations partnership with other programs or services Provide information on current distribution of licensed center-based and family child care providers Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance Describe recruitment and selection process of infants and toddlers Ensure that services will be provided to those who have most serious need; not less than 10 percent of total number are children with disabilities Create or share pre-existing alignments between state child care subsidy eligibility requirements and EHS eligibility requirements including income thresholds, copayments, and redetermination Create protocols or update existing protocols for referring infants and toddlers eligible for both CCDF and EHS to the Partnerships To the extent possible, enact policy or regulatory changes to better align child care subsidy policy to EHS requirements to support continuity of care (e.g., extend eligibility redetermination to 12 months, etc.) Plan to Increase Access/Quality Demonstrate a plan to increase number of low-income children applicant proposes to serve and/or how it will improve quality for children currently served Provide baseline data regarding number of children currently served, how many would be served in absence of grant, how many would be served if awarded grant Support applicants in using the state’s QRIS as a metric to show improvement in quality resulting from the Partnership funding Provide information on and facilitate access to state quality improvement initiatives Achieving Early Learning and Development Outcomes for Children Maximum Points: Historically 40 Points PAST EHS FOA CRITERIA APPLICANT MUST… STATES CAN… Curriculum Propose and justify the use of a specific research-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum or curricula that: If applicable, approved curriculum lists and documentation on the curriculum approval process
Staff–Child Ratios/Family Service Worker Caseloads Describe plan to maintain ratios and caseloads that comply with regulations, reflect best practices, and are tied to high-quality service delivery in event of staff absences or vacancies Create alignment of state licensing regulations and EHS regulations regarding ratios Career Opportunities for Qualified Parents/Community Residents Describe plan to provide career development opportunities for professional, paraprofessional, and other staff and discuss how these opportunities will improve program quality Inventory and list availability of education and training offerings through state colleges and universities, community colleges, child care resource and referral agencies, and other supports to providers in attaining and maintaining EHS requirements Inventory and make available state grants, scholarships, or other funds to support educational attainment of early care and education providers Plan to Evaluate Job Applicants Discuss plan to determine which applicants/existing grantee staff are most capable of contributing to implementation of high-quality program Describe how evaluations will be used in hiring process Share information about state’s workforce registry that documents and acknowledges professional and educational achievements of individuals working in the field Professional Development Describe ongoing strategy for professional development, peer support, supervision, ongoing observation, coaching and mentoring, and evaluation of staff and program managers Discuss the process for managing underperforming staff Provide information about state professional development opportunities and programs, particular those associated with the QRIS that will help applicants develop and maintain a strong early care and education workforce Past Performance Maximum Points: Historically 20 Points FOA CRITERIA APPLICATION MUST… STATES CAN… History and Experience Demonstrate how past performance providing high-quality care and early education or related programs support ability to administer proposed project Includes: Provide QRIS information and any relevant state longitudinal data
QRIS rating Record of high performance in primary grades by formerly enrolled children Teacher–child interaction ratings Evidence of development system Evidence of success improving family self-sufficiency Management Team Demonstrate how professional experience of executive director, program director, managers will allow for administration of project of proposed size, complexity, and scope Provide information on child care licensing and QRIS standards for program/center directors and managers and alignment of such standards to the EHS Program Performance Standards Current Program and Experience Explain any differences in current program operations from EHS (e.g., target population, services provided, program structure, mechanisms for quality assurance/improvement, early learning standards, performance measurement) and explain how applicant will successfully adapt to proposed program Share alignment of child care licensing and QRIS standards with EHS Program Performance Standards Organizational Capacity and Governance Maximum Points: Historically 25 Points FOA CRITERIA APPLICATION MUST… STATES CAN… Organizational Capacity Identify capacity of senior executive managers and governing board to: exercise effective oversight of program operations and accountability include Policy Council in planning assure representation of diverse community engage in ongoing monitoring and evaluation Organizational Oversight Explain how oversight meets program governance requirements of Head Start Act Provide information on how current governance structure would change to meet Head Start Program Performance Standards