States “Line Up” for Fed Preschool Grants | Understanding ESSA
 

States “Line Up” for Fed Preschool Grants

States “Line Up” for Fed Preschool Grants

July 19, 2018

Politico’s Mel Leonor reports for that a “federal grant program aimed at helping states boost their preschool offerings will make its debut next month—when states can begin vying for a piece of the $250 million pot.” Under ESSA, the Preschool Development Grants program “is meant to help states serve children from birth to age 5, and not just 4-year-olds.” The funding “isn’t intended as seed money for universal preschool efforts, and instead should help “maximize parental choice” by helping states coordinate care through a variety of existing programs, like Head Start centers and private providers—according to language in ESSA.”