Adult and Community Learning Services (ACLS)

Opportunity to Collaborate with Early Education and Care Providers

Dear Program Directors, I am writing to encourage you to take advantage of an opportunity to collaborate with early childhood providers in your community. The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) recently announced a funding opportunity, the FY2013 Community Support Grant Application Request for Response (RFR). This competitive grant provides support to local communities in developing an integrated and coordinated birth to age 8 community planning structure. The purpose of the grant is to implement two functions in Gateway, District Level 4 Schools, and Home Visiting Communities:

Community Strategic Planning to support community birth through age 8 (B-8) three year strategic plans, anchored in local data. Plans will be based on child and family needs and the quality and effectiveness of B-8 aligned systems linking local schools, local providers, and families through grants to communities.
Birth to 8 Assessment, Screening, and Curriculum Support and Alignment to be submitted in partnership with non-profit communities including public schools, public school districts, and/or charter schools serving children pre-kindergarten to third grade, to support assessment, screening, and curriculum support and alignment.

I believe that many ABE programs are uniquely positioned to collaborate on responding to this RFR based on your engagement in goal-setting and curriculum development to meet the needs of parents of young children as well as track record in community planning, I strongly encourage you to reach out to the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grantee in your community to see how you can get involved. To find out if there is a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grantee that serves your community, visit http://www.eec.state.ma.us/ChildCareSearch/CFCE.aspx. EEC estimates the total amount of grant funds available will be approximately $94,500. If additional funds become available during the grant period, EEC reserves the right to increase one or more grant awards. Responses to this RFR are due to EEC by 4:00 PM on May 10, 2012. See http://www.mass.gov/edu/birth-grade-12/early-education-and-care/financial-assistance/funding-opportunities/open-competitive-grants/fy2013-community-support-grant.html for additional information.

With Literacy in Mind, Anne Serino, Massachusetts ABE State Director
Department of Elementary & Secondary Education/ACLS

Last Updated: April 20, 2012