2014 Request for Applications: RFA 101 Amanda Flanary Governor’s Office of Early Childhood

1. 2014 Request for Applications: RFA 101 Amanda Flanary Governor’s Office of Early Childhood

2. Goals and Objectives • Review “Big Picture” for Community Early Childhood Councils • Introduce the vision for CECCs • Review the 2014-15 CECC Request for Applications • Discuss strategies for submitting a high quality application • Review what has and has not changed • Review critical dates OUR GOAL: To have a highly effective Community Early Childhood Council in EVERY COMMUNITY

3. Increasing School Readiness It’s a COMMUNITY issue Where are our children? • Head Start – Serves at-risk families at 100% federal poverty level 3s and 4s (Nationally funded to reach only 40% of eligible children) • KY State Funded Preschool – Serves at-risk 4s up to 150% poverty level and 3s with disabilities • Data suggest that as many as 50% of children are not in Head Start, Preschool or Child Care. Improving School Readiness is a COMMUNITY issue.

4. A New Business Model A Business Model Children Enter Kindergarten Ready High Quality Early Learning Environments Supportive Families Access to Data for Community Planning Common Kindergarten Entry Screener Participation in STARS A great early childhood workforce Families understand child health and developmental needs Data is shared by early childhood programs Scholarships & PD Plans Families are engaged Children have access to appropriate services

5. Kentucky’s Early Childhood System How CECCs fit in Kindergarten Readiness Screener • CECCs are the “webbing” to the plan • CECCs pull all the state systems together • CECCs make it happen on the local level • CECCs inform communities and promote change Parent Engagement P-20 Data Collaborative Improve School Readiness Professional Development Early Learning Standards & Assessments TQRIS

6. 2013 Application Process The Results Comparison to FY2011-2012 * Note: Some Councils indicated that they intend to continue to operate in 2013-2014 even without funding

7. CECC Activities Over Time Activity Summary 2010-11 to Current FY 2010-11 FY 2011-12 FY 2012-13

8. 2013 Application Process Council Membership by Category 2013-2014 CECC Membership Type

9. Shift in CECC Strategy New Priorities Last Year’s RFA Focus on School Readiness Goal: Improve School Readiness • Governor’s Office of Early Childhood • Early Childhood Advisory Council • Improving Environments • Supporting Families • Increasing Access to Data Increased Collaboration Required Members • Ensure ALL children are ready for Kindergarten • Child Care • Head Start • Public Pre-School Increase use of Data Focused on Outcomes • Kindergarten Screener, child assessment, developmental screening • Data driven decision making • Measuring results • Continuous improvement

10. 2014 CECC Priorities Responsive, Intentional and Deliberate, Evolving 2014 Priorities Increasing School Readiness Increase Collaboration Increase Use of Data Responsive • Utilizing new information (Early Childhood Profiles) • Developing new resources (School Readiness Definition, Parent Guides, RFA Toolkit) Intentional & Deliberate • Improved Community Needs section • Development of a Strategic Plan • Focused on high-impact activities • Deliberate data and outcomes Evolving • Strengthening Collaboration (Required Members) • Building on a foundation of success

11. Observations from 2012-2013 Refining the Process Recommendations for CECC 2014-2015 • Required Components – Some applications were missing required components ; use the checklist • Detailed Descriptions – Be intentional and thorough when preparing your application • Templates – Provides structure and order to an application. • MOU Process – Process must be followed to ensure timely funding. Suggestion: Write questions in the margin of your copy of the RFA

12. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Timeline of Critical Dates 2014 March April May June July July Award notifications March 17, 2014 RFA Available Resources and Checklist April 15, 2014 Intent to Apply Due May 15, 2014 Applications due April and May, 2014 Statewide Technical Assistance March 23- April 3, 2014 CECC Regional Trainings

13. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Restrictions and Guidelines • Fiscal Agent – Must be quasi -governmental or non-profit agencies • Administrative Cost – Must NOT exceed 5% of total award • Reporting – Required to submit an end of year report (Template Provided). • Multiple Applications– If received for the same service area, both applications are disqualified. • New Templates – Work Plan, Members list, Budget

14. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Restrictions and Conditions – MOU Process Memorandum of Understanding Step 1 MOU Mailed to Fiscal Agent Step 2 MOU Signed by Chair or Fiscal Agent return ORIGINAL to GOEC Step 3 GOEC signs and sends to Finance for review Step 4 Once approved by Finance, GOEC receives Effective Date Step 5 GOEC requests CECC to submit an invoice for FULL AMOUNT Step 6 Invoice approved by Finance Check Mailed to CECC

15. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Mandatory Requirements • Conflict of Interest – Every member MUST fill complete and return every year • Required Members – Representatives of Child Care, ALL Head Start and ALL School Districts • Ready Kids Conference– We encourage CECCs to send 2 members to the Conference June 16- 18, 2014 EXAMPLE: If a CECC has a 4 county service region which has 6 school districts and is served by two Head Start Agencies, the CECC MUST have representatives from ALL school districts and ALL Head Start agencies as members of their council

16. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Application Cover-page and Project Summary • Template found in the Appendix and in RFA Toolkit • Strongly suggest using the templates • Project Summary – Tell us what you have done, not your mission statement. BE CONCISE

17. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Summary of Previous Activities • Focus on what you have LEARNED not what you have done • Include how strategies have changed to respond to needs • Identify outcomes of previous activities • Demonstrate progress toward goals • Not applicable for new or re-established CECCs

18. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Community Needs • Data provided by Early Childhood Profile • Analyze data on the profile • Identify patterns and where data relates to other data • Identify areas of MOST NEED • All of the data on the profile is meant to be actionable • May need additional data for more detail • ALL PROJECTS SHOULD BE TIED TO AN IDENTIFIED NEED

19. Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Using Screener Data to Support School Readiness • Combine Screener results with additional EC related data • Displays data on a County level with a State Summary • Provide a easy-to-use tool with actionable data elements • Informs Councils and Communities on their efforts to improve School Readiness • Created in partner ship with • Governor’s Office of Early Childhood • Kentucky Department of Education • Early Childhood Advisory Council • Kentucky Center for Employment Workforce Statistics • Cabinet for Health and Family Services

20. 2013-2014 Kindergarten Screener Results Terminology and Variables Every child is eligible for kindergarten once they meet the age requirement. Schools must be ready to meet the needs of all eligible students. Variables • When the screen was conducted (15 days prior to 30 days after) • Who conducted the screen (kindergarten teacher, councilor, assistant teacher, etc.) • Where the screen was conducted (classroom, recruiting event, etc.) • Social Emotional screen variables (who filled out, how much guidance) • Some cohort differences between data sets • School Districts detailed data on screener results Terminology • Ready • Not Ready

21. Early Childhood Profiles 2013-2014 Kindergarten Screener Results

22. Early Childhood Profiles Highlights Section Data Provided • Preschool and Head Start Enrollment • Families receiving CCAP funds • Definitions of Preschool and Head Start eligibility • Third grade assessment results Patterns • Coverage – Are you reaching all children? • Are families taking advantages of services (CCAP, HANDS) • Contrast screener results with Assessment results • Note large variances. How can we do better? • Not an apples to apples comparison

23. Early Childhood Profiles Highlights Section Data Provided • Demographic information • Services to families (TANF, KCHIP, subsidies First Steps) • Early Care and Education Workforce outlook • CECC Contact Information Patterns • Access to coverage – notice gaps or struggles • Are families taking advantages of services • How effective are partners reaching at-risk populations • Compare screener results to levels of access to eligible families

24. Early Childhood Profiles Highlights Section Data Provided • Rated vs. not rated centers • STARS participation • Number of centers and capacity • Certified vs. Registered centers Patterns • Coverage – Are you reaching all children? • Are children in high quality rated centers • How many licensed centers vs. certified centers? • How to increase participation?

25. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Strategic Plan • Clearly explain how you plan to address your needs addressed in the Community Needs • Your opportunity to express your plan • Outline how your plans address needs • Identified Need • Proposed Activity • Identify Outcome • Measure Progress • Show effect on School Readiness • Include timelines and due dates • Include partners necessary to conduct successful activity

26. Address community needs Look for patterns in the data http://kidsnow.ky.gov/School%20Readiness/Pages/profiles.aspx

27. Address community needs Look for patterns in the data County vs. State results Results by domain 3rd Grade Assessment Note strengths and opportunities http://kidsnow.ky.gov/School%20Readiness/Pages/profiles.aspx

28. Case Study Cognitive and General Knowledge • Develop your Strategic Plan • Describe need identified in the analysis of the data • NEED: Cognitive and General Knowledge • OUTCOME: Increase the number of children that screen “Ready” in Cognitive and General Knowledge by 15% by 2015 • Strategies to achieve outcome • Building Strong Families • Professional Development • Questions to ask yourself • What have we done in the past? • What was successful/what wasn’t? • How can we do better? • What are other partners doing?

29. Case Study INCREASE COGINITVE AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE • Develop your Strategic Plan • Building Strong Family Engagement • STEM Days • bornlearning Academies • Resources • Puzzles for families • Blocks and other shape based toys • Professional Development • Training • Kentucky Science Center • Ages & Stages Questionnaire

30. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Case Study Case Study INCREASE COGNITIVE AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE • STEM Day • Provide puzzles and blocks for families • Find a technology partner • Print fliers • Recruit vendors • Train screeners on ASQ • Professional Development • Organize training • Hire a certified trainer • Provide space • Develop printed material

31. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Case Study Case Study INCREASE COGNITIVE AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE Develop your Strategic Plan How will outcomes be measured? How is the target population? Can we plan to make it work? What resources can we utilize to ensure success? Who else has resources you could use to achieve your outcome?

32. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Communications Plan Why a communications plan? • Communication and awareness is critical to a CECC’s success • Promotes collaboration among partners • Increases parent awareness Strategies to complete • Governor’s Office of Early Childhood provides messaging via e-blasts • Tell us how you plan to disseminate these messages to your partners • Report back to us how messages were used • Electronic, social media, printed, other • Councils that do not have an electronic presence still must complete the plan

33. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Budget • Narrative should clearly describe how CECC plans to use funds to support activities identified in the strategic plan • Budget template provided in Appendix • Applications should be submitted using the template • Clearly tie expenditures to activities identified in the narrative

34. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Required Components Applications will not be considered until all components are received. • List of members (ALL MEMBERS – including all School Districts and All Head Starts • Letters of Commitment  Verifies required members • Conflict of Interest forms  Filled out by ALL members • Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit online templates

35. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Submission of Application • Applications must be post marked no later than MAY 15, 2014 • Any received after this date will be deemed non-responsive • Mailed and hand delivered • 1 original and electronic copies on a CD or a USB drive • Within 10 business days of May 15, 2014 GOEC will provide applicants notification of receipt of application • Should not exceed 20 pages • Does not include cover-page or required forms or RFA appendices • Times New Roman or Arial font (12 pt) • Double-spaced • Text in charts or graphs may be single spaced • Graphs and charts should not be used in excess • All margins 1 inch

36. 2014 CECC Request for Applications Scoring and Evaluation • Applications will be reviewed by multiple independent reviewers • Refer to Appendix D for scoring criteria • Reviewers will utilize Appendix D to score applications • Final score will represent a composite of independent reviews

37. Governor’s Office of Early Childhood 125 Holmes St. Frankfort, KY 40601 502-782-0200 http://kidsnow.ky.gov Thank you! Questions/Answers