The U.S. Department of Education recently announced $2.8 million in funding for a Preschool Pay for Success grant competition for state, local and tribal governments interested in exploring the feasibility of Pay for Success to expand and improve early learning. The feasibility studies will determine if this model is an effective strategy to implement preschool programs that are high-quality and produce meaningful results.
“These new grants are one way to answer the question of how we can do a better job to make sure we provide access to high-quality preschool and ensure it’s available to our kids most at risk,” U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said. “It also provides an opportunity to focus on long-term evidence of effectiveness and to bring in our state and local partners, along with private and philanthropic investments, to test new ideas, develop new solutions, improve the quality of early learning and further improve outcomes for our most vulnerable children.”
Interested in learning more? The department is hosting a webinar Thursday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. EDT, or you can visit the Preschool Pay For Success Feasibility Pilot website. The deadline for submitting an intent to apply notice is Sept. 12, 2016, and applications are due on Oct. 6, 2016. Grants will be awarded before Dec. 31, 2016.