(a)

1. (1) Any childcare provider meeting these criteria is eligible to apply for funding:

   1. (A) Located within the boundaries of the State of Arkansas;
   2. (B) Licensed by the Office of Early Childhood as a childcare center or childcare family home with no history of formal corrective action or founded complaints that pose an immediate safety risk within twelve (12) months of application date;
   3. (C)

(i) Has no outstanding debt to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

1. (ii) This requirement shall be suspended if an appeal is pending;

   1. (D) Has obtained State Quality Approval accreditation or is eligible for such accreditation in the space to be used for the ABC Program; and
   2. (E) Can provide matching funds in accordance with local-to-state forty-to-sixty (40:60) funding ratio.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The local-to-state match may be waived by the division if the:

      1. (i) Program is in a school district that has been designated by the State Board of Education as being in Level 5 — Intensive support or fiscal distress; and
      2. (ii) Division determines that the school is unable to provide the local-to-state match requirement.
   2. (B) This determination may be made only after the division has assisted the school in identifying potential funding sources to provide local-to-state match requirements.

(b)

1. (1) Any provider wishing to be considered for funding must fully complete a grant application supplied by the division.

2. (2) Grant applications will be evaluated and scored on the following factors:

   1. (A) Current status of childcare license and Quality Approval accreditation;
   2. (B) The degree to which the program can provide a developmentally appropriate preschool program as outlined in the grant application;
   3. (C) A strategy of collaboration with the local business, health, and education community;
   4. (D) A fiscally responsible budget that correlates to core quality models; and

   5. (E) A plan of action for parent involvement.

      1. (c)
3. (1) The division will determine an acceptable cutoff score for approved applications.
4. (2) Upon availability of funding, the office will open an application window.
5. (3) Questions and concerns regarding grant scoring should be referred to the ABC Program Administrator.
6. (4) The ABC Program Administrator shall make the final determination of all grant scores.

7. (5) Grant scores are final.

   1. (d)

8. (1) All applications shall include a budget that:

   1. (A) Corresponds to the ABC Program core quality components;
   2. (B) Details program costs; and
   3. (C) Demonstrates fiscal responsibility.

9. (2) Allowable costs include:

   1. (A) Salaries/ and, or, or fringe;
   2. (B) Instructional materials;
   3. (C) Staff development;
   4. (D) Developmental screenings;
   5. (E) Parent/ and, or, or community engagement activities; and

   6. (F) Financial assistance for staff working towards a degree or credential, including but not limited to:

      1. (i) Books;
      2. (ii) Tuition; and
      3. (iii) Travel.