Wyo. Code R. 206-0002-46
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 46: Early Childhood Community Collaborative Grant
Effective Date: 12/19/2019 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 206.0002.46.12192019
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated pursuant to 2019 House Enrolled Act 51, Section 339; 2019 Wyoming Session Law 294.
(a) 'Early Childhood' means the years between one (1) and eight (8) years of age.
(b) 'Early Childhood Community Collaborative Grant Administrator' means the agency, agency director, or agency staff who oversees the Early Childhood Community Collaborative Grants.
(c) 'Early Childhood Community Collaborative Grant Committee,' (The Committee), means a group of individuals consisting of personnel from the Department of Education and the Governor's Early Childhood State Advisory Council.
(a) Eligible applicants will be a Wyoming school district, agency, or non-profit organization registered to do business with the Secretary of State's office with:
(i) The capacity to facilitate, or a history that demonstrates facilitation of, broad-based community collaboration with the intent to provide services to all children and their families to ensure that children are ready to be successful in school;
(ii) A demonstrable and in-depth knowledge of the early education system in its community;
(iii) A demonstrable and in-depth knowledge of high standards for early learning opportunities and ability to maximize resources; and
(iv) A demonstrable ability to provide an in-kind or monetary four to one match of total funds requested.
(b) Applicants will be eligible for a maximum of $50,000 that will be used to supplement, not supplant, early childhood education and receive funding one (1) time during the grant period.
Section 4. Application. The grant application will be filled out completely, submitted to the Department, and will include:
(a) A project proposal that clearly expresses and depicts the applicant's and the community's commitment to ensure that all children are ready to be successful in school by:
(i) Facilitating regular and on-going communication and collaboration between the community's early childhood stakeholders including broad outreach to and a minimum of participation from families, kindergarten teachers, school district administrators, early childhood education professionals and teachers, and health professionals; and
(ii) Obtaining data and strengths-based evaluation from the community to inform and evaluate actions;
(b) A community description containing information about the community, including:
(i) A definition of community boundaries and the population that may be served with grant funds;
(ii) Defining characteristics of the identified community; and
(iii) An overview of community needs and existing resources that includes data and strengths-based evaluation.
(c) An overview of existing and planned community collaborative that details existing and past efforts to engage early childhood partners in the community as well as the strategy for continued broad-based community engagement. Partners will include, but not be limited to:
(i) Families;
(ii) Early childcare providers and education professionals; and
(iii) Representation from the K-12 education system such as teachers, school district administrators, and staff.
(d) A list and narrative of the actions that connect to the community's needs and commitment to ensure that all children are ready to be successful in schools. Actions may include, but are not limited to those:
(i) Facilitating regular and on-going communication and collaboration between the community's early childhood stakeholders including broad outreach to and participation;
(ii) Supporting families as their children's first and most important guide and teacher by providing resources, trainings, events, or support groups;
(iii) Assisting and providing support to families to enroll their children in early childhood education programs where they are served in home visiting programs or in licensed child care facilities;
(iv) Extending developmentally appropriate education services, events or materials for all children and their families in the community;
(v) Defraying the costs of additional or more qualified teaching staff, appropriate education materials and equipment to improve the quality of educational experiences offered to young children and families;
(vi) Supplementing or covering the costs of professional development and age-appropriate child assessment for individuals and programs working with young children;
(vii) Administering, implementing, monitoring and evaluating the early childhood collaborative and individual programs; and
(viii) Increasing the public’s understanding of and support for early childhood work.
(e) Include a request for any technical assistance or training that increases and supports the community’s work to achieve positive outcomes.
(f) Include a cost proposal providing:
(i) A detailed operational budget showing expenditures and income and an in-kind or monetary match of four to one of total funds requested; and
(ii) A budget narrative.
(a) Each application will be reviewed by the Committee.
(b) The Committee will evaluate only completed applications.
(c) The Department will award grants after reviewing recommendations from the Committee and will have the final decision.
(d) The Department may conduct a cost analysis of the applicant’s budget proposal. The analysis will include a review of the associated costs based on the technical content of its submission.
(e) Applicants may be asked to submit additional information in order to clarify their proposals.
(f) Grant awards will be made during the 2019-2020 school year through contracts with the Department.
(g) The Department, in consultation with the Early Childhood Community Collaborative Grant Committee, will determine whether to award all or a portion of the funds requested in the application.
Section 6. Grantee Responsibilities. The grantee will execute the grant agreement provided by the state.
(a) The Department reserves the right to terminate the contract if the Early Childhood Community Collaborative grantee fails to perform in accordance with the conditions of the application or contract.
(b) Any grantee who is terminated from the grant program will repay to the Department the grant amount as outlined in the grant agreement.