Local Schools Receive Early Learning Grants

BISMARCK, ND (ND Human Services) – The North Dakota Department of Human Services’ Early Childhood Division hosted the latest round of class grant recipients today.

Thirty programs across the state will receive grant funds to promote early learning experiences for children in kindergarten.

Grant recipients include Ashley Public School Early Childhood Education Program, Shiloh Christian Preschool BismarckIn Central Cass Public Schools Casselton, Cannon Ball Elementary School, Cavalier Public School, Elgin-New Leipzig Public School Elgin, Emerado Public School, Fargo Public School – Agassiz School, Sargent Central Public School Forman, Grafton Public Schools, Maddock Public School District No. 9, in the Kidder County School District Steele, Max Public School, McClusky Public School, Mohall-Lansford Public School MohallIn Midway Public School InksterIn Valley-Edinburg Public School Hoople, Newburg Public School, New England Public School, New Rockford-Sheyenne Public School District No. 2, in the North Border School District Pembina and Walhalla, Park River Public School, North Shore Plaza School – Lewis and Clark School District Plaza, Rolla Elementary preschool program, Rugby Public School, St. John Public School, Underwood Public School, Westhope Public School and Wishek Public School.

Of the 30 programs funded for 2022-2023, 21 have been participated in the Best of the Class pilot cohort and received funding during the 2021-2022 program year.

Best in-class grants provide access to a higher level of support through staff coaching and play-based curriculum. Programs also receive consultation and support on strategies to promote family engagement, connect children to child health and development screenings, measure child outcomes, and evaluate and enhance space to support early childhood experiences.

The grant range is $ 15,000 to $ 120,000 per classroom and will be awarded in July 2022 for the 2022-2023 program year. Amounts vary by the number of children served and group size, total number of operating hours and other factors.

Programs provide a minimum of 832 hours of early childhood learning experience over a 32-week period. Matching funds are required.

Apply More Programs Can

More programs can apply for funding. The department is offering another round of 2022-2023 Best in Class grants and programs that can be applied beginning May 23, 2022. See details at https://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/childfamily/bestinclass.html.

North Dakota’s Best in Class program is a targeted investment program that enables children and families to serve the highest quality of life, and their actions can be invested in intentional, research-supported investments. childhood.

Participating programs are monitored, evaluated and supported to ensure that the investment has an impact. Programming is based on 25-plus years of research indicating that the positive gains that come from having quality early childhood experiences can have a long-lasting effect.

Funding was authorized in House Bill No. 1466 during the 2021 North Dakota Legislative Session. The funding for these programs comes from a grant from Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) II and III COVID-19 relief funds from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction state set-aside dollars.