[kids-lib] Q and A: RACE TO THE TOP-EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE GRANTS

Fri Aug 2 14:36:10 PDT 2013

Hi! One of you just emailed to ask some great questions about Oregon's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant and I thought the rest of you might be interested in the questions and answer.

Questions:
Is [Race to the Top] managed by the State Library? Is this for Public Libraries, schools, Head start? What does this mean for [libraries]?

Answer:
Oregon's Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant is managed by the Early Learning Division (i.e. the Early Learning Council). The State Library is one of many partners on the grant, including Head Start, Healthy Start, and schools. The State Library and public libraries will not receive any Race to the Top grant funds. We are in-kind contributors helping to implement the grant project to achieve the project outcomes. The upcoming Every Child Ready to Read Training of Trainers is one of the State Library's/library community's Race to the Top grant activities and it is being paid for by LSTA funds. To learn more, read Oregon's Race to the Top application (http://www.oregon.gov/gov/docs/OEIB/RTTApp.pdf).

I will probably be on one of the Race to the Top committees, but due to the Legislative session we haven't had a chance to meet yet. Once that gets going, then there will likely be more grant activities for the State Library and the library community. I will be keeping the library community informed as I learn more.

Katie Anderson, Library Development Services
* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *
Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301
katie.anderson at state.or.us<mailto:katie.anderson at state.or.us>, 503-378-2528

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NEWS

U.S. Department of Education          U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

SIX STATES AWARDED SUPPLEMENTAL RACE TO THE TOP-EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE GRANTS

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education (ED) announced today that California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin will each receive a supplemental award from the 2013 Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) grant fund to improve quality and expand access to early learning programs throughout their states.  The total award amount for these supplemental grants is $89,213,863.

On April 16, 2013, the Departments announced that supplemental awards would be made with FY 2013 funds to those six grantees that did not receive the full amount requested.  This supplemental award will bring the total funding amount to 75 percent of the funding originally requested in the FY 2011 applications.  The supplemental award amounts are:  California, $22,427,065; Colorado, $14,980,916; Illinois, $17,699,347; New Mexico,$12,500,000; Oregon, $10,254,45; Wisconsin, $11,352,084.

In order to receive these supplemental awards, the six grantees will need to submit a detailed budget and budget narrative, revised performance measures and signed assurances. Funds must be used to support improvements in the State's Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System consistent with its FY 2011 application.

"The need for early learning is clear, as studies prove that children who have rich early learning experiences are better prepared to thrive in school," said U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan.  "These funds can help states develop and strengthen programs that serve America's youngest learners by expanding access to high-quality early education and providing them with a strong start on the path to closing the opportunity gap."

"As any parent knows, the first few years of a child's life are critical," said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Kids who attend high-quality early learning and pre-school programs are more likely to do well in school. They're more likely to secure a good job down the road; and they're more likely to maintain successful careers long-term."

The Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge is a key part of the Obama Administration's comprehensive early learning agenda. The program is jointly administered by ED and HHS, and the two agencies are continuing to work closely together on new initiatives to expand and improve services for children from birth through age 5.  Through the RTT-ELC the Obama Administration called on states to create proposals to improve early learning by coordinating existing programs, evaluating and rating program quality and increasing access to high-quality programs, particularly for children with high needs.  In the first year, the competition received 37 applications and collectively awarded $500 million to nine states: California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington. In 2012, five additional highest-rated states were awarded grants: Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon and Wisconsin.  A new competition will be held this year with applications available in late summer.

President Obama understands that the stubborn opportunity gap that confronts far too many American children and limits their life chances, often begins before they even enter kindergarten. The President's 2014 budget request includes a historic new investment-$75 billion, in fully offset mandatory funds, over a 10-year period-in preschool education that supports universal access for all four-year olds from low-income and moderate-income families through a partnership with the states.

For more information on the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge Fund visit  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/programs/race-to-the-top

________________________________

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Rosalyn McGarva
Librarian
Dallas Public Library
950 Main St.
Dallas, Or. 97338
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