Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the ECAP Expansion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DCYF announces tentative ECAP awards, says Balmer philanthropic account could fund up to 10,000 new slots
Summary
DCYF told ELAC that a Balmer Group philanthropic account (PreK Promise) could support up to 10,000 new ECAP school‑day slots over 10 years and up to about $170 million annually; tentative May 1 awards would add an estimated ~2,500 slots and 54 new sites next school year, pending finalized contracts.
DCYF’s ECAP senior administrator Kimberly Burgess Sims told the Early Learning Advisory Council the agency has launched an initial expansion using philanthropic funding from the PreK Promise account.
"This new grant commitment will support the creation of up to 10,000 new school day ECAP slots over 10 years," Burgess Sims said, adding the philanthropic investment could be "up to approximately 170 million annually." DCYF said the funds support direct ECAP services, curriculum and assessment tools, and a small administrative rate.
DCYF issued a request for applications and on May 1 sent tentative award letters to 30 applicants. The agency estimates an increase of roughly 2,500 ECAP slots statewide for the coming school year (from about 14,390 slots to ~16,885) and reported 54 new ECAP sites across child care centers, schools, Head Start and tribal early learning centers.
To help new and prospective ECAP contractors, DCYF said it is waiving annual licensing fees for ECAP providers, offering free curriculum and assessment licenses, providing technical assistance and hosting regional training on recruitment and enrollment. The agency also launched an "ECAP foundations" orientation course and is soliciting nominations for a PreK Promise ELAC subcommittee to advise longer‑term expansion planning.
DCYF emphasized the expansion will be phased; the first year is treated as a learning year and some mid‑year expansion opportunities remain possible if contractors can show capacity and families who need slots.
The agency asked ELAC and regional coalitions to help recruit providers and to participate in upcoming listening sessions to surface barriers and regional needs.
