30005075 - Universal Pre-Kindergarten

Account Description FY2011
Spending
FY2012
GAA
3000-5075 Universal Pre-Kindergarten
For the Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program; provided, that funds from this item shall be expended on grants to improve the quality of and expand access to preschool programs and services to children from the age of 2 years and 9 months until they are kindergarten eligible; provided further, that in awarding grant funds under this program, preference shall be given to establishing preschool classrooms in towns and cities with schools and districts at risk of or determined to be under-performing in accordance with sections 1J and 1K of chapter 69 of the General Laws, schools and districts which have been placed in the accountability status of identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring pursuant to departmental regulations or which have been designated commonwealth priority schools or commonwealth pilot schools pursuant to said regulations, schools or districts with a high percentage of students scoring in levels 1 and 2 on the MCAS exams or programs which serve children not less than 50 per cent of whom are from families earning at or below 85 per cent of the state median income; provided further, that funds may also be used to enhance community-wide capacity building efforts within statewide parameters established by the board; provided further, that any newly-funded programs designated as Massachusetts Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program participants shall have been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the National Association of Family Child Care or a Child Development Associate credential or higher; provided further, that programs receiving grant funds may use the funds to enhance teacher and staff quality and compensation, enhance program ability to interpret and use assessment data effectively, enhance developmentally-appropriate practices, incorporate ancillary services into the program, facilitate or provide access to wrap-around services for working families or to increase capacity to expand access to age-eligible children on the centralized waitlist maintained by the department; provided further, that preference shall be given in awarding grants to those programs which demonstrate affordability for middle class and working class parents according to standards to be developed by the department; and provided further, that any payment made under any such grant with a school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held as a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without municipal appropriation, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary
7,500,000 7,500,000