Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Grants

Program Description

The State Budget included 3 million dollars for 4K Community Start Up Grants in the second year of the State budget, starting July 1, 2008. Grants are awarded by formula based on enrollment in 4K programs. Second year applications will occur during the 2008-2009 school year. Districts will be required to demonstrate that they continue to provide the 4-year-old kindergarten program. If funded under the community approach priority, they will need to demonstrate that they are utilizing community approaches (have a council and contracts with child care and/or Head Start providers). Cycle 2 Start-up grants will be available in April 2009 for districts implementing in 2009-2010.

Who is Eligible to Apply

School Districts, with preference given to districts that use a community approach to early education

Amount of Funds Available

• 2008-2010 Grant Cycle 1, first year start-up: DPI is cautiously estimating 4K start-up grant funding of $698 per child. This amount is an estimate of award based on unaudited student count submitted by districts in September 2008. Please be aware that the final funding amount will change based on variations in each district's audited 4-year-old kindergarten enrollment or if districts withdraw from the grant. Final funding under the community approach category will not be known until June 2009 after the 2008-2009 school year child count.
• 2008-2010 Grant cycle 1, second year continuation: The amount will not be known until June 2010.
• 2009-2011 Grant cycle 2 first year start-up: First year start-up: Based on the number of districts and children in the grant cycle 1, it appears that there will no additional funding available for Grant Cycle 2. To assure access to Grant Cycle 2 continuation funds for districts starting in 2009-2010, districts will still apply for Cycle 2 funding in April 2009.

For more information, contact:

Jill Haglund, Family-School-Community Partnerships Team, at (608) 267-9625, Jill Haglund@dpi.wi.gov.

Other Information and Resources

• Four−year−old Kindergarten Grants Available
• 2008-09 Application, Notice and Funding Timetable
• Administrative Rules
• Press Release: 32 Districts Qualify for 4K Start-Up Grants

For questions about this information, contact Jill A. Haglund (608) 267-9625

Last updated on 3/27/2009 2:32:06 PM