Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Grants (2021-2026)

Grant Funds from fb88 Jobs and Recovery Plan Support Expansion of Public Pre-K

Pre-Kindergarten Expansion Grants (2021-2026)

Grant Funds from fb88 Jobs and Recovery Plan Support Expansion of Public Pre-K

The first years of life are a critical developmental time in forming the basis for learning and social interaction. Investments in early learning have powerful long-term paybacks. The pandemic heightened the difficulty that many fb88 parents/caregivers already faced inÌýstruggling to locate pre-kindergarten or child care. Access gaps are especially acute in fb88’s rural communities.ÌýThe fb88 Jobs and Recovery PlanÌýhas committed $10 million dollars to address these access gaps.


fb88’s Department of Education has helped schools increase the number of children accessing high-quality pre-kindergarten by offering funds to establish or expandÌýpublic pre-k programs. Through multiple competitive grant rounds, the Department has provided funding to local school administrative units to cover facility renovations, staff recruitment and training, and other start-up costs linked to establishing new public pre-kindergarten programs, expanding to additional classrooms, or transitioning from part-day/part-weekÌýto full-day/full-week. Priority has been given to schools that partner with community programs such Head Start or child care, provide longer duration of education, and serve socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The Department has and will continue to provide technical assistance and professional learning to school administrative units for prekindergarten expansion.

Pre-K Expansion Grantees by Grant Rounds

Four rounds of grant opportunities were offered to SAUs to start or expand Pre-K in the 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Grantees for each round can be viewed in the drop-down charts below. The chart indicates the model of each SAU's Pre-K Program, enrollment (actual and projected), community partners, and funding awarded to date.

For any information regarding the Pre-K Expansion Grant please contact Lee Anne Larsen at leeann.larsen@maine.gov

Round 1 Pre-K Expansion Grants Awardees

FY 2022-24ÌýSchool Year

SAU

Model​

Enrollment​

Partner(s)​

Funding FYÌý1​

Funding FY 2​

Greenville​

New program, 1​

full day/fullÌýweekÌýclassroom​

8​

​

$114,321.76​

$33,000.00​

St. George​

New program, 1 fullÌýday/full weekÌýclassroom​

17​

​

$187,307.83​

$33,000.00​

Vassalboro​

Existing program, addedÌý1 full day/full weekÌýclassroom​

12​

​

$61,368.33​

$33,000.00​

Appleton​

New program, 1 fullÌýday/full week classroom​

13​

​

$200,750.00​

$33,000.00​

Bangor​

Existing program, addedÌý1 classroom andÌýexpanded 2 classroomsÌýto full day/full week​

58​

​

$80,851.00​

$99,000.00​

Yarmouth​

New program, 4 part-Ìýday/full weekÌýclassrooms​

57​

​

$356,550.00​

$66,000.00​

Sanford​

Existing program, addedÌý3 full day/full weekÌýclassrooms​

66​

​

$261,665.31​

$99,000.00​

RSU 24​

New program, added 4Ìýfull day/full weekÌýclassrooms​

34​

DCP Head Start​

$269,902.00​

No cost extensionÌýof CT FY 23-24​

RSU 22​

Existing program,Ìýexpanded 3 classroomsÌýto full day/full week​

38​

​

$329,081.30​

$99,000.00​

Limestone​

Existing program,Ìýexpanded 1 classroomÌýto full day/full week​

16​

ACAP HeadÌýStart​

$32,946.36​

$33,000.00​
Round 2 Pre-K Expansion Grants Awardees
FY 2023-24 and 2024-25 School Years
Model Projected Enrollment Partner(s) ÌýFunding FY2023-24​Ìý ÌýFunding FY2024-25​Ìý
Existing program, expanding 1 classroom to full day/full week 16 Ìý Ìý$119,207.43 Ìý$152,207.43
Existing program, expanding Ìý2 classrooms from part to full day and adding 2 fullÌýday/full week classrooms 80 Ìý Ìý$249,273.37 Ìý$381,273.27
New program,Ìýopening 2 full day/full week classrooms 30 Cape Care Ìý$339,798.28 Ìý$405,798.28
New program, opening 3 full day/full week classrooms 48 Ìý Ìý$597,757.12 Ìý$696,757.12
Existing program, adding 6 part- day/part week classrooms, 2 inÌýpartnership with a private childcare and four in collaboration with CDS 96 Seedlings to Sunflowers Ìý$609,887.86 Ìý$675,877.86
New program, 1 full day/full week classroom 16 Ìý Ìý$72,107.00 Ìý$105,107.00
Existing program, expanding 1 classroom from part day/full week to full day/full week 16 ACAP Head Start Ìý$114,429.13 Ìý$147,429.13
Adding 1 new full day/full week classroom and 1Ìýpart day/full week classroom (2 sessions) 16 ACAP Head Start Ìý$218,021.00 Ìý$236,445.69
Existing program, adding 1Ìý full day/fullÌýweek classroom​ 14​ AroostookÌýCounty Action Program ÌýÌý​ Ìý$101,230.00 Ìý$101,230.00
Existing program, adding 1 fullÌýday/fullÌýweek classroom​â¶Ä‹ 16​â¶Ä‹ KennebecÌýValleyÌýÌý CommunityÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ActionÌýProgramÌý​ Ìý$90,201.94 Ìý$123,201.94
Existing program, adding 1 full day/full week classroom and 1 special purpose classroomÌý 24 Youth and Family Outreach Ìý$326,847.93 Ìý$487,847.93
Existing program, expanding fullÌýday/fullÌýweek seatsÌýacross 3 community partners​â¶Ä‹ 11​â¶Ä‹ A Child'sÌýWorld,ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý ÌýTuÌýCasaÌýChildcare, Southern fb88 Children's AcademyÌý​ Ìý$95,113.00​â¶Ä‹Ìý Ìý$110,144.27
ExistingÌýprogram, expanding to fullÌýday/full week and adding 1 classroom​ 96​â¶Ä‹ ​â¶Ä‹ Ìý$572.514.00​â¶Ä‹Ìý Ìý$770,514.00
Existing program, adding 1 full day/fullÌýweek​ classroom​ 16​â¶Ä‹ ​â¶Ä‹ Ìý$55,205.44​â¶Ä‹Ìý Ìý$67,655.44
Existing program, adding 4 full day/fullÌýweek​ classrooms in collaboration withÌýCDS​ 22​â¶Ä‹ ​SAD4, SAD46, RSU41​ Ìý$166,439.30​â¶Ä‹Ìý Ìý$232,439.30

Ìý

Round 3 Pre-K Expansion Grants Awardees
FY 2023-24 and 2024-25 School Years
³§´¡±«â€‹ ²Ñ´Ç»å±ð±ô​ ProjectedÌýÌý Enrollment​ ±Ê²¹°ù³Ù²Ô±ð°ù(²õ)​ ÌýFunding FY2023-24​Ìý ÌýFunding FY2024-25​Ìý
Brunswick​ Existing program,Ìýadding 1full day/fullÌýweek classroom andÌýexpanding 8 seats inÌýexisting classrooms​ 24​ MidcoastÌýfb88ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Community ActionÌýHead Start​ Ìý$225,380.00​Ìý Ìý$274,880.00
Community RegionalÌýCharter School​ Existing program,Ìýadding 1 full day/fullÌýweek classroom​ 16​ ​ Ìý$127,600.00​Ìý Ìý
MSAD 6​ Existing program,Ìýadding 2 full day/fullÌýweek classrooms andÌýexpanding existingÌýclassrooms from partÌýweek to full week​ 32​ ​ Ìý$183,600.45​Ìý Ìý$381,600.45
South Portland SchoolÌýDepartment​ Existing program,Ìýadding 1 full day/fullÌýweek classroom inÌýcollaboration withÌýCDS​ 16​ ​ Ìý$144,000.00 Ìý$130,506.99
Round 4ÌýPre-K Expansion Grants Awardees
FY 2025-26 School Year
SAU Model Projected Enrollment Partner(s) ÌýFunding 2025-26Ìý
Hancock Existing program,Ìýadding 1 full day/fullÌýweek classroom​ 16 Ìý Ìý$120,000.00
Lamoine Existing program,Ìýadding 1 full day/fullÌýweek classroom​ 16 Ìý Ìý$120,000.00
RSU 60 2 classrooms in 3 different locations (6 total), offering full week and full day programming 96 Blueprints Learning Center Ìý$599,812.00

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