Grant Requirements

Programs interested in applying for School Readiness funds must attend a mandatory Technical Assistance (TA) meeting early in the year when the application is released to the community.  At the TA meeting, programs will be told more specifically about the requirements for the grant.  Programs may be private for profit centers or non-profit centers, in public schools or a part of Head Start.  Interested programs should either be currently accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), or able to earn accreditation with in three years from their date of funding.  In addition, the legislation has identified specific requirements for programs that ensure the highest quality of care for the children in the program.  Children who are School Readiness children must reside in Norwich and their families must be at or below 75% of the state median income level. 

The Request for Proposal (RFP) from the state usually comes at the end of January, the TA meeting is shortly there after.  Local grant applications (from child care providers and centers) are due four to five weeks after the TA meeting.  The total School Readiness grant is due to the State Department of Education the middle of May.  The programs awarded School Readiness funds agree to participate in professional development opportunities for their staff, comply with monthly reporting activities, and have their programs evaluated often by the School Readiness Liaison.  They also become a part of the Children First Norwich/School Readiness (CFN/SR) Council and are expected to participate regularly in the activities and events.

Programs in the School Readiness system are giving a lot of support by the School Readiness Liaison and the CFN/SR Council to fulfill their obligations under the School Readiness legislation and to make their programs the best places for children.

Programs interested in applying for School Readiness funds should contact Anne Jerome, School Readiness Liaison at ajerome@norwichpublicschools.org or by phone at 823-4201, ext. 104.  Anne’s office is located in Bishop Elementary School, 526 Main Street in Norwich.