Early Learning Challenge | First Five Years Fund

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Early Learning Challenge

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The Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge grant will help states build comprehensive early childhood systems and improve program quality.

Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge: greater efficiency and increased effectiveness

In May 2010, Congress committed $500 million for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant (RTT-ELC). On October 19, 35 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico submitted applications for grants ranging from $50 to $100 million, based on relative population of low-income young children. These innovative, competitive state-level grants will address the needs of the most vulnerable children through a comprehensive approach— supporting activities to enhance quality in early childhood education programs, align standards, and coordinate disparate elements of early care and education into a more efficient, unified, high-quality system with measurable outcomes. Winners will be announced in December for a grant period that lasts from December 31, 2011 to December 31, 2015.

The Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked states to promote school readiness for children with high needs by focusing their applications on the following five areas:

• Successful state systems

• High-quality, accountable programs

• Promoting early learning and development outcomes for children

• A great early childhood education workforce
• Measuring outcomes and progress

Make your voice heard with the Early Learning Challenge Communications toolkit.

Read a summary of the RTT-ELC application requirements.

Learn about the Early Learning Challenge Collaborative, a partnership between FFYF and BUILD to leverage the RTT-ELC to cultivate, support, and sustain successful state systems of early learning.

Visit the U.S. Department of Education's RTT-ELC page.