New Grant Opportunities for Supporting Kindergarten Transitions

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced two new grant opportunities that include invitational priorities to support transitions to kindergarten: The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD).

These grants support the Kindergarten Sturdy Bridge Learning Community, a multi-state effort launched at ED last year to make kindergarten a transformational experience at the start of each student’s formal education journey. Supporting effective transition practices and the continuity of services and supports as children transition from preschool and other early childhood settings into kindergarten and from kindergarten into the early grades is critical. Smooth kindergarten transitions help to lay a strong foundation for long-term positive engagement and learning experiences.

The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant program aims to support student achievement by improving practices to recruit, prepare, and develop educators. This invitational priority for Early Elementary Educators and School Leaders supports projects that include professional development programs, professional learning communities, and peer learning collaboratives.

These efforts aim to help educators and leaders address the diverse needs and experiences of students in kindergarten and the early grades, with a specific focus on:

• Intentional collaboration for systemic alignment for continuity of services, supports, instruction, relationships, and data sharing across K-2;
• Effective and intentional transitions into kindergarten and through the early grades;
• Instruction informed by child development and developmentally informed practices; and
• Partnerships with parents and caregivers to support successful family engagement and school attendance

Applications are due by June 3rd.  

The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) is a competitive grant program that gives states an opportunity to support literacy from birth through elementary school and focus on the needs of underserved populations including English learners, students with disabilities, and children from low-income families. The grant includes an invitational priority on projects that:

• Include developmentally appropriate practices that support cross-sector collaboration; 
• Prioritize family engagement in early learning and the early elementary grades;  
• Support continuity of services and supports from preschool through third grade; 
• Integrate practices promoting foundational literacy skills that undergird early literacy and early math success;
• Increase and improve educational opportunities for students through instructional alignment between preschool and third grade; and
• Support educators and school leaders 

Applications are due by June 24th. 

FFYF commends the U.S. Department of Education for their commitment to supporting the foundational years from birth to kindergarten entry and for focusing on building a sturdy bridge between early childhood settings and the early grades.