(Des Moines) Four area school districts were awarded BELIEF grants.
Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced today the competitive planning grants, up to $10,000 each, to public school districts to explore the development of blending child care and quality early learning programs in their communities.
The Blended Early Learning in Educational Foundations (BELIEF) grants will support school districts working with community partners in developing plans to start evidence-based, customized early child care and preschool programs for children under the age of five. The grants can be used to cover costs associated with training and planning, such as travel expenses, communication and outreach services, transportation costs associated with multiple service locations as well as the cost of substitute teachers, so team members can attend training and planning sessions.
The four area districts awarded a one-time BELIEF grant include Woodbine Community School District, Essex Community School District, Shenandoah Community School District and Hamburg Community School District.
The BELIEF grants are supported by the Iowa Department of Education’s portion of funds received through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III or ARP ESSER). State education agencies were granted a share of discretionary dollars to address critical needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In determining awards, priority consideration was given to applicant districts that provided clear evidence to plan and partner with one or more private partners on a model tailored to meet the needs of their communities and youngest learners.
Applications for a second round of awards will open later this spring.
