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Prekindergarten Expansion Grant Program

Purpose

The Prekindergarten Expansion Grant is a competitive grant program administered by the Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). It provides funding for local education agencies (LEAs) and private providers to administer high-quality prekindergarten and school readiness services throughout the State for children and their families in coordination with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The Blueprint granted all three- and four-year-old children from families earning incomes at or below 300% Federal Poverty Level access to high-quality full-day Pre-K at no cost. The Prekindergarten Expansion Grant is part of Maryland’s plan for expanding access to high-quality prekindergarten. The grant, previously funded through a combination of federal preschool grant funds and funds provided by the Maryland Prekindergarten Expansion Act of 2014, is now sustained through state funding as a result of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.


When will the application be open?

Tuesday, April 11, 2023


Application Submission Date

Tuesday, June 13, 2023, No later than 5:00 p.m. ET

This funding opportunity, including all attachments and updates, are found on the Maryland State Department of Education Office of Grants Administration and Compliance website.



Customer Service Support Sessions

The MSDE will hold customer service support sessions for interested applicants. During these sessions, MSDE personnel will review what applicants need to get started, the program requirements, as well as a walk-through of the application. To attend a virtual session, please see the dates, times, and registration links below:

Customer Session 1

Tuesday, April 18, 2023, (registration required)
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 2

Wednesday, April 19, 2023, (registration required)
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 3

Thursday, April 20, 2023, (Office Hours) - Modified Short Form Application (open link, no registration required)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 4

Monday, April 24, 2023, (Office Hours) - Private Providers (open link, no registration required)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 5

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, (Office Hours) LEAs (open link, no registration required)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 6

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, (registration required)
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 7

Thursday, May 4, 2023, (registration required)
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Join video call

Customer Session 8

Tuesday, May 9, 2023,  (Office Hours)- Open to all applicants (open link, no registration required)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Join video call


Questions

If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact the Program Monitor:

Nykia Washington
Prekindergarten Program Manager
Phone:  (410) 767-0088

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers will be posted to the MSDE website following customer service support sessions.


Grant Application Timeline

April 11, 2023
The grant application period opens

June 13, 2023
The grant application period closes

June 27, 2023
The MSDE will complete notifying applicants of the award status

July 1, 2023
The grant period begins

June 30, 2024
The grant period ends