The purpose of the ECE Grant is to provide high-quality early learning services to Ohio’s preschool age children and help to prepare children for success in kindergarten. The state funded ECE Grant is awarded to early care and education programs who provide developmentally appropriate learning environments that address the outcomes and goals essential for healthy development and academic growth.
Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio’s General Assembly demonstrated the state’s commitment to early childhood education when House Bill 33 was signed into law. Ohio currently allocates funding for over 30,000 children. The ECE Grant is a critical investment in Ohio’s youngest learners.
ECE Grant funds are awarded to existing high-quality early care and education programs within high-needs areas of the state. Programs that receive the grant include public preschool programs, Joint Vocational schools (JVS), Board of Developmental Disabilities, chartered non-public schools, private preschool programs, Head Start programs, childcare centers and family childcare homes.
Programs that are awarded the Early Childhood Education Grant must demonstrate they meet high-quality standards by achieving a 3-, 4-, or 5- star rating in Step Up To Quality, Ohio’s tiered quality rating and improvement system. High-quality programming includes implementing a curriculum aligned to the Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards, setting learning goals for children based on assessment data, degreed teachers engaging in on-going professional development and building partnerships with families and the community.
Teacher education and specialized training are associated with higher overall classroom quality, more positive teacher behaviors in the classroom and positive developmental outcomes for children. ECE Grant programs must employ highly qualified teachers with training and experience in early childhood education and provide teachers with individualized, ongoing quality professional development opportunities.
ECE funded classrooms shall meet the teacher qualifications stated in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3301.311. All administrators, lead and assistant teachers who work in an Early Childhood Education Grant funded program are required to complete 20 hours of Ohio Approved professional development each biennium. Please visit Early Learning Professional Development for more information on professional development.