The School Readiness Preschool Program provides affordable, high-quality early care and education services in high-need communities that help young children prepare for kindergarten.
What does the program do?
The program funds spaces for children ages 3, 4, and 5 who aren’t yet eligible for kindergarten. At least 60 percent of the children enrolled must be at or below 75 percent of the State Median Income.
The School Readiness Preschool Program benefits individual children, their families, and their communities. Find out more about the benefits of school readiness.
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Which communities are eligible to apply for a school readiness grant?
A community may be eligible to receive school readiness funds if:
- It’s a community designated as a priority school district — either currently or in the past
- It’s a community in the lowest 50 towns ranked by wealth
Each year, OEC determines eligibility and issues a request for proposals from communities.
What types of spaces are funded with school readiness funds?
There is a range of space types, from part-time to full-time, year-round programs. Each space type has specific requirements that determine how much the program will be reimbursed for each enrolled child.
Are families charged a fee for children enrolled in a school readiness program?
Programs charge parent fees based on the OEC Fee Schedule. They may also use the Care4Kids Program.
Who decides how each community spends its school readiness grant?
Communities receiving School Readiness Grant funds have a School Readiness Council (SRC) that’s responsible for making recommendations about the school readiness grant program. Find out more about how school readiness grants are awarded.