1. “Title I Pre-K in NC” EC 2010 Conference Carla Garrett Title I Pre-K Education Consultant NC Office of Early Learning – DPI 8.4.10

2. NC Office of Early Learning: Pre-K – Grade 3 Focuses on Pre-K - Grade 3 to support children's success in the early grades Combines staffs in primary education and pre-k Promotes linkages for reforming early education Partners with the FirstSchool initiative (FPG Child Development Institute - UNC)

3. What is FirstSchool? Pre-K - Grade 3 initiative to promote public school efforts to become more responsive to the needs of an increasingly younger, more diverse population Unites the best of early childhood, elementary and special education

4. NC Office of Early Learning Programs Even Start Family Literacy Head Start State Collaboration Office More at Four Pre-Kindergarten Program Preschool Exceptional Children Title I Preschool Primary Education

5. Title I Pre-K in NC: 2009-10 $61,267,466 - Title I funds allocated to Pre-K (projected) Increase of $18,203,750 from 2008-09

6. Title I Pre-K in NC: 2009-10 79 of 115 LEA’s utilized Title I funding for Pre-K 12 LEA’s allocated $1M plus for Title I Pre-K 55 LEA’s increased funding for Title I Pre-K

7. Flexible Funding Title I funds can be used for preschool or to supplement or expand other early childhood education programs, such as state-funded prekindergarten, Head Start, Even Start, or Early Reading First. Title I funds may be used in conjunction with existing programs.

8. Funding Options 1-Title I Pre-K Uses Title I dollars only

9. “Title I Funds” Example: Total # Amount of ChildrenTitle I Funding 18 $125,000 ($6,944 cost per child) *Figures chosen for example purposes only

10. Funding Options (Continued) 2 - Blended Pre-K -Uses Title I dollars with other Pre-K dollars (EC; local, Head Start, Smart Start, etc.) -Title I contribution determined by % of Title I children in each Pre-K class

11. “Blended” Example : Title I + Other Funds % Title I% EC% Local Total #Funds/ Funds/Funds/ Children# Children# Children# Children 18 50% 11% 39% 9= 2= 7= $62,500$13,750$48,750 Total Amount of Funding: $125,000 Total Amount of Title I Funding: $62,500

12. Funding Options (continued) 3 - Dual Enrollment Uses Title I dollars with More At Four dollars Grant Application: “Do any of these Title I eligible students also qualify for M@4 funding?”

13. What is “More At Four”? State preschool program in NC Age Eligibility: Four years old Entering kindergarten the following year At risk for poor school outcomes

14. Dual Enrollment Eligibility requirements for both programs must be met with Title I eligibility criteria being considered first This is not “supplanting,” since More At Four funds are only intended to cover 50% of program costs

15. “Dual Enrollment” Example: Total ##Dually EligibleM@4 FundingTotal M@4 ChildrenChildrenPer ChildFunding 18 9$3,750$33,750 Total Amount of Title I Funding: $125,000 Total Amount of M@4 Funding: $33,750 Total Amount of Funding: $158,750 (Amount increases from $6,944 to $8,819 per child)

16. Eligibility On the basis of multiple, educationally- related, objective criteria established by the LEA, such as: teacher judgment, interviews with parents developmentally appropriate measures

17. Eligibility - Income for the purposes of prioritizingIncome of the family is allowable for the purposes of prioritizing when Title I funds are insufficient to serve all eligible preschool children

18. Eligibility – Age –Birth to the age the LEA provides elementary education; therefore, children who are younger than the age of five by the kindergarten eligibility cut off date - August 31 - in North Carolina are eligible *In NC most Title I Pre-K children served are 4 years old

19. Most Common Examples of Pre-K Quality Investments in NC Teacher Salaries (Increase or Maintain) Instructional Materials Professional Development

20. Suggestions Build RELATIONSHIPS with early childhood partners!!!

21. Suggestions (continued) Champion early education using research and data Build on existing resources in communities Leverage state and federal funds—and capitalize on funding opportunities

22. Resources Serving Preschool Children Under Title I, Non-Regulatory Guidance @ www.ed.gov American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 @ www.ed.gov PreK Now @ www.preknow.org CLASP (Center for Law & Social Policy) @ www.clasp.org

23. Resources NC Title I Preschool Consultant: Carla Garrett @ carla.garrett@ncpublicschools.gov; cell: 336.504.2037 NC Office of Early Learning (Department of Public Instruction) Website: www.ncprek.nc.gov