Building Families

Building Families Empowerment Board will provide preschool scholarships to children meeting income guidelines and residing in Hamilton, Humboldt or Wright Counties. Preschool programs must meet quality standards as defined by the board.  Expectations are as follows:

1. Each program develops and implements a Quality Improvement Plan of two identified goals of improvement based on the IQPPS and submits to Building Families by May 1, 2011.
2. Each program will complete a Portfolio for two sections on the IQPPS: To be determined.
3. Each program will submit the state Early Childhood Iowa (formerly empowerment) required information by May 1, 2011.
4. Programs will complete a Creative Curriculum Individual Child Profile for every child in one classroom (of 20 or less) at two checkpoints during the program year.  Data will be turned into the Building Families Executive Director by May 1, 2011.
5. Each participating preschool program agrees to maintain the space requirements of 35 square feet per child as defined in the attached letter and agrees to allow Building Families to measure the space for compliance.
6. Each participating preschool program agrees to maintain a staff to child ratio of one to ten for four year olds and one to eight for three year olds.
7. Scholarships will be approved by first come first served basis. Only four year old scholarship applications will be processed up to September 17, 2010. If at that time there is additional funding to support 3 year old scholarship applications, they also will be approved by first come.  Plan to send in all scholarships including scholarshiops for 3 year olds early. Building Families generally locates funds for all students on a waiting list. Early Childhood Iowa Area (Building Families) will not take responsibility for packages that are mailed and arrive late to our office.
8. Scholarship amounts will not exceed the payments charged to parents in the same program and will not exceed $90 per month.
9. Preschools will collaborate with Building Families Staff to implement a parent night for parents who receive preschool funds (and other parents interested in attending.)