Idaho Awarded $6 Million Grant to Support Early Childhood Learning and School Readiness

BOISE, ID – With nearly $6 million in federal grant funding per year over the next three years, the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) and the State Board of Education will partner to continue the successful efforts to build a foundation for a better-connected early childhood system to prepare Idaho children for a successful start in school.

The federal Preschool Development Grant will significantly expand efforts to engage families, local communities, business partners, early childhood educators, schools, policymakers and others to build a mixed-delivery system for parents with young children, age’s birth to five, and work to improve school readiness outcomes with a focus on early literacy.

Since taking office in January 2019, Governor Brad Little has prioritized early literacy. “Literacy continues to be my top priority in education and this resource ensures our youngest children have improved opportunities to stay on track with their reading so they are ready for school,” he said.

“Every community throughout Idaho is unique,” said Idaho AEYC Executive Director Beth Oppenheimer. “By understanding the different choices and options that work for our families, we are better positioned to improve early learning outcomes and options that best fit each individual community’s needs.”

The State Board of Education and Idaho AEYC will utilize results from a statewide needs assessment conducted in 2020 , which was funded with an initial $3 million Preschool Development Grant. The needs assessment identified gaps Idaho families face, including access to resources that best support their children. It also identified opportunities to strengthen the transition between early childhood programs and our K-12 system.

The grant will be implemented starting in January 2021.