Fiscal Year 2008 Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) Classroom Quality Grant RFR
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
1. Is our preschool program eligible to apply if we are EEC licensed but not yet
accredited? We are planning on becoming accredited in the coming months.
To receive new UPK funding this year, programs must currently be accredited (as of
10/1/07) by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), or the National
Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC), or have a Child Development Associate
(CDA) credential (for family child care providers only). This requirement is a legislative
mandate included as part of the line-item language for Universal Pre-K (3000-5075) in
the final Fiscal Year 2008 state budget. EEC will be working to evaluate the impact of
this requirement on the participant of providers across the mixed delivery system and will
be assessing options for modifying it in future years.
2. Is a family child care provider eligible for this grant if she has Bachelor’s degree
(BA) but does not have a Child Development Associate (CDA)?
To receive new UPK funding this year, programs must currently be accredited (as of
10/1/07) by NAEYC, NEASC, or NAFCC, or have a CDA credential (for family child
care providers only). This requirement is a legislative mandate included as part of the
line-item language for Universal Pre-K (3000-5075) in the final Fiscal Year 2008 state
budget. EEC will be working to evaluate the impact of this requirement on the
participant of providers across the mixed delivery system and will be assessing options
for modifying it in future years.
3. Our kindergarten class which is licensed for 8 has 3 children that are preschool
age. Can we submit a request for funding for this group?
No, UPK funding is for preschool classrooms only. Kindergarten classrooms are not
eligible for funding.
4. We are just beginning to use one of the four EEC selected assessment tools this
fall. Are we eligible for this grant?
No, only programs that have been using one of the four assessment tools for at least one
year (since 10/06) are eligible for the new classroom quality grants. EEC encourages
programs that have been using a tool for less than one year to apply for the Fiscal Year
2008 UPK assessment planning grants; the Request for Responses (RFR) for the
assessment planning grants is expected to be available by early December.
11/8/07
5. Can current UPK grantees apply for additional classrooms in already funded
sites?
Yes, if there are additional eligible classrooms/providers in currently funded UPK sites
that are not already receiving funding as designated UPK classes/sites, a grantee may
apply for funding for these additional classrooms/providers.
Technical
6. I filled out the on-line questionnaire for one of my sites. I entered six classrooms
but am only able to see two of them under “Class Records” at the bottom of the
screen. How do I know that all six classrooms have been entered?
If there are only two class records at the bottom of your screen, this means that data for
two classrooms are saved. Please remember to press “add/save” after entering data about
each classroom; otherwise, your data will not be saved or submitted. You should see six
class records at the bottom of your screen before you submit your data to EEC if data for
six classrooms is saved. If you realize after pressing “submit” that you have not
submitted all of your classroom data, you can reenter the questionnaire using your
password and add the other classrooms (remember to submit the data again). Another
way of checking to see if all six classrooms have been entered is to print your
questionnaire after submission and make sure that all of the classrooms are listed. If you
are experiencing technical difficulties, please e-mail Amy Checkoway, UPK Project
Manager at Amy.Checkoway@massmail.state.ma.us and include your program name and
location in your e-mail.
7. How will I know if EEC receives my questionnaire data?
Please make sure that you have completed the entire questionnaire for all eligible
classrooms/providers. Once you press “submit data to EEC,” you should see a “thank
you” screen with a link that will allow you to print your submitted response. Please
review the printed response, as this is the information that has been transmitted to EEC.
If you see any errors or omissions, you can reenter your questionnaire using your
password until the RFR deadline (11/16/07) and resubmit your questionnaire. Any newly
submitted data will replace data that has already been received by EEC. If you reenter
your questionnaire to add information, please make sure that you proceed to the last
screen and submit your new data.
If you have reason to believe that there has been a transmission problem (e.g., you
receive an error code or do not make it to the last “thank you” screen), please e-mail Amy
Checkoway, UPK Project Manager, at Amy.Checkoway@massmail.state.ma.us.
8. My password is not working or I have forgotten it. What do I do?
Please remember to write down your password once you create it. If you are unable to
remember it or it does not seem to be working, please e-mail Amy Checkoway, UPK
11/8/07
Project Manager, at Amy.Checkoway@massmail.state.ma.us and include your program
name and location in your e-mail.
9. I’m having trouble filling in the on-line questionnaire and can’t figure out what
the problem is.
If you would like someone from EEC to help you fill out the on-line questionnaire, please email Amy Checkoway, UPK Project Manager, at Amy.Checkoway@massmail.state.ma.us
and include your program name and location in your e-mail along with any specific
information about the nature of your problem. Please remember that you can also mail a
hard copy of the questionnaire (available on EEC’s website) to EEC instead of submitting the
on-line questionnaire. If you choose to submit your questionnaire by mail, it must be sent to
the following address:
Department of Early Education and Care
Attention: Amy Checkoway
51 Sleeper Street, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02210
All responses to the RFR questionnaire must be received by EEC (via on-line or mail) by
Friday, November 16, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.
11/8/07