DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 92
April 18, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of
Public Instruction
|
|
SUBJECT: |
Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Web-based Data
Collection and Application Requirements for Fiscal Year 2009 (July 1, 2008
through June 30, 2009) |
The Virginia Preschool Initiative provides programs for at-risk four-year-old children that include quality preschool education, health services, social services, parental involvement, and transportation. Programs must provide services for the entire school year and must operate on a half-day or full-day schedule. Programs operating half-day will receive state funds prorated at 50 percent. For a new program in the first year of implementation only, a program operating less than a full school year will receive state funds on a fractional basis determined by the pro-rata portion of a school year the program is provided.
The program guidelines and
Virginia’s Foundation Blocks for Early Learning are available at the
following Web site:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Instruction/Elem_M/early/preschoolinitiative.html
Application
and Data Submission
All eligible school divisions, regardless of
participation, are required to complete the Web-based data collection and
application for the Virginia Preschool Initiative.
The eligibility and participation data and application will be submitted through the Department of Education’s Single Sign-On for Web Applications System (SSWS). Access to the application should be requested through the school division’s SSWS account manager. Instructions for the application are available in Attachment A. School divisions that are eligible and choose to participate in 2008-2009 will also enter budget and program summary information.
Information collected will be used to determine state
funding for fiscal year 2009 and also provide the Governor’s Office and the
General Assembly with accurate information on Virginia Preschool Initiative
participation and funds.
All eligible school divisions, regardless of
participation, are required to fax a copy of the signed certification form to
Cheryl Strobel at (804)786-1703 by May 15, 2008.
Funding
It is anticipated that state funds for the program will be distributed based on an allocation formula providing the state share (based on each division’s composite index) of a $6,000 grant per child for 100 percent of the estimated unserved at-risk four-year-olds in each locality as projected by the Department of Education.
The projected local distribution of state funds for each locality for school year 2008-2009 is included in the “Budget Calculator” section of the application. This section provides the estimated formula-driven entitlement available to each locality. If the locality chooses to serve fewer children than the total number allocated by formula, insert the local projected number of children to be served in the calculator in the “Local Projection” fields. The projected state and local shares of cost will automatically be recomputed for your information.
In the event the 2008-2009 funding allocations change from those shown in the application due to final state budget actions affecting fiscal year 2009, updated information will be provided to you when it becomes available.
If you have program
questions, please contact Cheryl Strobel, early childhood education specialist,
at (804) 371-7578 or Cheryl.Strobel@doe.virginia.gov.
Budget questions should be directed to Brian Logwood, budget director, at (804)
225-2025 or brian.logwood@doe.virginia.gov.
BKCJr/CPS/rt
Attachment