Program Funding Options

Early Education Program Grants (EEP Grants)

The Alaska Reads Act established the Early Education Program Grant for the purpose of supporting school districts to develop or improve early education programs.  Grantees work towards implementing the Early Education Program Standards so they will be eligible for formula fnding by the end of the three-year grant cycle.

Grant Structure

• Three-year grant cycle

• $3 million total, per year, funded by legislative appropriation

Eligibility

• An insufficient number of children attend high-quality child care programs
• Consultation meeting held with all local and tribal Head Start Agency(s) operating within the district service area

Determination of Recipients

• Competitive grant with scoring rubric
• Priority given to the lowest performing school districts accoring to DEED's acountability and performance system

Current EEP Grant Recipients

Application Materials and Resources

• No application to be released in the 2024-2025 school year
• Head Start Consultation is a required component of the application.  Use DEED Form #05-24-031
• Head Start Consultation Technical Assistance Webinar recording
• Head Start Consultation Technical Assistance Webinar PowerPoint

Foundation Formula Funding at 0.5 ADM

The Alaska Reads Act allocated formula funding at a rate of 0.5 average daily membership for school districts operating an early education program. Programs that serve four- and five-year-old students and that have been approved by the Department of Education and Early Development may qualify for the funding.

Districts are encouraged to apply for 0.5 ADM funding if they

• Have operated an early education program for three or more years,  
• Have consulted with all high-quality child care programs within the school district boundaries [Sec 14.03.410(c)],  
• Have successfully implemented the Alaska Early Education Program Standards, and  
• Employ early education teacher(s) with the required and current teacher certification.  

Approval will be determined according to compliance with each of these requirements.  

Current 0.5 ADM Recipients

Application Materials and Resources

• FY26 Application for Early Education Program Approval and 0.5 ADM form #05-24-034
• FY26 Application Technical Assistance Webinar recording
• FY26 Application Technical Assistance Webinar PowerPoint
• Head Start Consultation is a required component of the application.  Use DEED Form #05-24-031
• Head Start Consultation Technical Assistance Webinar recording
• Head Start Consultation Technical Assistance Webinar PowerPoint

Application Timeline 

• Application is released annually in November
• Applications due May 15
• Applicants will be notified on or before September 1

For questions about the Early Education Program Grant and/or the Formula Funding at 0.5 ADM Application, please contact Jayne McFarland at jayne.mcfarland@alaska.gov or (907) 269-7974 or visit the Alaska Reads Act Early Education Programs webpage.

Pre-Elementary Grant (PEG)

Alaska Pre-Elementary Grants (PEG) promote school readiness and positive outcomes for participating three, four, and five-year-old children.  Information is gathered from funded programs to inform the longer-term implementation of accessible, affordable, mixed delivery, and high-quality early care and education. 

Grant Structure

• Three-year grant cycle
• Historically, $3.2 million total, per year, dependent on annual legislative appropriation

Eligibility

• Any school district may apply
• Classroom or home-based programs

Determination of Recipients

• Competitive grant with scoring rubric

Current PEG Recipients

Application Timeline

The next request for Pre-Elementary Grant applications will be released in Spring of 2026 and will cover the period from July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029.

For questions about school district pre-elementary grants, please contact Kristen Spencer at kristen.spencer@alaska.gov or (907) 465-4862.

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Pre-Elementary Approval

Program Funding Options