The Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant is a competitive grant program administered by the Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). It provides a pathway for new and/or existing programs to prepare to access the Maryland State Prekindergarten grant opportunities. This grant provides funding for local education agencies (LEAs) and private providers to build the capacity to administer high-quality prekindergarten and school readiness services throughout the State for children and their families in coordination with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The Blueprint granted all three- and four-year-old children from families earning incomes at or below 300% Federal Poverty Level access to high-quality full-day Pre-K at no cost. The Prekindergarten Capacity Building Grant is part of Maryland’s plan for expanding access to high-quality prekindergarten. This is a new grant opportunity provided through state and federal funding as a result of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and the American Rescue Plan Act.

Grant Information Guide  Grant Application

When will the application be open?

This Grant Information Guide was released on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Who is eligible to apply

This funding opportunity is designed for those who will deliver Prekindergarten services, including Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or qualified vendors (as defined in COMAR 13a.06.02) and/or private providers who:

• hold a valid license or registration.
• have not incurred any serious health or safety violations.
• are Head Start programs.

Application Submission Date

Thursday, September 8, 2023. No later than 5:00 p.m. EST

Customer Service Support Sessions

The MSDE will hold customer service support sessions for interested applicants. During these sessions, MSDE personnel will review what applicants need to get started, the program requirements, as well as a walk-through of the application. To attend a virtual session, please see the dates, times, and registration links below:

Customer Service Support Session 1

• July 31, 2023
• 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
• Recording 

Customer Service Support Session 2

• July 31, 2023
• 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
• Recording

Customer Service Support Session 3

• August 1, 2023
• 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Customer Service Support Session 4

• August 2, 2023
• 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Office Hours)
• Video call link (open link, no registration required)

Customer Service Support Session 5

• August 3, 2023
• 1:00-2:00 p.m. (Office Hours)
• Video call link - (open link, no registration required)

Questions

If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact the Program Manager:

Nykia Washington, Prekindergarten Program Manager
Division of Early Childhood Development
Phone: (410) 767-0088
nykia.washington@maryland.gov

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers will be posted to the MSDE website following the customer support sessions.

The Prekindergarten Expansion Grant and State Prekindergarten grants are competitive grant programs administered by the Division of Early Childhood at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). They provide funding for local education agencies (LEAs) and private providers to administer high-quality prekindergarten and school readiness services throughout the State for children and their families in coordination with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The Blueprint granted all three- and four-year-old children from families earning incomes at or below 300% Federal Poverty Level access to high-quality full-day Pre-K at no cost. The Prekindergarten Expansion Grant is part of Maryland’s plan for expanding access to high-quality prekindergarten. The grant, previously funded through a combination of federal preschool grant funds and funds provided by the Maryland Prekindergarten Expansion Act of 2014, is now sustained through state funding as a result of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

PREKINDERGARTEN GRANTS

Application Open Dates

• Prekindergaten Expansion Grant: Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• State Prekindergarten Grant: Friday, April 14, 2023.

Application Submission Date

Both grants close on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 5:00 p.m. ET

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Customer service support sessions for interested applicants

The MSDE will hold customer service support sessions for interested applicants. During these sessions, MSDE personnel will review what applicants need to get started, the program requirements, as well as a walk-through of the application. To attend a virtual session, please see the dates, times, and registration links below:

• April 18, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (registration required)
• April 19, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (registration required)
• April 20, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Office Hours) - Modified Short Form Application (open link, no registration required)
• April 24, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Office Hours) - Private Providers (open link, no registration required)
• April 25, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Office Hours) LEAs (open link, no registration required)
• May 2, 2023, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. (registration required)
• May 4 2023, from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (registration required)
• May 9, 2023, from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (Office Hours)- Open to all applicants (open link, no registration required)

Questions

If you have questions about the application or the process, please contact the Program Monitor:

Nykia Washington, Prekindergarten Program Manager

nykia.washington@maryland.gov

(410) 767-0088

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers will be posted to the MSDE website following customer service support sessions.

Technical Assistance Recordings

Session will be uploaded after the completion of each session.

• April 18, 2023 [Recording] [Presentation]
• April 19, 2023 [Recording] [Presentation]
• May 2, 2023 [Recording] [Presentation]
• May 4, 2023 [Recording] [Presentation]