Grant funds may be spent only for the purchase of approved supplies, materials and equipment to improve the quality of care provided to children. Emphasis will be placed on educational curricula and activities in the areas of literacy, math, science, social studies, and physical development. MSDE will give preference to grant awards that focus on the following areas:
Literacy
- Gain meaning by listening
- Demonstrate beginning phonemic awareness
- Show some understanding of concepts about print
- Comprehend and respond to fiction and non-fiction text
- Speak clearly and convey ideas effectively
- Use letter-like shapes, symbols, letters, and words to convey meaning
Mathematics
- Begin to use and explain strategies to solve mathematical problems
- Show understanding of number and quantity
- Recognize duplicates and extend patterns
- Recognize and describe some attributes of shapes
Science
- Seek information through observation, exploration, and descriptive investigations
- Identify, describe, and compare properties of objects
- Use simple tools and equipment to extend the senses and gather data
- Begin to be aware of technology and how it affects life
Social Studies
- Identify similarities/ differences in people’s characteristics, habits, and living patterns
- Describe some people’s jobs and what is required to perform them
- Demonstrate awareness of the reasons for rules
Eligible expenses are limited to those supplies, materials and equipment that enhance the quality of child care by improving children’s developmental skills. All materials must be age appropriate for children aged zero through sixteen. Some examples of eligible expenses are described below; other age appropriate material may be considered.
Active Play
- Balls, various sizes
- Jump ropes
- Kites
- Outdoor playground equipment
- Parachutes
- Playhouse
- Riding toys but not bicycles
- Ring toss and bean bag games
- Safety helmets
- Tunnels
- Wagons
Arts and Crafts
- Art stamps and ink pads
- Child scissors
- Collage materials
- Crayons, markers and glue
- Model kits
- Paint sets and accessories
- Paper (various)
- Sculpting materials and accessories
- Smocks
Dramatic Play/Social Studies
- Bead and jewelry kits
- Child’s workbench and tool sets
- Community role clothes and props
- Dollhouse, figures and furniture sets
- Dolls and doll clothes
- Easels/drying rack, bulletin boards
- Household items: telephones, cash register, shopping care, washer, dryer, vacuum cleaner, lawnmower, etc.
- Medical kits
- Puppets and puppet theatres
- Play kitchen, foods, utensils, pots/pans
Literacy
- Flannel, chalk and erase boards
- Flash cards
- Musical instrument sets
- Story books; includes titles, authors and publishers
- Tactile letters, shapes and patterns
Manipulatives
- Block sets: wood, stacking LEGOs, gears, bristle bricks, snap together cubes, Tinker Toys, etc.
- Farm, space and jungle sets
- Lacing spools, buttons and beads
- People/animals
- Play mats
- Play vehicles (cars, trucks, construction equipment etc.)
- Puzzles and games (varying difficulty)
- Train sets
- Tunnel/bridge sets
Math
- Counting Objects
- Math games
- Sorting kit, pattern cards
- Number pegboards
- Measurement tools
- Balancing scales
- Calculators
Program Planning and Resource Materials
- MSDE-approved curriculum guides only; include title, autor and publisher
- Computers (must be for child care)
- Educational and resouce books; include title, author and publsher
- Educational media (tapes, DVD and CDs); include title, manufacturer
Science and Nature
- Animan sets: zoo, farm, wildlife, aquatic, etc.
- Animals, plants, fish, invertabrates etc, but not dogs and cats
- Aquariums and terrariums
- Bird feeders and baths
- Chemistry sets
- Collections: rocks, shells, leaves, insects, etc.
- Compass, maps, globes
- Nature books; include title, author and publisher
- Science and nature games
- Seeds and garden tools
- Water/sand tables and accessories
Special Needs Equipment (0-16 years)
- Adult changing tables
- Fire alarm with flashing lights
- Protective gear
- Wheelchairs