The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) recently announced its 2023-24 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA).

This is a full, competitive rebid opportunity to disperse all available funding to select, eligible grantees for a five-year grant period beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2023-24, and is intended to support providers in preparing to serve and enroll children by September 2023.

All FY 2022-23 Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees wishing to serve children in FY 2023-2024 must apply as part of this competitive rebid process. Those seeking to become new Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts grantees may also apply.

About Pre-K Counts Grants

The ceiling or limit on the potential number of slots that may be awarded to any applicant will depend upon a county’s unmet need percentages and the amount of funding available. Funding is contingent upon approval by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Grants are funded via state dollars, therefore, carryover funds are not permitted. All grant dollars identified in this FY 2023-24 application must be encumbered or spent by June 30, 2024.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• existing PA PKC grantees
• new applicants from:
  • school districts
  • PDE-licensed nursery schools
  • Head Start grantees
  • child care centers and group child care homes designated at Keystone STAR 3 or STAR 4, and
  • third-party entities applying for PA PKC funding to administer the lead agency responsibilities for entities that are eligible to provide the classroom services under the categories listed above

Eligible applicants must:

• provide assurance that they operate in full compliance with Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance
• submit a Letter of Intent
• possess a:
  • vendor number (SAP#)
  • administrative unit number (AUN)
  • master provider index number (MPI)
  • federal ID number or tax ID number, and
  • MyPDESuite login ID

Eligible applicants are encouraged, but not required to:

• thoroughly review:
  • Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Statute, Regulations, and Guidance
  • Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidance
• view the “Getting to Know PA PKC Rebid Webinar Series,” found under “Quick Links” on the Pre-K Counts How to Apply webpage
  • Applicants should view this series prior to submission of a Letter of Intent to ensure an understanding of the program requirements and expectations of compliance if an application is successful.
  • The application review process will include evaluation of the extent to which the applicant demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the PA PKC statute and regulations

Letter of Intent

Interested applicants must submit Letters of Intent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov by 3 p.m. on March 28, 2023.

Because of the need to establish access to the eGrants procurement system, applicants must submit a completed Letter of Intent to apply for funds using the template posted at PKC How to Apply.

The Letter of Intent represents the applicant’s intent to apply for PA PKC funding and must include:

• the legal name of the eligible entity that will apply
• the AUN associated with the applying legal entity’s proposed PA PKC provider type
• preliminary information about requested funding
• program model
• provider type, and
• area to be served.

Except for the legal entity and AUN, information submitted in the Letter of Intent may be modified in the final eGrants application.

Programs that do not submit the Letter of Intent will not be able to access or submit a funding application in eGrants. Late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants submitting a fully complete Letter of Intent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov by 3 p.m. on March 28, 2023 will be notified when the PA PKC application is open in eGrants.

Learn More

To learn more, consult the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts Request for Applications (RFA) Guidelines or visit the Pennsylvania Keys website.

Any questions should be sent to RA-PAPreKCounts@pa.gov.