(1) The Becoming Quality School Readiness Grant Program is created to provide grants to the following, in order to assist an existing preschool in becoming a high quality school readiness program: (a) an eligible private provider; or (b) an eligible LEA. (2) The department, in consultation with the school readiness team, shall solicit proposals from eligible LEAs and eligible private providers. (3) Subject to legislative appropriations, the department, in consultation with the school readiness team, shall award grants to applicants based on: (a) an applicant's capacity to effectively implement the components described in Section 35A-15-202; (b) the percentage of eligible students; and (c) the level of administrative support and leadership at an applicant's program to effectively implement, monitor, and evaluate the program. (4) To receive a grant under this section, an applicant shall submit a proposal to the department detailing: (a) the applicant's strategy to implement the high quality components described in Section 35A-15-202; (b) the number of proposed students, categorized by age and whether the students are eligible students; (c) for an eligible LEA or eligible private provider, the number of high quality school readiness program classrooms the applicant plans to operate; and (d) the estimated cost per student. (5) (a) A grant recipient shall use the grant to move the recipient's preschool program toward achieving the components described in Section 35A-15-202. (b) A grant recipient may not: (i) enter into a results-based contract while the recipient receives the grant; or (ii) receive grant funds under Section 35A-15-302. (6) A grant recipient shall ensure that each student who is enrolled in a classroom supported by the grant has a unique student identifier by: (a) if the recipient is an eligible LEA, assigning a unique student identifier to each student enrolled in the classroom; or (b) if the recipient is an eligible private provider working with the state board to assign a unique student identifier to each student enrolled in the classroom. (7) A grant recipient shall work in cooperation with the UPSTART contractor in accordance with Section 63N-20-103 and develop data sharing agreements that include: (a) program information; (b) referrals; and (c) shared student performance outcomes. (8) The department, in consultation with the school readiness team, shall make rules to effectively administer and monitor the grant program described in this section, including: (a) requiring grant recipients to use assessments, including the school readiness assessment, as determined by the school readiness team; and (b) establishing reporting requirements for grant recipients. (9) Subject to funding availability, a grant recipient may receive a grant under this section for no longer than three years.
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