588610 - FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Program
Funding Opportunity Details

Early Childhood At-Risk

Final Application Deadline: Feb 6, 2026 4:30 PM

Description

• IOWA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

  FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Program Application

  Renewal option up to five years contingent upon annual legislative appropriations.

   

  Availability of Funds:

  Grant awards are contingent on the 2026 legislative appropriation. Additional application requirements may be added if legislatively mandated. Applicants will be notified of any changes to the application. 

  APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 6, 2026 by 4:30 PM

   

  OVERVIEW and GENERAL INFORMATION

  In 1988, the Iowa Legislature established Iowa Code 256A creating the Child Development Coordinating Council (CDCC) and funding the Shared Visions Preschool Programs. The mission of the CDCC is to advocate for Iowa’s children and families and support comprehensive programs for children meeting risk factors and their families. The CDCC advises the Iowa Department of Education (Department) regarding the administration and implementation of state funded at-risk programs for children ages birth to five. The Department administers the Shared Visions Preschool Program which provides comprehensive quality preschool program experiences for children meeting identified risk factors who are ages three to five years. 

  The Department is issuing a competitive application to fund Shared Visions Preschool Programs. The purpose is to solicit applications that will enable the CDCC to select grantees who will provide a Shared Visions Preschool Program created in accordance with Iowa Code section 256A, Iowa Code section 279.51, and the rules in 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64. 

   

  Application and Grant Information

  Applications are competitive; consequently, all required components of the application must be completed following the stated instructions and submitted in a timely manner to be considered for funding. Funding for the Shared Visions Preschool Program is limited; therefore, the application process is highly competitive and it is likely that not all applicants will receive funding. 

  Services must be classroom-based. Applications may be inclusive of multiple classrooms across various locations within the applicant organization. Grant funds may only be used to support locations and classrooms identified in the awarded application. If a location or classroom change would be desired after funding is awarded, the Department would consider the request and administer a process of renegotiation with an awarded applicant. 

  Annual reporting is required and will include a mid-year budget report, year-end report and renewal application. Other information needed to determine how well the goals and objectives of the grant are being met may also be requested per 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.10.

   

  Program Period

  Grants will be awarded for one year with a renewal option for up to five years provided grantees meet program requirements. All funding is contingent on annual legislative appropriations. The funding period for Year One – FY27 is July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Renewal years include: 

  • Year Two – FY28: July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028
  • Year Three – FY29: July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029
  • Year Four – FY30: July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030
  • Year Five – FY31: July 1, 2030 – June 30, 2031

   

  Services to be Delivered and Performance Criteria

  Awarded applicants are expected to: 

  • Follow program requirements as outlined in 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64, Iowa Code section 256A, and Iowa Code section 279.51.
  • Enroll no fewer than 80% of age-eligible children who are from families meeting the financial eligibility criteria for free and reduced-price meals offered under the child nutrition program (primary eligibility: 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.29). 
  • Enroll no more than 20% of age-eligible children based on other risk factors (secondary eligibility: 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.30). 
  • Meet one of the state-approved program standards: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Early Learning Program Accreditation Standards and Assessment Items (Accreditation+ Tier), Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards or Head Start Program Performance Standards. 
  • Maintain the program standards identified in the awarded application throughout the five-year grant cycle (unforeseen circumstances resulting in a request to change program standards will be considered at the discretion of the CDCC). 
  • Provide comprehensive services in a classroom-based setting.
  • Maintain a classroom ratio of 1 adult for every 8 children 
  • Maintain an agreement with Teaching Strategies^® under the Iowa State Umbrella Agreement for GOLD^® and complete three state-determined checkpoints with all enrolled children (CDCC Policy, available in the Attachments section).
  • Provide requested information to allow the Department to create unique student ID numbers.
  • Provide an annual in-kind match of at least 20% of the total grant award.  
  • Immediately inform the Department of any budget revisions to allow for negotiation (281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.11).
  • Complete a mid-year budget report and year-end report in a format determined by the Department (281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.33).
  • Complete annual renewal applications for continued funding for up to five years (last year being FY31), contingent on annual legislative appropriations. 
  • Maintain records to include, but not limited to (281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.33): 
    • Information on children and families served,
    • Direct services provided to children, 
    • Record of budget, including expenditures,
    • Other appropriate information specified by the CDCC necessary for overall evaluation. 

   

  Procedures Used to Determine Approval

  Applications will be reviewed for eligibility. All those submitted by an eligible applicant will be reviewed and scored by trained persons with expertise in preschool programs. The scoring rubric to be used can be found in IowaGrants in the Attachments section for this Funding Opportunity or on the Shared Visions Preschool Program webpage on the Department of Education website. Review forms will be used to record points and reviewer comments. Final scores of the applications will be determined based on all completed reviews, then ranked accordingly. In the event applications receive an equal number of points that necessitates a further determination of whether an applicant is to receive a grant, an additional review shall be conducted. 

  All applicants will receive notification of award for funding or non-award no later than March 23, 2026. 

  Awards will be finalized for each successful applicant within the IowaGrants System. Assurances shall be signed by an official with authority to bind the applicant and shall be submitted to the Department through the IowaGrants System prior to the award of any funds under this program. 

  Due to limited funding, grant awards will be targeted to those areas or communities in Iowa where there is a high percentage of child poverty, a high number of unserved eligible children and evidence of factors creating an increased need for quality preschool programs serving children meeting identified risk factors. 

  The Department and CDCC are committed to ensuring there is statewide distribution of grants while providing funds to programs serving children identified as most at-risk. The number of grants to be awarded will be determined based on quality of grant application, established need and available funding. Budget negotiation may be necessary to accommodate the obligation of all funds. All grant awards are contingent upon the 2026 legislative appropriation and legislative sessions each succeeding year through 2030.

   

  Submission of Application

  The Department must receive the application by 4:30 PM Thursday, February 6, 2026 through the online grant application system, IowaGrants. This is a mandatory requirement and will not be subject to waiver as a minor deficiency. 

  This is a competitive application. Please adhere to all requirements and instructions within each form of the application within IowaGrants. Any information submitted separately from the application will not be considered in the review process. 

   

  Application Components

  The application consists of two components required within IowaGrants. These components will not be scored but need to be completed:

  • Cover Sheet
  • Minority Impact Statement

   

  The application also consists of the following required components: 

  Program Summary	8 points
  Documentation of Need	36 points
  Program and Classroom Information	16 points
  Service Description Plan to include the following:	40 points
  Family Partnerships (12 points)
  Comprehensive Health Services (8 points)
  Developmentally Appropriate Programming (12 points)
  Other Resources and Services (8 points)
  Staff Certification and Development Plan	12 points
  Letters of Support	8 points
  Program Evaluation	16 points
  Program Budget	12 points
  Assurances	Not Scored
  Total Points Possible	148 points

   

  Requests for Reconsideration and Contract Termination

  Information on requests for reconsideration and contract termination may be found in 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64.

  281—64.17(256A,279) Request for Reconsideration. An applicant who has not been approved for funding may file a Request for Reconsideration with the director of the department in writing within ten days of the decision to decline to award a grant. In order to be considered by the director, the Request for Reconsideration is to be based upon one of the following grounds:

  1. The decision process was conducted in violation of statute or rule;

  2. The decision violates state or federal law, policy, or rule (to be cited in the Request);

  3. The decision process involved a conflict of interest.

  Within 20 days of filing a Request for Reconsideration, the requester will submit all written documentation, evidence, or argument in support of the request.

   

  Critical Dates for the Application Process

  Application Process	Critical Dates
  Application open and directions available	December 8, 2025
  Recorded webinar available to review legislation and the application process	December 8, 2025
  Deadline to submit questions in writing: email Marianne Adams at marianne.adams@iowa.gov	January 2, 2026
  Application due to the Department via IowaGrants	February 6, 2026 by 4:30 PM
  Notification of awards	March 23, 2026
  Contracts issued (contingent on the annual state appropriation)	Within 45 days of state appropriation being finalized

   

Income Eligibility Guidelines