DEED provides support to the early learning community that serves children ages 3-5 years of age. DEED does this through hosting the pre-elementary approval to operate system, the Alaska Developmental Profile assessment for children entering kindergarten, AK CLIMBS assessments, and through administering grants to pre-elementary programs in public schools and non-profit partners.
To review the Alaska Pre-Elementary Program Goals and Activities, please click here.
As defined by Alaska Department of Education & Early Development Regulations, pre-elementary schools are primarily designed to prepare children, 3-5 years of age, for elementary school; regularly serves a group of five or more children; and is operated by a school district or a Head Start agency as defined in 42 U.S.C. 9852c. All pre-elementary schools must annually submit a Pre-Elementary Approval to Operate Application to DEED. This is due September 15 for programs who received approval the previous year or within 30-days before the program start date if the program has not been previously approved. (4 AAC 60.010 - .180)
To initiate, renew, or update a Pre-Elementary Approval to Operate Application, please click here.
To complete a Pre-Elementary End-of-Year Report, due June 30 annually, please click here.
The Alaska Early Education Program Standards are applicable to any early education program provided by a school district for children who are four and five years of age. The purpose of the standards is to provide a framework for high-quality early education and child development services that promote children's cognitive, social, and emotional growth for later success in school. The standards were prepared in response to passage of the Alaska Reads Act in May 2022 and became effective on July 1, 2023. They are incorporated by reference in 4 AAC 60.190.
The Alaska Reads Act established the District Wide Early Education Program Grant, now being called the EEP Grants. The purpose of this grant program is to provide funding for the development or improvement of district-wide early education programs for students four and five years of age. Eligible five-year-old students will turn five after the kindergarten age cut-off date.
To avoid duplication of programs and to facilitate resource sharing, districts must meet with each local and tribal Head Start program within their district prior to applying. Districts must also determine that an insufficient number of spaces in high-quality childcare programs is available for the number of kindergarten eligible children in the district. Upon receipt of the grant, districts must agree to work towards the goal of meeting all Alaska Early Education Program Standards by the end of the three-year grant period. Districts will be prioritized for funding based on low performance rating in the System of School Support, DEED’s accountability system.
The 2024-2027 EEP Grant application was posted on January 16, 2024 and deadline for submission is February 15, 2024. Please click here for information about the application. To access the application, click on the form number 05-24-029.
(EEP-ADM Application)
Districts who . . . . .
. . . . . are encouraged to apply for Early Education Program Approval. Approval will be determined according to compliance with each of these requirements.
The EEP-ADM application for the 2024-2025 School Year is now available
The EEP-ADM application was posted January 25, 2024. Applications are due May 15, 2024. To apply, complete the Intent to Complete form for access to the application.
Technical Assistance Webinars:
Resources
Early Education Program ADM Approval Requirements
For questions about the Alaska Early Education Program Standards, Early Education Program Grant, and EEP-ADM Application, please contact Jayne McFarland at jayne.mcfarland@alaska.gov or (907) 269-7974.
Alaska Pre-Elementary Grants promote school readiness and positive outcomes for participating children. Information is gathered from funded programs to inform the longer-term implementation of accessible, affordable, mixed delivery, and high-quality early care and education.
Alaska Pre-Elementary Grants are awarded to Alaska’s school districts in a three-year cycle. The following school districts were awarded funds for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 School Years
DEED provides support to the early learning community that serves children ages 3-5 years of age. DEED does this through hosting the pre-elementary approval to operate system, the Alaska Developmental Profile assessment for children entering kindergarten, AK CLIMBS assessments, and through administering grants to pre-elementary programs in public schools and non-profit partners.
For more information, please go to the Alaska Early Childhood Coordinating Council website or email aeccc@alaska.gov.
For more information about Early Learning Assessments, please contact Supanika Ordonez at 907-465-8707
DEED provides an online observation-based assessment tool to all public Alaskan Pre-Elementary Programs. This assessment, Teaching Strategies GOLD, is in alignment with Alaska’s Early Learning Guidelines. GOLD assessment data informs programs about each child’s growth as well as provides information about classroom, site, and program efficacy.
The state uses the data to document success of pre-elementary programs and informs statewide systems and services.
The ADP is Alaska’s Kindergarten Entrance Assessment. It is an observation-based assessment tool used to identify, record, and summarize the skills and behaviors students demonstrate at the beginning of their kindergarten year. DEED releases an annual report with this information.
There are 15 Head Start Programs serving 3-5 year old children in the classroom setting in Alaska. DEED provides funding to those programs through an equitable funding formula.
DEED also houses the Alaska Head Start Collaboration Office. The Head Start Collaboration Office facilitates partnerships between Head Start agencies and state entities who provide services to children from low-income families.
DEED collaborates with the Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Home Visiting and Family Support Services Section to fund the Parents as Teachers program. PAT provides support for early learners, ages birth to 5 years, by empowering their caregivers through personal home and group visits.
The following are the recipients of state PAT grant funds for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school years:
For more information about PAT, please contact Shannon Parker at 907-269-3405.