Cincinnati Preschool Promise Initiative Underway

Published on March 30, 2017

(March 30, 2017 – Cincinnati, OH) — Leaders from Cincinnati Preschool Promise (CPP), Cincinnati Public Schools and United Way of Greater Cincinnati announced today how the preschool expansion will work and how parents and providers will be engaged now to be ready for a fall 2017 school year start.

“Tuition assistance for families and quality improvement grants for preschool providers will be available soon for the fall 2017 school year. We’re now ready for parents and preschool providers to learn more about how the Preschool Promise can best serve them,” said Stephanie Wright Byrd, Senior Vice President, Early Learning Strategies at United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Interim Executive Director, Cincinnati Preschool Promise.

CPP is reaching out to parents and providers through a robust outreach effort that includes information sessions scheduled throughout the month of April.

  • Parent Information Sessions: April 10, 11, 17, 18, 19
  • Preschool Provider Information Sessions: April 3, 24, 25, 26

CPP leaders approved an agreement between Cincinnati Preschool Promise, Cincinnati Public Schools and the United Way detailing the allocation and payment of funds, tuition assistance program, preschool quality improvement program and reporting and performance requirements.

Highlights include:

  • Preschool expansion plan is on schedule as promised with tuition assistance available this fall.
  • Tuition assistance will be “layered” onto state and federal funding already available to families.
  • Tuition Assistance will be available for quality preschool education, defined as any program rated 3, 4, or 5-stars on Ohio’s Step Up to Quality Program.
  • Families must live in the CPS district boundary to participate and families who can least afford quality preschool will be eligible for tuition assistance first. Tuition assistance will be available on a sliding scale based on income. Families up to 200% federal poverty level will be prioritized first with availability for families above that income based on a sliding scale.
  • Tuition assistance will be available to help pay for the school day and for the school year.
  • Families are urged to identify their preferred provider now and let them know of their interest in applying for Preschool Promise tuition assistance.
  • Preschool providers that are located in the CPS district boundary and are unrated, or have a 1-2-star rating can apply for Quality Improvement Grants beginning this summer, if not earlier.
  • CPP will provide an annual report on students receiving tuition assistance and community providers who have received funding. Success of the program will be evaluated every year.

“With the agreement in place, we can now begin the important work of building out a more robust and inclusive system of high quality preschool, one that serves so many more children so that our young people get off to a great start and are better prepared to be successful in school.” said Father Michael Graham, chair, Cincinnati Preschool Promise Board of Directors.

“This partnership is about granting access and ensuring equity in education for our young people,” said Melanie Bates, vice president of the Cincinnati Board of Education. “Together, we are building a better Cincinnati.”

For more details on the agreement, April information sessions and general information about Preschool Promise visit www.AskPreschoolPromise.org   email Vanessa.White@uwgc.org or call 513-762-7234

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