Federal Stimulus Dollars Helping First Things First, Arizona
Improve Early Education
PHOENIX – (January 6, 2011) First Things First recently secured $2.5 million in federal stimulus funding for Arizona to help enhance the quality of early education for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
The funds will be used to provide training to child care centers and providers on state standards for teaching kids 3 to 5 years old; to develop program standards for infants and toddlers along with training for caregivers; and, to test a 5-star quality rating system to assist families in locating child care.
In order to qualify for the federal funds, states had to come up with a 70% match to the federal funds. Part of the $48 million FTF has invested over the past 2 years on improving the quality of early education services statewide was used as Arizona’s match.
“This grant is an excellent example of how early childhood funds administered by First Things First can be used to bring additional resources to the state of Arizona,” said FTF Executive Director Rhian Evans Allvin. “This partnership will greatly improve the knowledge of those working with our youngest kids and will give parents much-needed resources in selecting quality early education environments for their children.”
Fifty-seven U.S. states and territories received the grants. Arizona’s was the 12th largest of the awards, which were based on the number of children 5 and younger who live in poverty. Grant recipients were announced in September, but FTF waited on a formal announcement pending the outcome of a Nov. 2 election in which its funds were in jeopardy. Voters approved the continuation of FTF in that election, allowing all of FTF’s work – including the specific projects involving the stimulus funds – to move forward.
“We are pleased to be able to continue this important work to improve the quality of early learning for our youngest kids,” said FTF Board Chairman Steven W. Lynn. “The quality of education they receive during the early years lays the foundation for their success in school, and ultimately, for our success as a state.”
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First Things First was created in 2006, when Arizona voters – through the Proposition 203 ballot initiative – decided to set aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of education and health programs for children 5 years old and younger. Under the terms of the proposition, decisions about how to best use the funds are made on a per‐region basis by 31 councils made up of local leaders. The statewide board – which has final approval of the councils’ recommendations – is responsible for ensuring that the funds are used on programs proven to work at improving outcomes for children.