Section 2050.10 Purpose; Eligible Applicants

TITLE 23: EDUCATION AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

SUBTITLE A: EDUCATION

CHAPTER XI: DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

PART 2050 EARLY CHILDHOOD BLOCK GRANT

SECTION 2050.10 PURPOSE; ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Section 2050.10  Purpose; Eligible Applicants

a)         This Subpart

A establishes the procedures and criteria for the approval of proposals

submitted to the

Illinois Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)

by

eligible applicants for grants to assist in establishing early childhood

education programs funded through the Early Childhood Block Grant authorized by

Section 1C-2 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/1C-2].  The Early Childhood Block

Grant program shall include:

1)         preschool

education primarily for at-risk and low-income children ages 3 years old to

kindergarten enrollment age as defined in Section 10-20.12 of the School Code

[105 ILCS 5/10-20.12], to include those programs and activities that meet the

requirements of Section 2-3.71 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/2-3.71]; and

2)         prevention

initiative for at-risk children from birth to age 3 and their families, to

include those programs and activities that meet the requirements of Section

2-3.89 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/2-3.89].

3)         For

the purposes of this Part, "at risk" is defined as those children

who

because of their home and community environment are subject to such language,

cultural, economic and like disadvantages to cause them to have been determined

as a result of screening procedures

(to be carried out in conformance with

Section 2050.20(c)(5) of this Part)

to be at risk of academic failure

.

(Section 2-3.71(a)(4.5) of the School Code)

b)

Eligible applicants for Early Childhood Block Grant programs include any

public or private not-for-profit or for-profit entity with experience in

providing educational, health, social and/or child development services to

young children and their families

t in conformance with

Section 2050.20(c)(5) of this Part)

to be at risk of academic failure

.

(Section 2-3.71(a)(4.5) of the School Code)

b)

Eligible applicants for Early Childhood Block Grant programs include any

public or private not-for-profit or for-profit entity with experience in

providing educational, health, social and/or child development services to

young children and their families.  If the Early Childhood Block Grant program

is operated in or by a child care center subject to the licensure requirements

of IDEC, then that child care center must hold the appropriate licensure in

accordance with rules promulgated by

the Illinois Department of Children and

Family Services (

DCFS) (see 89 Ill. Adm. Code 403 (Licensing Standards

for Group Homes) and 405 (Licensing Standards for Day Care Agencies)),

or with

rules promulgated by IDEC (see 23 Ill. Adm. Code 2007

(Licensing Standards

for Day Care Homes), 2008 (Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers), and 2009

(Licensing Standards for Group Day Care Homes)).

c)         Joint

applications for funds may be submitted by any combination of eligible

applicants, as described in subsection (b) of this Section.

1)         If a

joint application is submitted, then an administrative agent shall be

designated.

2)         A

school district or other eligible applicant shall only participate in one

proposal for a specific program.

d)         Eligible

applicants may subcontract with a private school, not-for-profit or for-profit

corporation, or other governmental agency that would otherwise be eligible

under subsection (b) of this Section to conduct an Early Childhood Block Grant

program.