Preschool Development Grant
Minnesota has been awarded three grants:
- 2019-2020: Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five Planning Grant, $4.7 million
- 2020-2023: Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five Renewal Grant, $27 million
- 2023-2024: Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five Planning Grant, $4 million
- Launch of Help Me Connect, a centralized system to directly connect families and those working with families to resources. It will also serve as a direct referral to programs and services.
- MN StoryCollective, a storytelling project that works with community partners to collect stories. The initiative then brings together folks from across Minnesota to make sense of what's being shared and to identify opportunities to take action.
- Targeted focus on American Indian children and families, including prioritizing grant funding, hiring a Tribal Nations Lead and implementing an indigenous evaluation.
- Supporting Community Solutions for Healthy Child Development Grants, grants that fund community solutions to improve the well-being of children of color and American Indian children from prenatal to grade three and their families.
- Launched Community Resource Hubs, now sustained as Community Resource Centers, which are community-based coordinated points of entry that provide culturally responsive, relationship-based service navigation and other supportive services for expecting and parenting families and youth.
- Working to coordinate eligibility and services for families through legal and technical solutions.
- Supporting the early childhood workforce through revising the Knowledge and Competency Framework, piloted early childhood Grow Your Own and CDAs in high schools, and through compensation supports.
- Supporting Outdoor Learning, Transitions to Kindergarten, and Early Childhood Screening.
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Early Childhood in Minnesota - 6/22/23
A general outline of early care and education systems in Minnesota and action steps to improve conditions for children, families and communities across the state.
Grant Overview and Reports
The Preschool Development Grant is awarded to states through a competitive application process and requires annual reports for all grants. The state has also completed a sustainability planning guide to support ongoing efforts after the grant funds conclude.
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Preschool Development Grant 2022 Annual Report
- 2/17/23
Learn more about the work done through PDG in 2022. -
Preschool Development Grant B-5 Planning Project Description
- 2/15/23
Outlines plan for the $4 million PDG planning grant the State of Minnesota was awarded for calendar year 2023. -
Minnesota Preschool Development Grant Sustainability Planning Guide
- 6/6/22
This is a guide created by the Management and Analysis Division at Minnesota Management and Budget to support sustainability planning for Minnesota’s Preschool Development Grant. -
Minnesota Preschool Development Grant Annual Report 2021
- 4/12/22
Minnesota’s report to the Federal government on grant activities through December 30, 2021. -
Preschool Development Grant Mid-Grant Report
- 9/21/21
Reporting highlighting the work and successes of the Preschool Development Grant halfway through the three-year funding period. -
Bridging State Agencies for Coordinated Care
- 1/12/21
The Preschool Development Grant is a collaboration of state agencies and committees. This document shows how the departments of Education, Health, and Human Services, along with the Children's Cabinet, work together to meet the grant's goals. -
Preschool Development Grant Guiding Principles
- 1/11/21
Summary that defines the guiding principles of the Preschool Development Grant work: Racial Equity, Trauma and Healing Informed, Intersectionality, Interagency Collaboration, Geographic Responsiveness, Whole Family Systems, and Belonging and Inclusion. -
Renewal Grant Summary
- 2/26/20
Minnesota was awarded a renewal grant to continue the work of the Preschool Development Planning Grant. This summary includes activities within the proposal to be implemented between December 31, 2019 – December 30, 2022. -
Minnesota Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Birth-Five (B-5) Renewal Grant
- 1/13/20
Minnesota Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Birth-Five (B-5) Renewal Grant is Minnesota’s application for federal funding. The state was awarded this three-year $26.7 million federal grant beginning December 31, 2019. The document outlines the state’s proposed activities, timelines and budget. Note that the state was awarded less than application so activities and budgets are subject to change. -
Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five (PDG B-5) Overview
- 6/3/19
The Preschool Development Grant Overview summarizes activities that will be conducted through the planning grant period. This document is designed to be used as a handout with stakeholders. -
Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five (PDG B-5) Project Description
- 1/14/19
The Preschool Development Grant Birth-Five (PDG B-5) Project Description is Minnesota’s application for federal funding. The document outlines the state’s proposed activities, timelines and budget. Note that the state was awarded less than application so activities and budgets are subject to change.
Current Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan
The grant supports strengthening Minnesota’s early childhood system, especially for children and families furthest from opportunities. In order to best understand the needs of the state, Minnesota completed in-depth needs assessments in both 2020 and 2023. In both needs assessments processes, the state partnered with agencies, communities, and families across the state. The needs assessment process led to strategic plans that guide the state’s cross-agency work and grant funds. Strategic priorities for 2023 and beyond include:
- Priority Area 1: Families can access the early childhood services they need to help their young children thrive.
- Priority Area 2: Available early childhood supports and services achieve high quality standards by meeting the needs of children and families and driving toward positive outcomes.
- Priority Area 3: Families and communities play an active role in informing the planning, implementation, and oversight of state and local early childhood efforts.
- Priority Area 4: A sustainable and comprehensive statewide infrastructure enables the state to implement a streamlined early childhood system.
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A Minnesota Dedicated to Young Children and Families
- 3/17/23
A community-facing brief showing what Minnesota has accomplished in the early childhood space in the years since the initial needs assessment and strategic plan. -
Minnesota Early Childhood Strategic Refresh
- 3/14/23
A fresh look at what Minnesota has accomplished in the early childhood space in the years since the initial needs assessment and strategic plan, gauging how recent events have reinvigorated, reshuffled and reshaped the system's priorities.
Evaluation and Learning
Minnesota is committed to ongoing learning and improvement in the state’s early childhood system as well as specifically for the Preschool Development Grant. The state has completed two evaluations as a part of the grant.
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PDG Evaluation Summary
- 5/4/23
Results of the Improve Group's 2022 evaluation of the Preschool Development Grant. -
Kev Ntsuam Xyuas Minnesota Cov Nyiaj Thov Pab Fab Kev Tau Hau Ntsoov Rau Qib Kawm Preschool: Kev Sib Tham Nrog Tsev Neeg
- 5/1/23
Results of the Improve Group's 2022 evaluation of the Preschool Development Grant where they heard from families about their experiences accessing and using services, as well as their thoughts about what works well and what can be improved. -
Evaluation of Minnesota's Preschool Development Grant: Conversations with Families
- 5/1/23
Results of the Improve Group's 2022 evaluation of the Preschool Development Grant where they heard from families about their experiences accessing and using services, as well as their thoughts about what works well and what can be improved. -
Evaluación de la Subvención de Desarrollo Preescolar de Minnesota: Conversaciones con Familias
- 5/1/23
Results of the Improve Group's 2022 evaluation of the Preschool Development Grant where they heard from families about their experiences accessing and using services, as well as their thoughts about what works well and what can be improved. -
Impact of 2021 Investments in Early Childhood Care and Education
- 4/25/23
As part of Minnesota’s work on the Early Childhood Governance and Financing grant, the state has been partnering with Wilder Research to evaluate impacts of federal COVID relief funds invested in early care and education. -
Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five Program Performance Evaluation
- 5/15/20
This document is Minnesota’s program performance evaluation plan to meet requirements of the Preschool Development Grant and provide a plan for evaluation in the strategic plan. -
Principles of Community Engagement
- 5/7/20
This document summarizes lessons learned from the Preschool Development Grant on best practices in conducting community engagement.
American Indian Collaboration
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MN Preschool Development Grant Indigenous Evaluation
- 3/21/23
Wilder Research and Bowman Performance Consulting conducted an Indigenous evaluation for the PDG that honors the unique cultural and tribal sovereignty of Minnesota’s American Indian communities. -
First Year Recap: PDG Indigenous Evaluation
- 3/13/23
A recap of the first year of the PDG Indigenous Evaluation conducted by Wilder Research, focused on the experiences of and impacts on Indigenous families. -
Indigenous Evaluation 101 Guidebook
- 11/1/22
An Indigenous Evaluation 101 Guidebook was developed by Bowman Performance Consulting (Shawano, WI) and Wilder Research (Saint Paul, MN) as part of our contract with the Minnesota Department of Education to conduct an Indigenous Evaluation for Minnesota’s Preschool Development Grant. This guidebook provides guidance on how to conduct evaluation that honors the culture and strengths of Indigenous communities. It was developed for the State of Minnesota, their grantees, and other organizations that are working within Indigenous communities, in particular for the Preschool Development Grant and other initiatives that center children and families. -
Preschool Development Grant Collaborating with American Indians and Tribal Nations
- 12/28/21
Summary of the Preschool Development Grant's collaboration with American Indian communities and Tribal Nations, includes specific community initiatives that are funded through the grant.
Grant Projects
Minnesota has implemented several major initiatives funded by the Preschool Development Grant.
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Toolkit for Healing-Centered Practice One-pager
- 3/22/23
A brief description of the Toolkit for Healing-Centered Practice, which was created in partnership with the MN Association for Children's Mental Health. -
Community Solutions for Healthy Development Final Report
- 2/24/23
This report details implementation of the Community Solutions Fund, grantees' successes and needs, and lessons learned about equity-centered grant-making during the 2020-23 grant period. -
Community Resource Hubs Final Report
- 2/9/23
This report provides findings from Minnesota's Community Resource Hubs pilot program. -
Minnesota Business Vitality Council Report on Supports and Resources for Child Care Businesses
- 5/9/22
Final report of an interagency working group, convened by the Department of Employment and Economic Development and co-facilitated by Preschool Development Grant staff, with findings and recommendations related to the economic development impacts of the early care and education sector and opportunities to enhance supports for child care businesses. -
Community Resource Hubs Interim Report
- 4/1/22
This report provides initial findings from Minnesota’s Community Resource Hubs pilot program. -
Prevention and Promotion Brief
- 10/7/21
How collaborative state programs promote well-being and provide prevention services. -
Community Resource Hubs Locations and Biographies
- 8/4/21
Includes map and biographies of local community resource hubs across the state of Minnesota. -
Frequently Asked Questions: Coordinating Eligibility and Services
- 3/15/21
Covers common questions around the eligibility and service coordination agreement between the Minnesota departments of Education, Health, and Human Services. -
Coordinating Eligibility and Services Agreement
- 3/15/21
Overview of the eligibility and Service coordination agreement between the Minnesota departments of Education, Health, and Human Services. -
Early Childhood Coordinating Eligibility and Services Summary
- 12/8/20
This report is a product of a cross-agency workgroup with recommendations on coordinating eligibility and services for children and families. -
Report: A Marketing Plan for Effectively Communicating with Parents
- 9/19/19
This marketing plan spells out what state agencies and their contractors must do to effectively communicate with all parents and how to go about doing it. -
Report: Exploring and Developing Communication Strategies with Parents
- 9/19/19
Preschool Development Grant funds supported the creation of this report to increase culturally relevant parent involvement practices through effective communication strategies. Wilder Research found three primary themes: trust, two-way communication, and technology.
Past Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan Work
Prior to the 2023 Strategic Refresh, Minnesota completed an in-depth needs assessment and strategic plan in 2019. The needs assessment and strategic plan focused on expecting and parenting families with young children who are experiencing racial, geographic and economic inequities. The work was completed in partnership with 10 community organizations: the six Minnesota Initiative Foundations in Greater Minnesota; Children's Defense Fund MN; the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center; Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care; and Indigenous Visioning.
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Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan
- 5/20/20
This document is Minnesota’s strategic plan to meet requirements of the Preschool Development Grant. -
Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment
- 5/11/20
This document is Minnesota’s comprehensive needs assessment to meet requirements of the Preschool Development Grant. -
Community Needs Assessment Findings for Preschool Development Grant
- 1/23/20
This document is the final report on findings from the community engagement portion of the Preschool Development Grant needs assessment. -
Preschool Development Grant 2020-22 Strategic Plan Summary
- 12/23/19
This document provides a summary of the 2020-22 Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan. Translations in Hmong, Spanish and Somali will be made available December 2019. -
Spanish Translation: Preschool Development Grant 2020-22 Strategic Plan Summary
- 11/25/19
This document provides a summary of the 2020-22 Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan translated to Spanish. -
Somali Translation: Preschool Development Grant 2020-22 Strategic Plan Summary
- 11/25/19
This document provides a summary of the 2020-22 Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan translated to Somali. -
Hmong Translation: Preschool Development Grant 2020-22 Strategic Plan Summary
- 11/25/19
This document provides a summary of the 2020-22 Preschool Development Grant Strategic Plan translated to Hmong. -
Information Contributing to Preschool Development Grant Needs Assessment
- 11/19/19
This graphic summarizes the Preschool Development Grant activities that are contributing to the needs assessment.