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Announcing the 2020 Quality Enhancement grantees

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Quality Enhancement Grants program supports quality improvement efforts in early learning programs serving children birth to five in the Kansas City region.

During the first five years of life, a child’s brain develops exponentially, making this a critical period for learning and growth.

Having an effective early childhood teacher is an important factor in promoting child development in early care settings. Much of the work supported through the Quality Enhancement Grants program targets professional development on adult-child interactions, trauma-informed care, and positive behavioral support.

“Through the Quality Enhancement Grants program, our aim is to allow community members to identify their individual needs in improving the quality of their early learning programs,” said Halley French, program officer. “This initiative has supported large and small centers, school districts, intermediary organizations, home-based programs, mental health services, and more across the Kansas City metropolitan area. Ensuring our region’s children have access to high-quality experiences early in life is one of the best investments we can make in our future.”

To qualify for grants of up to $100,000 per year over two years, programs must be in Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas or Cass, Clay, Jackson, and Platte counties in Missouri enrolling at least 40% children from lower-income families.

Meet the 2020 grantees

  • Child Care Aware of Missouri | Social-emotional training/coaching for cohorts of early childhood teachers.
  • Cornerstones of Care | Therapist to assist Grandview School District pre-K classrooms with trauma-informed care and individual/family therapy.
  • Della Lamb Community Services | Training/coaching on new curriculum, Conscious Discipline, tramua-informed care, and student assessment; technology lab; conference attendance.
  • Kansas City Public Schools | Literacy training for pre-K staff.
  • KidZone Learning Center | Training on Classroom Assessment Scoring System, curriculum/assessment, trauma-informed care, and Conscious Discipline; coursework for teachers; family engagement support.
  • Learn A Lot Academy | Curriculum coach for training/coaching staff, training on cultural competency/trauma-informed care, support for Missouri and NAEYC accreditation, strategic planning consultation.
  • Mid-America Regional Council (Educare) | Conduct environmental ratings, quality assessments, and coaching in small licensed centers and home-based programs; provide mini-grants to programs.
  • New City Early Learning Academy | Training on Classroom Assessment Scoring System, curriculum, and trauma-informed care; teacher incentives; classroom furniture; purchase of Creative Curriculum.
  • Olathe Public Schools | Operating support for the Supporting Care Providers through Personal Visits program.
  • SevenStars America | Child Development Associate scholarships and training for early childhood teachers.
  • Start at Zero | Training for early childhood teachers and directors to administer and analyze the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).
  • The Children’s Place | Training on curriculum, Classroom Assessment Scoring System, trauma-informed care, Conscious Discipline, and leadership training.