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93.577 EARLY LEARNING FUND

(Early Learning Opportunities Act)

FEDERAL AGENCY

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION

Public Law 106-554; Early Learning Opportunities Act of
2001, Title VIII, Section 801.

OBJECTIVES

To increase the availability of voluntary programs,
services, and activities that support early childhood development,
increase parent effectiveness, and promote the learning readiness of young
children to enter school ready to learn. To support parents, child care
providers, and caregivers wanting to incorporate early learning activities
into the daily lives of young children. To remove barriers to the
provision of an accessible system of early childhood learning programs in
communities throughout the United States. To increase the availability and
affordability of professional development activities and compensation for
caregivers and child care providers. To facilitate the development of
community-based systems of collaborative service delivery models
characterized by resource sharing and linkages among the appropriate
support groups and services for local planning.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

In general, Local Councils may use Early Learning
Opportunities Act (ELOA) funds to pay for developing, operating, or
enhancing voluntary early learning programs that are likely to produce
sustained gains in early learning. In Fiscal Year 2004, the Child Care
Bureau will only consider for funding those Local Councils that include in
their applications activities for "enhancing early childhood literacy" and
two or more of the following activities: (1) Helping parents, caregivers,
child care providers, and educators increase their capacity to facilitate
the development of cognitive, language comprehension, expressive language,
social-emotional, and motor skills, and promote learning readiness; (2)
promoting effective parenting; (3) developing linkages among early
learning programs within a community and between early learning programs
and health care services for young children; (4) increasing access to
early learning opportunities for young children with special needs,
including developmental delays, by facilitating coordination with other
programs serving such young children; (5) increasing access to existing
early learning programs by expanding the days or times that the young
children are served, by expanding the number of young children served, or
by improving the affordability of the programs for low-income families;
(6) improving the quality of early learning through professional
development and training activities, increased compensation, and
recruitment and retention incentives, for early learning providers; and
(7) removing barriers to early learning, including transportation
difficulties and absence of programs during nontraditional work times. In
the case of a collaborative activity funded under the ELOA and another
provision of law providing for Federal child care or early learning
programs, the use of equipment and nonconsumable supplies will not be
restricted to children enrolled or otherwise participating in the program
carried out under this program or other provision during a period in which
the activity is predominately funded under ELOA or other provision. No
person, including a parent will be required to participate in any program
of early childhood education, early learning, parent education, or
developmental screening pursuant to the provisions of the program. Nothing
in this program will be construed to affect the rights of parents
otherwise established in Federal, State, or local law. No entity that
receives funds under this program will be required to provide services
through a particular instructional method or in a particular instructional
setting to comply with the program. No funds provided under this program
will be used to carry out an activity funded under another provision of
law providing for Federal child care or early learning programs, unless an
expansion of such activity is identified in the local needs assessment and
performance goals under the program. Amounts received under this program
will be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, and
local public funds expended to promote early learning. ELOA funds may not
be used for construction purposes or for the purchase of real property.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

When Congress appropriates at least $150 million to
carry-out activities under the ELOA, grants will be provided on a
formula-basis to States. States will fund Local Councils that have been
designated by an entity of local government. Indian Tribes, Alaska
Regional Corporations, and Native Hawaiian entities will be eligible to
compete for reserved funds as specified in the Act. At appropriation
levels below $150 million in any fiscal year, the Administration for
Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, is directed to award grants
directly to Local Councils, on a competitive basis. Eligible Local
Councils must be designated, in writing, by an entity of local government
(or Indian Tribe, Alaska Regional Corporation, or Native Hawaiian entity).
"State" means each of the several States of the United States, the
District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The purpose of this grant program is to enable Local
Councils to increase, support, expand, and better coordinate early
learning opportunities for children and familes through local community
organizations. These funds can be used to benefit young children from
birth up to the age of mandatory school attendance in their State. To meet
the program goal to improve the learning readiness of young children,
grant awards will be made to Local Councils that can best assess their
community needs and create a plan to facilitate the development of
community-based systems and collaborative service models, provide
continuity of services for young children, and help parents and other
caregivers promote early learning. Projects must address "enhancing early
childhood literacy" and two or more of the other seven activities
specified in the Act.

Credentials/Documentation

An eligible applicant for an ELOA grant must be a Local
Council designated, in writing, by a local government entity(ies)(or
Indian Tribe, Alaska Regional Corporation, or Native Hawaiian entity) as
the Local Council to serve one or more localities for the purpose of
applying for an ELOA discretionary grant. Local government means a local
unit of government, including specifically a county, municipality, city,
town, township, borough, parish, select board, council of local
governments (whether or not incorporated as a non-profit corporation under
State law), intra-state district, a general purpose unit of local
government, and any other interstate or regional or regional unit of local
government. "Local government" does not mean any of the 50 States, or any
agency or instrumentality of a State exclusive of local governments. To be
eligible to receive an ELOA grant award, the membership of the Local
Council must be composed of: (1) local agencies that will be directly
affected by early learning programs assisted under ELOA and the program
announcement; (2) parents; (3) other individuals concerned with early
learning issues in the locality, such as representatives of entities
providing elementary education, child care resource and referral services,
early learning opportunities, child care, and health services; and (4)
other key community leaders. Local Councils are required to submit a
current needs and resource assessment, documenting the needs of the young
children and families in their locality, as well as a plan that addresses
the most significant needs. Nonprofit organizations submitting an
application must submit proof of their nonprofit status at the time of
their submission. All applicants must have a Dun & Bradstreet number.
On June 27, 2003 the Office of Management and Budget published in the
Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant
applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a Dun
& Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when
applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after October
1, 2003. The DUNS number will be required whether an applicant is
submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic
portal (www.Grants.gov). A DUNS number will be required for every
application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including
applications or plans under formula, entitlement and block grant programs,
submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please ensure that your
organization has a DUNS number. You may acquire a DUNS number at no cost
by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS number request line on
1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at http://www.dnb.com.
Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof
of their non-profit status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the
following: 1) a reference to the applicant organization's listing in the
Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt
organizations described in the IRS Code; 2) a copy of a currently valid
IRS tax exemption certificate; 3) a statement from a State taxing body,
State attorney general, or other appropriate State official certifying
that the applicant organization has a non-profit status and that none of
the net earning accrue to any private shareholders or individuals; 4) a
certified copy of the organization's certificate of incorporation or
similar document that clearly establishes non-profit status; or 5) any of
the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a State or national
parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that
the applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate. Private,
non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications
the survey located under "Grant Related Documents and Forms," "Survey for
Private, Non-Profit Grant Applicants,"

entitled, "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for
Applicants," at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofs/forms.htm.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

When the funds available for ELOA are less than $150
million in any fiscal year, the Administration for Children and Families,
Child Care Bureau, will announce the availability of the funds through an
announcement in the Federal Register. The Federal Register will detail the
application requirements and processes. Application forms as furnished by
the Child Care Bureau must be used for this program. This program is
excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Applications will be submitted to Child Care Bureau or its
designee as described in the ELOA Program Announcement published at
www.grants.gov. Applications will be reviewed for conformance by Federal
staff. Those applications that are in compliance with the Act and the
eligibility requirements outlined in the announcement will undergo a
competitive review.

Award Procedure

Each of the applications will undergo an eligibility and
conformance review by Federal staff. Applications that pass the
eligibility and conformance review will be assigned to panels whose
members will review them based on the evaluation criteria published in the
ELOA Program Announcement. The Child Care Bureau will review the results
of the competitive review panels and conduct an administrative review of
the applications and make recommendations for funding to the Commissioner,
Administration on Children, Youth and Families. The Commissioner will make
the final selection of the applications to be funded.

Deadlines

Applications are generally due 60 days from the date of
publication in the Federal Register, although this may vary from 30 to 60
days.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The time required for the application to be approved or
disapproved will be approximately 120 days. Grant awards will be announced
during the fourth quarter (September) of the fiscal year.

Appeals

There is no appeal for the denial of a new grant.

Renewals

None are anticipated.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

If the funds appropriated to carry out this program are
less than $150 million for any fiscal year, the Administration for
Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, shall award grants for the
fiscal year directly to Local Councils, on a competitive basis, to pay the
Federal share of the cost of carrying out early learning programs in the
locality served by the Local Council. In any fiscal year, one percent of
the total amount appropriated will be reserved to be allotted to Indian
Tribes, regional corporations, and Native Hawaiian entities of which, 0.5
percent shall be available to Indian Tribes, and 0.5 percent shall be
available to Regional corporations and Native Hawaiian entities. If the
funds appropriated are $150 million or more, after reserving one percent
for Indian Tribes, Regional Corporations, and Native Hawaiian entities,
the Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau, shall
allot to each State the sum of: 1) An amount that bears the same ratio to
50 percent of such funds as the number of children 4 years of age and
younger living in families with incomes below the poverty line in the
State to the number of such children in all States; and 2) an amount that
bears the same ratio to 50 percent of such funds as the number of children
4 years of age and younger living in families with incomes below the
poverty line in the States bears to the number of children in all States.
No State shall receive an allotment for a fiscal year that is less than 40
percent of the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year under ELOA.
The Federal share of costs will be 85 percent for the first and second
years of the grant, 80 percent for the third and fourth years of the
grant, and 75 percent for the fifth and subsequent years of the grant.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, grants will be awarded annually in September.
Awards to Local Councils will be made on a competitive basis for a
17-month project period (e.g., September 30, 2005 - February 28, 2007).

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

Semi-annual financial reports, semi-annual progress
reports, final financial and final summary progress reports, and audits.

Audits

Audits will be conducted in accordance with guidelines
established in the revised OMB Circular No. A-123, "Audits of States,
Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," and implemented in 7 CFR
Part 3052. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133
(Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and
Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial
assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that
expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal
audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133.
Additional audits may be necessary.

Records

Grantees must maintain separate records for each grant to
ensure that funds are used for the purpose the grant was made. All
matching contributions must be verifiable in the grantee organization's
records. Records are subject to inspection during the life of the grant
and for three years thereafter.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

FY 05 $35,712,000; FY 06 est $0; and FY 07 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$250,000 to $1,000,000; $700,000.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In fiscal year 2005, 42 grants were awarded. In fiscal year
2006, no grants will be awarded. No awards will be made in fiscal year
2007.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Regional Administrator, Administration for Children and
Families. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for list of addresses of
Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office

Child Care Bureau, Portals I Building, 1250 Maryland Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20024. Telephone: (202) 690-6243.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb/

RELATED PROGRAMS

None.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

In fiscal year 2005, ELOA grants were awarded to 42 Local
Councils in 26 States, including one federally recognized Indian Tribe.
Each of the 42 grantees is addressing enhancing early childhood literacy
and two or more of the other seven allowable activities. Project
activities include but are not limited to: increasing early learning
through parent education and home visiting programs; improving the quality
of child care through training and professional development for child care
providers; distributing children's books and educational toys and
materials to families, caregivers, and child care providers; providing
transportation to increase access to child care and early learning
opportunities; expanding the availability of child care for special
populations including infants and toddlers, children with special needs,
and families that require non-standard-hour care; and a variety of
strategies and activities designed to meet the early learning needs of
minority and rural populations. ELOA grants will not be awarded in FY 06
or FY 07.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

The Child Care Bureau will conduct an administrative review
of the applications and results of the competitive review panels and make
recommendations for funding to the Commissioner, ACYF. Subject to the
recommendation of the Child Care Bureau's Associate Commissioner, the
Commissioner, ACYF, will make the final selection of the applications to
be funded. An application may be funded in whole or in part depending on:
(1) the ranked order of applicants resulting from the competitive review;
(2) staff review and consultations; (3) the combination of projects that
best meets the Bureau's objectives; (4) the funds available; (5) the
statutory requirement that reserves funds for Indian Tribes, Alaska Native
Regional Corporations, and Native Hawaiian entities; and (6) other
relevant considerations. The Commissioner may also elect not to fund any
applicants with known management, fiscal, reporting, program, or other
problems, which make it unlikely that they would be able to provide
effective services.

General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition
Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)