Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund

Early Childhood Block Grant RFP (SFY26)

Grant Opportunity

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund (KCCTF) announces the release of the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) funding opportunity for state fiscal year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026).

Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) is intended to provide supplemental funding to fill gaps. Programs applying for this grant must demonstrate that they are investing other available financial resources and community support into their programs before requesting this funding.

The purpose of this funding is to provide high-quality early childhood care and education services for children birth to kindergarten entry and their families to meet  early childhood outcomes related to Healthy Development, Early Learning, and Strong Families. Prenatal and family supports also qualify under this grant opportunity.

Goals

  • Provide direct services to children at-risk of entering kindergarten socially, emotionally or academically unprepared for success by funding programs that are evidence-based and data-driven.
  • Increase access to services in under-served communities
  • Support community collaboration and public-private partnership
  • Enable alignment with the All in For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan and statewide initiatives to improve access to early childhood services
  • Provide supplemental funding to fill gaps not covered by other funding sources.

Target Outcomes

  • At-risk young children and their families receive evidence-based services
  • Children improve social, emotional, and academic skills, as measured by the Common Measures and reflected in the results of the annual evaluation
  • Caregivers improve parenting skills, as measured by the Common Measures and reflected in the results of the annual evaluation
  • Communities will increase capacity to provide direct early childhood services
  • Communities will implement principles of the All in For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan and take part in statewide initiatives to improve access to early childhood services

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Eligible applicants may include:

  • 501© (3) organizations in Kansas
  • County and city governments in Kansas
  • Unified School Districts (USDs) in Kansas (not currently receiving Kansas Preschool Pilot funding from KSDE) 
    RFP and Template Downloads
    Apply Here

    Applications open November 18, and will close January 8

    Timeline

    Release of Request for Proposal (RFP) and Application Opens: November 18, 2024

    Application closes January 8, 2025, 5:00PM

    Apply Using the Kansas CommonApp

     

    Assistance

    RFP questions may be submitted:
    November 18, 2024 through December 30, 2024

    Kansas CommonApp Help Desk available:
    November 18, 2024 through January 8, 2025

     

    Technical Assistance Webinars

    Technical Assistance Webinar (register via Zoom to attend)

    November 22, 2024, 11:00 a.m. CST

    • Join this webinar to learn about the Request for Proposal and application requirements, as well as a walkthrough of the Kansas CommonApp.

     

    Support for Families

    KCCTF aims to provide ECBG funding to programs that provide preschool and research-based child development services, with a focus on at-risk children and underserved areas. Data collection, fiscal accountability, and high-quality service delivery are important tenets of the ECBG program. Applicants should be prepared to provide service delivery models that yield positive outcomes for children from birth to kindergarten entry and their families, including prenatal supports.

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to keep the AIFKK needs assessment findings and strategic plan goals in mind when designing their ECBG proposal to meet the needs of their communities and the young children and families they serve.

    In addition, strong proposals will include:

    • Plans based on community needs and data, including those identified from any local-level needs assessments and action plan.
    • A focus on outcomes for children birth to age 5 and families and plan to sustain them (prenatal services are allowed)
    • Documented public-private partnerships with a community-driven, family centered approach
    • A plan for improving quality and/or access to services
    • A commitment to evidence-based, data-driven practices that increase equitable access to high-quality early childhood care and education services
    • A budget proposal that demonstrates that they are investing other available resources and community support into their programs before requesting this funding.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the Common Measures

    For more information about the Common Measures, view this guide that describes each measure that the ECBG evaluation uses. SFY2026 Common Measures Guide (pdf)

    What is the Blueprint for Early Childhood?

    ECBG applications are expected to be aligned with the KCCTF Blueprint for Early Childhood.

    Are we allowed to use our 501c3 Fiscal Agent to receive this grant. We used a Fiscal Agent to receive grants from a private foundation and Child Care Aware.

    You can partner with a 501(c)(3) organization as the fiscal agent. Assuming the fiscal agent would funnel ECBG funds to your organization, your organization would then be listed as a funded partner on the “Partnerships” tab of the application. Any partnership being applied (whether they are funded or non-funded partners) will need to have a collaborative agreement signed by both parties and uploaded to the “Partnerships” tab of the application.

    What are the ECBG Program Types?

    View this guide to find a more in-depth desription of the program types that ECBG supports.

    Where can I learn more about 1-800-CHILDREN

    ECBG grantees are required to keep up to date their 1-800-CHILDREN Resource Directory listing and partner organization listings here. The exception would be child care providers that are already listed in the Child Care Aware Child Care Resource & Referral Services; child care providers are only required to keep up-to date a listing in one resource.

    Is this available to home child care providers?

    Anyone that meets the eligibility criteria on page 5 of the RFP is eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include:

    • 501(c)(3) organizations in Kansas
    • County or city governments in Kansas
    • Unified School Districts (USDs) in Kansas