Annual Report on Early Childhood Education Grants, Fiscal Year 2021

Early Childhood Education (ECE) programs are an important investment in Ohio's youngest learners. Ohio has worked to increase the availability of high-quality early learning programs for preschool children by providing the Early Childhood Education grants. Funded programs deliver high-quality, comprehensive learning environments focused on healthy development and intellectual, social and emotional success. Research is clear: children who participate in high-quality early learning programs begin school better prepared for educational success. In Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021), 353 Early Childhood Education Grant-funded programs served 15,052 children because of the $71,480,000 investment in state funding. These grantees included public school districts, educational service centers, joint vocational schools, community schools, chartered nonpublic schools and community-based child care providers who earned 3-, 4- or 5-star ratings in Ohio's quality rating system, Step Up To Quality. [For the 2020 report, see ED615708.]