Arizona

Overview of Pre-K Program-Early Childhood Block Grant Program (ECBG)

Program is open to four year old children whose families earn up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
ECBG receives funding solely from Arizona’s General Fund.
Both school districts and charter schools can choose to participate in the Early Childhood Block Grant Program.
Funds go directly to schools which can:

Use the funds to establish and maintain quality preschool programs at district or charter schools.
Fund placements for eligible children at quality preschool programs that the parents choose.

Administered through the Arizona Department of Education, Early Childhood Education Office.

1991 Arizona begins funding state preschool programs.
1996 State begins using the Arizona Early Childhood Block Grant program to fund pre-k.
2002 Arizona Board on School Readiness created to advise the legislature on how to help more of Arizona’s children to start school ready to succeed.
2005 Arizona Early Childhood Certification becomes available, but teachers are not required to obtain it.
2006 Arizona voters pass Proposition 203 to fund quality early childhood development and health.
2006 First Things First, initially known as Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health Board, is created to identify and prioritize early childhood needs within communities, determine polices and approve funding necessary to meet these needs.
2008 Arizona’s ECBG serves 5,401 four year olds statewide.
2009 All new pre-k teachers required to have Arizona Early Childhood Certification by July 1, 2012.