<p> PRESCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM</p><p>1. Preschool scholarships are available to children 3-5 years of age. 2. Scholarships are only available to those families that are denied assistance from DHS. All families must first contact DHS for eligibility. 3. Total annual family gross income (before taxes) must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify for assistance. Income Used to Compute Poverty Status (Money Income)</p><p> Includes gross earnings (before taxes), unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, veterans' payments, survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, assistance from outside the household, and other miscellaneous sources.  Do not count non-cash benefits (such as food stamps and housing subsidies).  Excludes capital gains or losses.  Only include the income of all family members. (Non-relatives, such as housemates, do not count.) 4. Providers participating in the scholarship program are fully empowered to administer the scholarships as they see fit, and providers may terminate a scholarship to any family they feel is in violation of these guidelines, the provider’s guidelines, or if the scholarship is being abused. SHIP will not become involved in provider/parent disputes. 5. In the event that a scholarship family wants to change providers, SHIP must be contacted and all fees owed the provider must be current before the family can start on a new scholarship elsewhere. Families will be required to re-apply for a scholarship at a new provider. 6. To qualify for these funds, child care centers must be fully licensed and either at a Level 3 or higher in the Iowa Quality Rating System (QRS), fully verified in the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS), nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or Head Start certified. Centers must also use an approved curriculum and assessment tool. Centers are required to submit a photocopy of their license; QRS level certificate, QPPS verification or NAEYC or Head Start certification with their application for this program. In-home child care providers must be registered and at a Level 3 or higher in the Iowa Quality Rating System (QRS) by July 1, 2014. 7. SHIP preschool scholarships pay a portion of the child care fees per week for children in need of assistance. The amount the parent co-pay, and the amount the student scholarship is determined by the provider, though no family will get free tuition. Parents are required to pay the balance of the fees that are not covered by the scholarship. SHIP suggests a sliding fee scale according to need based on the Federal Poverty Guidelines. All scholarship applicants cannot be charged any more than a private pay family by their selected provider. 8. All scholarship recipients are allowed up to 4 missed days during the current month. Any child missing more than 4 days will be subject to removal from scholarship as determined by the ECI Director of SHIP and the Preschool Director, unless prior approval is given for extenuating circumstances. 9. All scholarships are valid for up to 1 year, from July 1 until June 30 of the following year. Families must re-apply if a change of employment occurs within the scholarship timeline. </p>