<p>SY2016-17 PreK Program Application March 3, 2016 Page 2 of 2 1) March 3, 2016</p><p>2) MEMORANDUM</p><p>TO: Public School Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and Regional Educational Cooperative (REC) Directors</p><p>FROM: Brenda Kofahl, PreK Program Manager Literacy and Early Childhood Bureau</p><p>RE: NEW MEXICO PREK (PRE-KINDERGARTEN) APPLICATION FOR CONTINUING PROGRAMS</p><p>The Public Education Department (PED) is issuing an application to continue to provide voluntary, state-funded New Mexico PreK (Pre-Kindergarten) programs in School Year 2016–2017 for four- year-old children. The PreK Program provides voluntary, state-funded, pre-kindergarten programs for children who turn four years old before September 1st and are not age-eligible for kindergarten (NMSA 6.30.9.10), including students with disabilities, regardless of the disability. Pre- kindergarten services may be provided by public schools on a per-child reimbursement rate of $3,206.20. Programs funded for extended-day in 2015-16 may continue as extended-day pilot sites. PreK services for extended-day programs may be provided by public schools including charter schools at a per-child reimbursement rate of $6,412.40. For funding purposes, applications and proposals shall be evaluated and priority given to programs in communities with public elementary schools that are designated as Title I schools and that have at least 66 percent of the children served living within the attendance zone of a Title I elementary school.</p><p>School districts, charter schools, and RECs that received New Mexico PreK funding for SY 2015– 2016 must submit a continuation application to continue operation of the PreK program for the 2016–2017 school year. The legislature appropriated the same amount of funding for SY2016- 17 as in SY2015-16, so district/charter budgets will remain at the current level of funding. A needs assessment is included with this application to determine your district/charter school’s plans to address the need for PreK services.</p><p>Currently funded PreK programs will provide updated program and budget information to the PED for approval using the continuation application. The signed applications are due to the PED on April 1, 2016, by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. Please submit your applications through the Web Education Plan for Student Success (EPSS), which may be accessed at http://web- epss.ped.state.nm.us/Security/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl =%2fDefault.aspx. </p><p>The PreK Coordinator will have access to upload the application to the Web EPSS for school districts, charters, and RECs that are currently offering a PreK program(s). The district’s Federal Programs Director will also have access to upload the application to the Web EPSS.</p><p>In addition to submitting the PreK application via the Web EPSS, please mail the application signature page with original signatures only to: SY2016-17 PreK Program Application March 3, 2016 Page 2 of 2</p><p>New Mexico Public Education Department Literacy and Early Childhood Bureau Jerry Apodaca Education Building Attn: Brandy De La Riva, Room G-5 300 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87501</p><p>Please contact Brenda Kofahl, PreK Program Manager, at (505) 827-6627 or at [email protected] with questions. </p><p>MW/bk</p><p>Attachment: 2016–2017 PreK Program Continuation Application</p><p>Cc: Leighann Lenti, Deputy Secretary for Policy and Program Matt Pahl, Director of Policy Melinda Webster, Director, Literacy and Early Childhood Bureau</p>