News release from the United Way of Allen County:
Family applications are being accepted for On My Way Pre-K launch in January
(November 25, 2014) – Community Action of Northeast Indiana (CANI) is accepting applications from Allen County families whose children may be eligible to receive grants for free, high-quality, prekindergarten education through the On My Way Pre-K program. Children eligible for the January start of the program include 4-year-olds starting kindergarten fall of 2015. Grants will enable eligible children to attend these programs free of charge.
Families must meet all the following eligibility criteria to apply for the January start:
- The family must have an income below 127 percent of the federal poverty level.
- The family must reside in Allen County.
- The child must be 5 years old by Aug. 1, 2015, and starting kindergarten in August 2015.
Applications will be accepted until December 15, 2014. If more families qualify than there are grants available, awards will be made through a randomized lottery. This lottery will occur around December 17, 2014. Families will be notified if they receive a grant.
Once a child has received a grant, parents may choose from the enrolled On My Way Pre- K programs that have openings. They include high-quality programs that are either level 3 or level 4 on Paths to QUALITY or are accredited by an approved national or regional accrediting body.
Families may choose from a program that is full-day or part-day. Programs may end with the school year or continue through the summer. A list of approved pre-K providers will be made available in December and posted online. Families can pick up an On My Way Pre-K Family Application at CANI’s Main Office, 227 E. Washington Blvd. The CANI office is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, and on Friday, Nov. 28. There will be a limited number of openings in January with the expectation of additional openings in August 2015 for children starting kindergarten fall of 2016. For information call CANI at (260) 423-3546.
On My Way Pre-K is the name of Indiana’s state-funded prekindergarten program, which was approved as a five-county pilot by the Indiana General Assembly in 2014. United Way of Allen County, Women United and PNC Bank have pledged matching funds to enable Allen County families to benefit from this program.
About United Way
Established in 1922, United Way of Allen County is a not-for-profit organization that works to strengthen the community through the four building blocks for a good quality of life: education, income, health and basic needs. United Way believes that quality education helps families achieve stable jobs, a safe place to live and good health.
Related Images:
