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Early Childhood Block Grant RFP (SFY27)

Grant Opportunity

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announces the release of the Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) funding opportunity for state fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027).

Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) is intended to provide supplemental funding to fill gaps. Programs applying for this grant must demonstrate that they are investing other available financial resources and community support into their programs before requesting this funding.

The purpose of this funding is to provide high-quality early childhood care and education services for children birth to kindergarten entry and their families to meet early childhood outcomes related to Healthy Development, Early Learning, and Strong Families. Prenatal and family supports also qualify under this grant opportunity.

Goals

  • Provide direct services to prepare children to enter  kindergarten by funding programs that are evidence-based and data-driven.
  • Increase access to services in underserved communities.
  • Support community collaboration and public-private partnerships.
  • Enable alignment with the All in For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan and statewide initiatives to improve access to early childhood services.
  • Provide supplemental funding to fill gaps not covered by other funding sources.

Target Outcomes

  • Young children and their families receive evidence-based services to prepare them for kindergarten success.
  • Children improve academic and life skills skills, as measured by the Common Measures and reflected in the results of the annual evaluation.
  • Caregivers improve parenting skills, as measured by the Common Measures and reflected in the results of the annual evaluation.
  • Communities will increase capacity to provide direct early childhood services.
  • Communities will implement principles of the All in For Kansas Kids Strategic Plan and take part in statewide initiatives to improve access to early childhood services.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

Eligible applicants may include:

  • 501© (3) organizations in Kansas
  • County and city governments in Kansas
  • Unified School Districts (USDs) in Kansas (not currently receiving Kansas Preschool Pilot funding from KSDE) 
    RFP and Template Downloads
    Apply Here

    Applications open November 17, 2025, and close January 8, 2026

    Timeline

    Release of Request for Proposal (RFP) and Application Opens: November 17, 2025

    Application closes January 8, 2026, 5:00PM

    Apply Using the Kansas CommonApp

     

    Assistance

    RFP questions may be submitted:
    November 17, 2025 through December 29, 2025

    Kansas CommonApp Help Desk available:
    November 17, 2025 through January 8, 2026

    • View the “CommonApp Navigation Tips” in the FAQs below prior to starting your application.

     

    Technical Assistance Webinars

    ECBG Technical Assistance Webinar Recording

    Presentation Slides

    View this webinar to learn about the Request for Proposal and application requirements, as well as a walkthrough of the Kansas CommonApp.

     

    Support for Families

    The Kansas Children’s Cabinet aims to provide ECBG funding to programs that provide preschool and research-based child development services, with a focus on underserved areas and children needing additional supports. Data collection, fiscal accountability, and high-quality service delivery are important tenets of the ECBG program. Applicants should be prepared to provide service delivery models that yield positive outcomes for children from birth to kindergarten entry and their families, including prenatal supports.

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to keep the AIFKK needs assessment findings and strategic plan goals in mind when designing their ECBG proposal to meet the needs of their communities and the young children and families they serve.

    In addition, strong proposals will include:

    • Plans based on community needs and data, including those identified from any local-level needs assessments and action plan.
    • A focus on outcomes for children birth to age 5 and families and plan to sustain them (prenatal services are allowed).
    • Documented public-private partnerships with a community-driven, family centered approach.
    • A plan for improving quality and/or access to services.
    • A commitment to evidence-based, data-driven practices that increase access to high-quality early childhood care and education services.
    • A budget proposal that demonstrates that they are investing other available resources and community support into their programs before requesting this funding.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    CommonApp Navigation Tips

    • Only open the CommonApp in one web browser at a time.
    • Do not use the back button.
    • Use the Application Outline to draft your application info outside of the CommonApp, then copy and paste here.
    • You can download a pdf copy of your current, saved application at any time for review by clicking on the ”Preview” button at the bottom of any tab.
    • If you would like to access previous applications that were submitted under another user at your organization, submit a TA Request form and our team can help transfer them to your current organization account. – Kansas CommonApp Help Desk

      Preparing Your Application

      • To edit your application after submitting, up until the deadline date, please submit a request to have your application returned to “In Progress”.
      • Ensure your personal details are entered accurately so that we may contact you if your application is successful.
      • The application deadline is final, and there will be no extensions. The system will automatically prevent application submission after the deadline.

      Duplicating an Application

      For grant categories that allow multiple submissions from the same applicant, you can use the ‘copy’ feature below to create a copy of any application to work from, changing the category/subcategory and other details, as necessary, for a new submission.

      To copy your application, scroll down to your list of all applications submitted or in-progress. Select the checkbox beside the one you want to duplicate and then click “Copy” (next to the “Start Application” button above your list of applications). A copy will be generated with the same name as your original, appended with “(copy)” at the end. Click on that link to rename the application, select a new grant type, and make any necessary adjustments to your proposal to match grant criteria and eligibility requirements.

    What are the Common Measures

    For more information about the Common Measures, view this guide that describes each measure that the ECBG evaluation uses. SFY2027 Common Measures Guide (pdf)

    What is the Blueprint for Early Childhood?

    ECBG applications are expected to be aligned with the KCCTF Blueprint for Early Childhood.

    Are we allowed to use our 501c3 Fiscal Agent to receive this grant. We used a Fiscal Agent to receive grants from a private foundation and Child Care Aware.

    You can partner with a 501(c)(3) organization as the fiscal agent. Assuming the fiscal agent would funnel ECBG funds to your organization, your organization would then be listed as a funded partner on the “Partnerships” tab of the application. Any partnership being applied (whether they are funded or non-funded partners) will need to have a collaborative agreement signed by both parties and uploaded to the “Partnerships” tab of the application.

    On the profile page in the Common App it asks for a Form 990. Is this a required document? It does say "Optional", but I just wanted to double check.

    If you are a 501(c)(3), then you will need to submit a Form 990. This is something you submit to the IRS, so hopefully already have one on file to upload.

    As we address the needs/gaps sections, should we identify ALL services available to children -- or only as they apply to our programming? For instance, we are looking specifically at the pre-K age (3-5) for services. I was planning to only include services for that age group in our needs/gaps content. However, should I expand that and give a comprehensive explanation of ALL services offered to children birth to age 5 in our application?

    If you are only applying for funding for a program that will serve 3-5 year olds, than that is what all aspects of your application should focus on.

    On the budget for the short description for salaries. If we have multiple people in a position (i.e., 8 Lead Teachers, 8 Assistant Teachers, etc.), do we need to list each individual staff member by name, or may we list the number of FTE for that position and then the justification?

    We are not asking for FTE this year as we have in the past. Therefore, we are asking for percentage of their time spent doing ECBG activities and asking for each individual to be on their own separate line in the budget. This will provide clarity to the reviewers when they are reviewing and allow for the justification to be specific for each person.

    How do we document cash match that will be raised during the grant year?

    You can input it as pending and when you plan to have all funds received. If its continuous fund raising, than you can put 6/30 as the date expected to receive and just put “continuous fundraising” as the brief description.

    Do each individual program budgets need to have meet the 15% match requirement or just the total budget?

    The validations on the individual program tabs are there as a courtesy. If the validations are met for the whole budget (Total ECBG Budget tab), then you should be good.

    Would any/all licensed childcare provider we collaborate with be required to be a DCF child care assistance provider?

    No, they do not need to be a DCF child care assistance provider.

    What part of salaries and benefits can be reported in the Salaries & Benefits categories of the budget verses the Indirect category?

    If the staff member will be:

    1. providing the direct services that you are requesting ECBG funding for;
    2. administering ECBG required common measures; or
    3. doing data entry required for ECBG then the percent of their time/salary spent on

    the above items can be reported under Salaries and Benefits.

    Otherwise, their salary, or the portion of their time/salary not being spent on the above items, needs to be reported under Indirect, or as Cash Match (reminder Cash Match cannot be State or Federal funds).

    Error on original SFY27 ECBG Budget Template

    It came to our attention late last week that there was an issue with the formulas populating in column E when new rows were added within the Salaries section on the Program tabs of the original budget template posted for the SFY2027 Early Childhood Block Grant (ECBG) application.

    We have worked to correct the issue, and the corrected template has been posted as of 10 AM on 12/3/2025. You will know if you have the corrected template if you are seeing “Version 1.1 (12-1-25)” in cell D1 of the Instructions tab.

    If you have started working on the budget using the original template, it is suggested that you download and transfer your work onto the corrected budget (V1.1). You may continue to use the original budget if you do not plan to add any rows into the Salaries section of any Program tab, however, using the original/outdated budget template is NOT suggested.

    We appreciate the applicants that brought this to our attention!

    If you have questions over the budget template, please submit them through the SFY2027 ECBG Technical Assistance Form and select “All other application, RFP or Budget Questions” as the Technical Assistance Type.

    If we are unsure of the curriculum we will be using, can we just state that we will be using an evidence-based or research-based curriculum, or do we need to list the curriculum by name?

    Curriculum that you are proposing to be purchased with ECBG funds or will support a program you’re requesting ECBG funds to support should be Evidence-Based (evidence-based is very different than research-based/evidence-informed).

    For the application, we would like to know what curriculum you would be using along with supporting information on why you switching curriculum. This can be explained on the Programs tab of the application under the Strategies & Services field as part of your “Strategy”.

    What are the ECBG Program Types?

    View this guide to find a more in-depth desription of the program types that ECBG supports.

    Where can I learn more about 1-800-CHILDREN

    ECBG grantees are required to keep up to date their 1-800-CHILDREN Resource Directory listing and partner organization listings here. The exception would be child care providers that are already listed in the Child Care Aware Child Care Resource & Referral Services; child care providers are only required to keep up-to date a listing in one resource.

    Is this available to home child care providers?

    Anyone that meets the eligibility criteria on page 5 of the RFP is eligible to apply. Eligible applicants include:

    • 501(c)(3) organizations in Kansas
    • County or city governments in Kansas
    • Unified School Districts (USDs) in Kansas

    If the school district does not apply for KPP do they still need to do a budget?

    Yes, because they still need to demonstrate that the ECBG funding is only fulfilling gaps and not overlapping with state foundation aid, etc. funding available through the school finance formula.

    Who is eligible to purchase PSI assessments from the Pearson company so we can budget for those assessments?

    Qual: B

    • A degree from an accredited four-year college or university in psychology or a counseling-related field, plus completion of coursework in test interpretation, psychometrics and measurement theory, educational statistics, or a closely related area;
    • OR license or certification from an agency/ organization that requires appropriate training and experience in the ethical and competent use of psychological tests.

    Qual: S

    • A degree, certificate, or license to practice in a physical or mental health care profession or occupation, plus training and experience in the ethical administration, scoring, and interpretation of clinical behavioral assessment instruments.

    Can you explain the Match requirement of the ECBG program?

    There is a required 15% Match requirement to qualify for ECBG funds. You must show on the Budget Template (MS Excel), and explain on the Budget tab of the application, that for the ECBG funds you are requesting that you can match 15% of that total with either Cash or In-Kind (donations, etc.) funds from sources besides other state or federal funds.

    • The 15% can be all Cash, but at minimum 5% of the match must be cash.

    What type of information would we need to put into DAISEY? Would we need to put personal information like names, etc... or are you wanting info without personal information?

    If funded, you will be required to enter personal information in DAISEY for our evaluation team to calculate risk for the program.

    In the section "Home Visiting Program(s) Information, are you asking for the minimum and maximum per client, or actually per program (so the numbers we propose to serve)? Do you mean per quarter? Per month? Per year?

    This should be per client.

    When I get down to the partners, am I correct in entering all of the family child care, child care center, and preschool information with whom we serve? If so, do we need to have all of them sign the Collaborative Agreement Form? I ask because we usually have them sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with us at the beginning of every grant year.

    You are correct. We would like you to list all the Family Child Care, Centers and PreKs you are working with and have them sign a collaborative agreement. We understand that they sign an MOU at the beginning of the year, but this is something we are asking all applicants to do to ensure that the partners they will need to be collecting measures from understand the requirements prior to being awarded grant funds.

    Can an organization apply for ECBG funding if they have applied to be a 501(c)(3), but have not received verification of approval to be a 501(c)(3)?

    Having applied for 501(c)(3) status is not sufficient to qualify as a nonprofit for our purposes of approving an application for a grant award.  Therefore, it is not suggested that you apply as a 501(c)(3) if you have not received your IRS determination letter as you would not have a proof of verification to upload to your Kansas CommonApp User Profile. 

    Is it okay if one of the programs we are proposing will provide more than one of the applicable program types (service) per the Program Type PDF (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v71dVyG3ku1Bz96xCy-fB75oj0FSFiYI/view)?

    Yes, it is okay if they have more than one program type. Program Types should be listed on the Program Types column of the table on the Programs tab of the application. You will also need to complete each relative program type tab on the application.

    Please keep in mind that the program types (services) being provided, should be provided to all participants. If not, all participants will be receiving all services of the program, we ask that you list them as separate programs on the application. You can do this by using the same name and then putting the services in parentheses behind the name.

    For example:
    Your Program Name is Family Mentoring & Support, which provides Home Visitation, Case Management and Parent Education, however, some families may choose to participate in just one service (like Home Visitation), or 2 of the 3 services, or all services. In that case, we would ask that you list as 3 separate programs as follows:

    • Family Mentoring & Support (Case Management)
    • Family Mentoring & Support (Home Visitation)
    • Family Mentoring & Support (Parent Education)

    If the program you are proposing requires that families participate in all services, then you can simply just list the program name (e.g., Family Mentoring & Support)

    How do I know what Common Measures I would be required to administer to the children/families receiving ECBG funded services, and the Demographics & Risk Factor Information I would be required to collect from the children/families receiving ECBG funded services?

    To determine which Common Measures your ECBG funded services would be required to collect, refer to the Program Types (PDF) – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v71dVyG3ku1Bz96xCy-fB75oj0FSFiYI/view?usp=sharing.

    • Read through the different program types to determine the appropriate program type(s) for the services you would be requesting ECBG Funds for.
    • The measures that would be required are listed within each Program Type on the Program Types (PDF) – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v71dVyG3ku1Bz96xCy-fB75oj0FSFiYI/view?usp=sharing.
    • Then refer to the Common Measures Administration Guide (PDF) – https://drive.google.com/file/d/10eGeRnQ0h_KJdhd53NTcwUILlRya9ng-/view?usp=sharing for information on what it takes to administer the required measures for the services you would be providing if awarded ECBG funds.

    The Demographics & Risk Factor information you would be required to collect from the children/families receiving ECBG funded services if awarded can be found in the different Intake Forms linked below: