Following the conclusion of the 2020-2023 Preschool Development Grant ($26.8 million, US DHHS ACF Award# 90TP0060), New Hampshire was awarded an additional $3.9 million in a planning Preschool Development Grant (US DHHS ACF Award# 90TP0110). The NH Preschool Development Grant (PDG) helps strengthen the state’s early childhood care and education (ECCE) system to better address the needs of vulnerable young children and their families, and build a solid foundation to improve outcomes for children, families, schools, and communities.
Developed in collaboration with DHHS, NHED, and the Council for Thriving Children, the NH PDG aims to:
- Support planning for Full-Service Community Schools.
- Expand tuition access for care and education providers serving children from infancy through age eight.
- Invest in the development of a Family Child Care Network.
- Provide coaching to the early childhood workforce on play-based learning.
- Fund work/action plans to further the objectives of NH's Early Childhood Strategic Plan.
- Strengthen family and community voice throughout the early childhood system.
Contact
Meredith O'Shea
Pettee Hall
55 College Road
Durhamn, NH 03824
meredith.oshea@unh.edu
(603) 862-2146
New Hampshire's Preschool Development Grant
NH’s Preschool Development Grant continues efforts to better understand the state’s early childhood system and use those data to strengthen the system, better address the needs of vulnerable young children and their families, and help build a solid foundation to improve outcomes for NH's children, families, schools, and communities. The grant is a collaboration between UNH, the NH Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, the Governor’s early childhood council (NH Council for Thriving Children), and New Hampshire’s early childhood advocates and practitioners.
Reference: PDG B-5 Strategic Plan Guidance
The Preschool Development Grant is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (Award# 90TP0110). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
- Each state provides services to young children and support to families in a unique way. New Hampshire utilizes a “mixed delivery” system, meaning that programs for families with young children are provided by public entities (e.g., Head Start or federally-funded home visiting programs) as well as private groups (e.g., child care centers or home-based child care providers). While this approach allows for local specialization of programs, the range of provider types and services results in inequal access and varied quality. NH’s PDG endeavors to create a comprehensive, effective, and efficient statewide early childhood system.
- NH’s PDG project is broader than preschool. To best support young children and their families, the NH PDG invests in early care and education, health, and family support initiatives broadly. The grant advances New Hampshire's vision that all families are afforded comprehensive and responsive supports, so they are healthy, learning, and thriving, now and in the future. Since 2019, PDG awards totaling more than $30 million are helping New Hampshire build an effective, inclusive, responsive, efficient, and evidence-informed early childhood system.
Supporting Documentation
Featured Articles
Spotlight on Early Childhood Initiatives
Inside the effort to bring 'guided play' to more Kindergarten classrooms
The UNH Early Learning Coaching Initiative, led by Dr. Kimberly Nesbitt, partnered with the Manchester School District in 2023-2024 to coach kindergarten teachers in implementing guided play. This NHPR article shares insights from Manchester teachers, Dr. Nesbitt, and coaches on the impact of guided play in fostering social and academic skills, along with ongoing efforts to expand this work.
read the article
The Art of Play:
Brittney Finds Passion in Teaching & Learning
Supported by mentors and the Early Childhood Tuition Assistance and PDG programs, Brittney Underwood pursued her passion for early childhood education through college courses, while balancing work and family. Her commitment to creating engaging playful environments for children resonates deeply with the families she supports and reinforces her dedication to the field.
Read the article
UNH to Establish Hub for Educational Research
The Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH, supported by a $1.5 million grant from the Couch Family Foundation, is creating NH's first early care and education research consortium. This initiative brings together experts to strengthen the state’s early care system by focusing on access, cost, and quality. Over three years, the consortium will drive research to address affordability and workforce challenges.
Read the Article
leading the way for new hampshire's children: UNH leads effort to transform the state's early childhood education system
- In 2022, UNH’s College of Health and Human Services advanced early childhood education through a three-year, $26.8M Preschool Development Grant. Led by Dr. Kimberly Nesbitt, this initiative enhances play-based learning, offers teacher coaching, and expands family resources to support New Hampshire’s children and families.
read the article
Ensuring bright futures: unh leads effort to strengthen new hampshire's early childhood education system
- From 2019 to 2022, UNH partnered with the NH DHHS and NHED to lead a $26.8M Preschool Development Grant. This collaboration aimed to build New Hampshire’s early childhood care and education system to be effective, inclusive, responsive, efficient, and evidence-informed, promoting optimal outcomes for children and families statewide.
Read the Article
UNH awarded $3.8 million preschool development grant: funding will help improve new hampshire's early childhood education system
- In 2019, UNH received a $3.8M Preschool Development Grant to enhance New Hampshire’s early childhood system. Led by HDFS Associate Professor, Dr. Kimberly Nesbitt, the project aims to build a multi-tiered framework that supports positive outcomes for children, families, and communities, focusing on quality care and accessibility statewide.
read the article
The Preschool Development Grant is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (Award# 90TP0110). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of any organization or agency that provided support for the project.
