On behalf of the State of Alabama and with designated authority from the Office of the Governor, the Department of Early Childhood Education applied for the Preschool Development Grant, Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) through the United States Departments of Health and Human Services and Education on November 2, 2018. The Department received notice of the federal grant award of $10.6 million on December 31, 2018. 

On November 1, 2019, the department applied for a renewal of the state’s PDG B-5. On December 18, 2019, the department was notified of a $33 million grant award by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education for a renewal of Alabama’s PDG B-5 initiative over the next three years.

With the support of a PDG B-5 renewal grant, Alabama will continue longstanding efforts to expand access to high-quality early childhood care and education for all children. The renewal grant will build upon the successes of the nationally-recognized First Class Pre-K, First Teacher Home Visiting, and Pre-K–3rd Grade Integrated Approach to Early Learning (P-3) programs, as well as promote Alabama’s Born Ready movement, to inspire and empower every parent and ensure every child reaches their greatest potential.