City of St. Petersburg Social Action Funding 2025

The Access to Quality Child Care for Children with Disabilities Grant, issued by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), aims to expand the availability of quality, accessible, and affordable child care for infants, toddlers, and school-age children with disabilities within the District of Columbia. This initiative directly aligns with OSSE's mission to improve educational outcomes and ensure equitable access to services for all children, particularly those with special needs. By focusing on increasing the supply of specialized child care options, the program supports the foundational goal of creating inclusive early learning and out-of-school time environments. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are infants, toddlers (6 weeks to under 3 years old), and school-age children (5 to under 19 years old, with exceptions for 3- and 4-year-olds in out-of-school programs) with disabilities residing in the District of Columbia. Eligibility for infants and toddlers is based on an active Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or a diagnosis of specific medical conditions such as genetic, sensory, motor, neurologic, sociocommunicative, medically related, acquired trauma-related, or other OSSE-approved health impairments. For out-of-school time programs, children must have an active 504 Accommodation Plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The impact goal is to ensure that these children have access to child care slots specifically designed and equipped to meet their unique needs, thereby fostering their development in inclusive settings. The grant prioritizes providing resources to child development facilities and out-of-school time programs licensed by OSSE to create and operate ongoing child care slots. This includes supporting both individual organizations and consortia of multiple organizations. The focus is on expanding the capacity of these programs to cater to children with diverse disabilities within an inclusive framework. OSSE's strategic priority is to address the current gap in specialized child care options, ensuring that children with disabilities receive the comprehensive support necessary for their growth and development. Expected outcomes include a significant increase in the number of quality child care slots available for children with disabilities in DC. Measurable results will likely be tied to the number of new slots created, the number of children served, and the types of disabilities accommodated. The grant's three-year duration and substantial funding (totaling $6 million, with awards ranging from $200,000 to $4 million) reflect a theory of change that posits that by investing in the infrastructure and specialized resources of child care providers, OSSE can directly enhance the educational and developmental opportunities for children with disabilities, ultimately leading to improved long-term outcomes for this vulnerable population.