Alabama Preschool Development Birth through Five (PDG-B-5) - The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) is the designated State of Alabama agency applying for the 2025 PDG B-5 Systems-Building Grant. The requested PDG B-5 funds will enable Alabama to build on significant progress achieved in previous PDG B-5 planning and renewal grants, strengthen existing statewide structures, and scale effective strategies that enhance early childhood outcomes. This proposed initiative addresses gaps and priorities identified through Alabama’s most recent statewide needs assessment and strategic plan. These priority areas include: (a) increasing the supply, stability, and skills of early childhood professionals; (b) strengthening consistency and alignment across mixed delivery programs; (c) expanding objectively accessible supports; and (d) developing robust cross-agency data analytic systems to guide policy, funding, and service delivery. The initiative is designed to benefit children birth through age five, their families, and the early childhood workforce across all settings, which includes First Class Pre-K (FCPK), licensed childcare, First Teacher Home Visiting, Part C Early Intervention, Head Start and Early Head Start, and community-based programs, with intentional emphasis on rural regions. By strengthening the workforce, improving program quality, increasing program access and transparency, and elevating family voice, this initiative will enhance school readiness outcomes and ensure that Alabama’s early childhood system is more coordinated and sustainable.
