Shared Visions Parent Support Program is sponsored by Iowa Department of Education. This program provides funds for educational support services to parents of children ages birth to five who are determined to meet certain at-risk criteria, with a focus on those serving children from birth to age three.

Shared Visions Programs | Department of Education Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Hear from students about how teachers are helping them realize their potential and making a difference every day in their growth and future.

FY27 Parent Support Grant Application FY27 Preschool Grant Application Child Development Coordinating Council (CDCC) Iowa’s Shared Visions Programs are state-funded early childhood initiatives that support the healthy development and early learning success of young children across the state.

Through high-quality preschool and parent support services, these programs help build strong foundations for learning, strengthen families and ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. Parent Support Programs offer educational support to families of children from birth through age five who are considered at risk, with a focus on those serving children from birth to age three.

Preschool Programs exist in 29 Iowa counties, providing high-quality early learning experiences for at-risk children ages three to five. Together, these programs represent a vital investment in the future of Iowa’s youngest learners.

FY27 Parent Support Grant Application The Shared Visions Parent Support Program grants provide funds for educational support services to parents of children ages birth to five and who are determined to meet certain at-risk criteria as defined in 281—Iowa Administrative Code 64. Priority for funding will be given to applicants who serve parents of children ages birth to three years and meeting at-risk criteria. Iowa Code 279.

51 governs these grants. Applications must be submitted through the online grant application system, IowaGrants. gov by March 26, 2026 by 4:30 p.

m. Completion Instructions: FY27 Shared Visions Parent Support Application (180. 24 KB) .

pdf FY27 Shared Visions Parent Support Application Scoring Rubric (435. 47 KB) . pdf FY27 Shared Visions Application Information Webinar FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Grant Application Timeline Application Process Dates Application open and directions available in IowaGrants.

gov Jan. 27, 2026 Recorded webinar available to review legislation and the application process Jan. 28, 2026 Deadline to submit questions in writing; email marianne.

adams@iowa. gov Feb. 27, 2026 Responses to questions posted March 23, 2026 Application due to the Department via IowaGrants.

gov March 26 by 4:30 p. m. Anticipated Awards (Grant Awards are contingent upon the annual state appropriation.)

May 8, 2026 Contracts Issued Within 45 days of state appropriation being finalized Supporting Documents Questions? All questions must be submitted in writing to Marianne Adams at marianne. adams@iowa.

gov by Feb. 27, 2026. These questions will be addressed in an FAQ for Implementation and posted in this section.

FY27 FAQ Shared Visions Parent Support Application (103. 86 KB) .

pdf Applicants should provide a detailed analysis of the area to be served based upon factual public reporting sources such as: Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Percentage by District or School Building Iowa’s Integrated Data System for Decision-Making FY27 Preschool Grant Application The Iowa Department of Education is now accepting grant applications for the Shared Visions Preschool Program for fiscal years 2027-31.

Iowa schools and programs serving preschool children who meet certain at-risk criteria are encouraged to apply for the five-year grant opportunity. Applications must be submitted through the online grant application system, IowaGrants. gov by Feb.

6, 2026 by 4:30 p. m. Completion Instructions: FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Application (211.

16 KB) . pdf FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Application Scoring Rubric (355. 04 KB) .

pdf FY27 Shared Visions Application Information Webinar FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Grant Application Timeline Application Process Dates Application open and directions available Dec. 8, 2025 Recorded webinar available to review legislation and the application process Dec. 8, 2025 Deadline to submit questions to Marianne Adams at marianne.

adams@iowa. gov Jan. 2, 2026 FAQ available on this webpage Jan.

22, 2026 Applications due, via IowaGrants. gov Feb. 6, 2026 by 4:30 p.

m. Anticipated Awards (Grant Awards are contingent upon the annual state appropriation.) March 23, 2026 Contracts Issued Within 45 days of state appropriation being finalized Questions?

All questions must be submitted in writing to Marianne Adams at marianne. adams@iowa. gov by Jan.

2, 2026. Questions will be addressed in an FAQ document. FY27 FAQ Shared Visions Preschool Application (168.

39 KB) Archived . pdf Applicants should provide a detailed analysis of the area to be served based upon factual public reporting sources such as: Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Percentage by District or School Building Iowa’s Integrated Data System for Decision-Making Grants are awarded for up to five years, with the option to annually renew if program requirements are met.

The CDCC has approved a one-year extension to the current five-year grant cycle. All funding depends on annual legislative appropriations. The renewal year, Year 6 - (FY26), runs from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 is year one of a new five-year grant cycle. FY26 Shared Visions Parent Support Program Grant Awards (109. 64 KB) .

pdf FY26 Shared Visions Preschool Grant Awards and Locations (132. 26 KB) . pdf FY27 Shared Visions Preschool Grant Awards (100.

83 KB) . pdf Shared Visions Preschool and Parent Support 2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines (145. 27 KB) .

pdf To apply for a Shared Visions Program, eligible organizations (public schools, licensed nonprofit child care centers, Head Start agencies, community action agencies, and other public nonprofit agencies) must submit a competitive grant application through IowaGrants. gov . 2024-25 Preschool Programs Map - Includes Statewide Voluntary Preschool Programs, Head Start Programs and Shared Visions Programs.

FY26 Shared Visions Preschool Map (347. 37 KB) . pdf - Includes Shared Visions Preschool Programs in a PDF version.

FY26 Shared Visions Parent Support Map (183. 71 KB) . pdf - Includes Shared Visions Parent Support Programs in a PDF version.

The Shared Visions Parent Support and Preschool Programs are governed by Iowa Code 279. 51 and Iowa Administrative Code 281-64 . Preschool programs are also governed by Iowa Code 256A .

Both programs are required to report to the Department annually. Statewide data is summarized in the Child Development Coordinating Council’s annual report . Iowa’s Shared Visions Preschool Programs are required to meet one of the three approved preschool program standards: Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (IQPPS) (324.

51 KB) . pdf Head Start Program Performance Standards National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC Accreditation+) See the Early Childhood Standards webpage for more information. Child Development Coordinating Council (CDCC) Created under Iowa Code 256A , the CDCC advises the Department on Shared Visions Parent Support and Preschool Programs.

Iowa Code 279. 51 directs the council to use appropriated funds to award grants to programs serving families and children with identified risk factors. The CDCC meets at least four times annually, and meetings are open to the public.

Visit the CDCC webpage for membership, meeting dates, agendas and minutes. List items for Shared Visions Technical Assistance CDCC Policy Regarding Parent Support Programs (230. 39 KB) .

pdf FY21-25 and FY26 Shared Visions Parent Support: Summary of Data Collection for Year-End Reporting (163. 26 KB) . pdf FY21 Shared Visions Parent Support Orientation Webinar FY21 Shared Visions Parent Support Webinar - Part 1 - Legislation FY21 Shared Visions Parent Support Webinar - Part 2 - Program Considerations and Requirements Shared Visions Parent Support Budget Guidance (114.

33 KB) Archived . pdf CDCC Policy Regarding Child Assessment and Unique Student Identifier Numbers (140. 28 KB) .

pdf FY21-FY25 and FY26 Shared Visions Preschool: Summary of Data Collection for Year-End Reporting (143. 47 KB) . pdf FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Orientation Webinar FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Webinar - Part 1 - Legislation FY21 Shared Visions Preschool Webinar - Part 2 - Program Considerations and Requirements Preschool Ratio and Class Size Maximum by Program Standards (143.

12 KB) . pdf Shared Visions Preschool Budget Guidance (161. 61 KB) .

pdf Iowa Code 279. 60 requires districts to assess all preschool children with the GOLD® Assessment under the State of Iowa GOLD license. Assessment Document or Link Description Teaching Strategies GOLD® Assessment Discover everything you need to know about the required observation-based assessment for preschool programs.

Iowa GOLD® Initial Application Form To be completed by new preschool programs before access is given to the Teaching Strategies GOLD® Assessment. Iowa GOLD® Renewal Application Form Existing preschool programs will need to renew their GOLD® license annually during the spring for the following school year. Complete this application to renew your GOLD® license.

Iowa GOLD® Assessment Procedures (274. 74 KB) . pdf Tool designed to assist teachers, practitioners, and administrators in setting up and administering GOLD® online assessment procedures.

Iowa GOLD® Transfer Form Request to transfer a preschool student between preschool programs in the GOLD® online system. Teaching Strategies in Iowa Website Information and consultants specifically related to Iowa GOLD® procedures and tools. AEA Contact and Email Central Rivers Allyssa Pape apape@centralriversaea.

org Great Prairie Ami Chounlamany Heartland Brianna Sayre-Geiser bsayregeiser@heartlandaea.

org Mississippi Bend Jennifer Jansen Northwest Shelley Conover Prairie Lakes Kelly Olson Iowa Health and Human Services American Academy of Pediatrics Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Iowa Family Support Credential Iowa Family Support Network Iowa Family Support Standards Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visitation Program National Institute for Early Education Research Marianne Adams, Early Childhood Consultant Monica Shuey, Early Childhood Consultant