Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have announced five million dollars in additional funding to expand partnerships between child care centers and preschool programs through the state’s Early Childhood Continuum of Care grants. The program supports collaborations between Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program (SWVPP) sites and licensed child care centers to provide full-day care for 4-year-olds. SWVPP was founded in 2007 to ensure that every child in Iowa who is four years of age or older can enroll in preschool at no cost to their families. A first round of grants, received earlier this year, generated more than 120 applications and resulted in 19 awards. The new funding will support a second round of grants for program expansions beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The grants aim to expand access to child care, improve staffing and transportation, and strengthen school readiness for Iowa’s children. Learn more by following the link included with this story on our website.
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