Management Bulletin 23-09

Early Education Division

Subject: Continued Funding Application, Fiscal Year 2024-25

Number: 23-09

Date: October 20, 2023

Expires: When Rescinded

Authority: California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Division 1, Chapter 18.5, Subchapter 3 Article 3

Attention: Executive Officers and Program Directors of California State Preschool Programs and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support Programs

Purpose

This Management Bulletin (MB) provides information and guidance to current California Department of Education (CDE), Early Education Division (EED), California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and Prekindergarten and Family Literacy (CPKS) contractors regarding how to request continued funding for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 CSPP and CPKS contracts. This MB supersedes the Continued Funding Application (CFA) information found in MB 22-06.

Policy

To be considered for continued funding for FY 2024-25, CSPP and CPKS contractors must complete and submit the FY 2024-25 CFA on or before December 1, 2023.The complete FY 2024-25 CFA and associated forms are available on the CDE CFA web page at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/cfa2425.asp.

By completing and returning the FY 2024-25 CFA, your agency indicates that it wishes to renew its CSPP contract for FY 2024-25 and CPKS contract as applicable if your agency currently receives CPKS funding and is willing to and does accept, all of the terms and conditions of such contract(s), which will be provided to all contractors being renewed for funding no later than June 1, 2024.

CSPP and CPKS contractors who apply for and are approved for continued funding will not need to sign and return a CSPP and/or CPKS contract to provide services for FY 2024-25 as contractors who apply for and are approved for continued funding through the CFA process will be automatically renewed in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, as well as all contract terms and conditions that will be incorporated into the FY 2024-25 contract.

CSPP and CPKS contractors may subsequently reject the terms of the new contract(s) and opt not to renew their services under the terms of the new contract(s). Contractors that wish to reject the terms of the FY 2024-25 CSPP and/or CPKS contract must provide written notice that the terms of the contract are rejected by emailing EarlyEducationContracts@cde.ca.gov on or before June 30, 2024. Such email should come from the Executive Director/Superintendent of the contracting entity or their authorized representative and state that the terms of the FY 2024-25 CSPP contract, and CPKS contract if applicable, are rejected. Contractors providing such notice to the CDE of the rejection of the terms of the contract will not have a contract in effect for FY 2024-25.

Note: If your agency requires formal board approval to enter into contracts, it is important that your agency seek such approval as soon as possible to ensure timely submission of the CFA. For public agencies, evidence of a board resolution or minutes reflecting authorization of a signature on the CFA or a delegation of authority will need to be submitted with the CFA.

Implementation Directives

Applications must be received by the CDE, EED, on or before 5 p.m., December 1, 2023, regardless of the method of application submission.

CSPP and CPKS contractors must submit the CFA and supporting documentation electronically by completing the FY 2024-25 CFA online or physically by mail (hard copy). Electronic submissions of the CFA are encouraged.

Option 1: Online CFA with an Electronic Signature

The CFA will be administered electronically via software called Snap Survey. The CFA signature pages must be digitally signed by the CSPP contractor’s authorized representative if submitting the CFA electronically. Instructions for each signature page are found in each applicable section within the CFA Overview and Instructions document. Upon completing the electronic CFA, an email must be sent to CFA@cde.ca.gov stating: “I have electronically submitted the Continuing Funding Application (CFA) to the California Department of Education on behalf of my agency/organization. I certify that I was authorized to submit the CFA for [Insert Contractor Name], vendor number [XXXX]. [Insert Contractor Name] intends for the CFA transaction to be completed by electronic means, which shall have the same effect as if it were signed in ink on a piece of paper, and that all signatures included with the CFA are intended to be binding upon [Insert Contractor Name].”

Option 2: Physical CFA by Mail (Hard Copy) or Scan and Email

Physical CFAs may be scanned and emailed to CFA@cde.ca.gov or mailed to the CDE, EED. All signatures in the CFA must be in blue ink.

If submitting by mail, send the completed and signed CFA and all required attachments to the following address:

Continued Funding Application 2024-25

California Department of Education

Early Education Division

1430 N Street, Suite 3410

Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

Background and Authority

California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR) Section 17726(d) states, “Contractors that intend to accept the offer to continue services in the subsequent contract period shall respond to a Continued Funding Application request from the Early Education Division in accordance with the instructions and timelines specified in the request.”

The 5 CCR Section 17726(e) states, “Failure to respond within the timelines specified in the continued funding application request shall constitute notification to the Early Education Division of the contractor’s intent to discontinue services at the end of the current contract period.” Failure to respond to requests from the EED for additional information will result in the application being deemed incomplete.

Resources

If there are any questions regarding the application process, contact the CFA team by email at CFA@cde.ca.gov. Include your agency’s name, vendor number, and phone number on all inquiries.

If you have any programmatic questions regarding the information in this MB, please contact your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) Office regional consultant here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.

If you have any fiscal-related questions regarding the information in this MB, please contact your assigned Early Education and Nutrition Fiscal Services apportionment analyst. The fiscal apportionment analyst directory can be accessed at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/cd/faad.asp.