Application; selection criteria

(a) Application (1) In general An eligible entity desiring a grant under subtitle B shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) a landscape review on the need for infant and toddler child care within the current and prospective student populations of the eligible entity and in the broader service area of the eligible entity, with an emphasis on community college or minority-serving institution student parents in communities of color and low-income parents; (B) a landscape review of the infant and toddler child care workforce within the service area of the eligible entity; (C) a high-level vision (which, in the case of an eligible entity desiring a planning grant under section 122, will be clarified and adjusted through the needs assessment and activities carried out under the grant) for how to leverage 1 or more access, impact, or pipeline grants under subtitle B to enhance access and quality in the infant and toddler child care landscape of the service area of the eligible entity; (D) a description of how the eligible entity will advance child development (including social and emotional development), family engagement, and culturally responsive and linguistically responsive pedagogy for infant and toddler child care within its child care center or early childhood education programs (as applicable), through professional development, required coursework, or targeted outreach and enrollment; (E) an assurance that the eligible entity will submit annual reports that document how funds were allocated and the impact of the grant; (F) a commitment that wages for child care staff at each on-campus child care center of a participating community college or minority-serving institution during the grant period shall be— (i) comparable to wages for elementary educators with similar credentials and experience in the State; and (ii) at a minimum, at a rate that is enough to provide a living wage for all child care staff; and (G) in the case of an impact, access, or pipeline grant under subtitle B, an assurance that the eligible entity will continue to convene and consult an infant and toddler child care committee described in section 122(a)(1). (b) Selection criteria (1) In general The Secretary shall award grants under subtitle B on a competitive basis, in accordance with the priorities described in paragraph (2), and in a manner that supports eligible entities that— (A) enroll a high percentage of students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a) and who have children under age 3; (B) are located within or in the immediate vicinity of an infant and toddler child care desert; or (C) have a clear and compelling plan for— (i) in the case of a planning grant under section 122, carrying out the activities of the planning grant; (ii) in the case of an access grant under section 123, expanding access to free infant and toddler child care for community college or minority-serving institution student parents; (iii) in the case of an impact grant under section 124, expanding the supply and quality of child care in the community by providing training, mentorship, technical support, and startup funding, in collaboration with existing child care agencies and organizations; or (iv) in the case of a pipeline grant under section 125, growing and strengthening the workforce pipeline of highly effective infant and toddler child care providers, especially such providers serving infant and toddler child care deserts, by expanding early childhood education programs or upgrading an on-campus child care center into a lab school. (2) Priorities in awarding grants In awarding grants under subtitle B, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable based on the strength of the applications and the availability of appropriations— (A) first, ensure that not less than 80 percent of the funds appropriated for grants under subtitle B are awarded to eligible entities that are eligible institutions, as defined in section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(b)); (B) second, ensure that not less than 1 eligible entity in each State is awarded a grant; and (C) third, provide special consideration to applications described in paragraph (3). (3) Additional consideration and funding In awarding grants under subtitle B and subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall provide special consideration, and may provide additional funding as needed, including funding to exceed the limits described in section 113(a), for— (A) applications for access grants under section 123 that will provide— (i) infant and toddler child care for children of all ages between birth and age 3; (ii) infant and toddler child care available during nontraditional hours; (iii) infant and toddler child care that has the supports and staffing needed for children who are dual language learners; (iv) infant and toddler child care that has the supports and staffing needed for children in need of trauma-informed care and infants and toddlers with disabilities, which may include providing training for infant and toddler child care staff to support the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities or coordinating with service providers to deliver services under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419; 1431 et seq.); and (v) child care and aftercare for children age 3 and older, especially for children that age out of the infant and toddler child care program supported under this title, and for siblings of children enrolled in campus-sponsored infant and toddler child care; and (B) applications for pipeline grants under section 125 that propose to— (i) develop and teach courses on culturally responsive and linguistically responsive teaching in early childhood education; and (ii) develop and teach courses on supporting infants and toddlers with disabilities who are under age 3. (c) Prerequisites for access, impact, and pipeline grants An eligible entity shall receive and timely complete all requirements of a planning grant under section 122 before receiving an access, impact, or pipeline grant under section 123, 124, or 125.