(KLZA)-- The Trustees of the Sixpence Early Learning Fund announced this week that Falls City Public Schools, North Platte, Kearney and a consortium serving multiple communities through hubs in Chadron, Gering and Sidney, will share in grants totaling just over $1.3-million dollars. 

Falls City Public Schools will receive an award of $275,000.

Sixpence is a collaborative funding structure involving the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Education and private sector investors, that has issued grants to community partnerships statewide since 2008.

This grant will provide a coach/teacher to offer guidance in achieving the grant goals.  The grant totals $275,000 the first year and $225,000, for the next two years. 

The Falls City Public Schools have strong partnerships with Health and Human Services, Licensing Specialists, Head Start and SENCA, ESU #4, Community Medical Center, Falls City Library and Arts Center, the Ministerial Association, Southeast District Health Department and the Southeast Early Learning Connection.

Traditionally, these Sixpence grants are awarded to school districts working with other local agencies that meet the statutory requirements governing the use of Sixpence funds providing either center-based or home-based family engagement programs. This latest round of grants is the first time Sixpence funds have been made available to partnerships including license child care provider with a different set of statutory requirements, specifically supported by Nebraska’s Step Up to Quality rating and improvement system.  

Falls City Schools are committed to helping all children from birth through age 3 and their families achieve success through quality services in every area of the community.  

The grant will help provide tools and education needed for childcare providers to do their jobs.