SCOTTSBLUFF - On June 6, the Nebraska Department of Education awarded a grant to Scottsbluff Public Schools totaling $155,000 for Early Childhood Expansion.

"We are honored to be awarded an additional Early Childhood Expansion Grant from the Nebraska Department of Education,” said Dr. Andrew Dick, Superintendent. “The funds will allow us to meet the increased demand we are seeing for quality early childhood education while opening an eleventh classroom in the new Early Childhood Learning Center in August.”

Funding received from the Early Childhood Expansion will be used to add an additional full-day classroom for Bear Cub Preschool. Grant funds consist of $25,000 to fund start-up costs as well as $130,000 for operational expenses such as teachers and paraprofessionals, furniture, classroom upgrades, supplies, and playground equipment. With the addition of this classroom, Bear Cub Preschool will be able to serve up to 260 students ages 3-5 in nine full-day classrooms and two half-day classrooms in the newly remodeled Early Childhood Learning Center, opening in August of 2025.

The Early Childhood Learning Center is located at the Scottsbluff Public Schools Education Center, at 2617 College Park. Best of all, this project will ensure that the Bear Cub Preschool receives funding for up to one-half of the total operating budget of the project per year on a continuing basis (subject to availability of funds). Additionally, the grant's approval will foster a continuing relationship with Head Start and ESU 13 and bring expanded early childhood opportunities to our community.

Bear Cub Preschool is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. Applications are available at the preschool at the current East Stadium location at 2512 2nd Avenue or online at www.sbps.net/preschool. Including this recently received award, SBPS has received over $12M in competitive grant funding over the past seven years.

Additional competitive grants received by the District include the Sixpence Grant for Early Childhood Education, the 21 st Century Community Learning Centers After School Program Grants at all in-town elementary schools, additional expansion grants for Bear Cub Preschool, Federal School Climate Grant funds received districtwide, the School-Based Mental Health Grant, and the Nebraska Educator Shortage Grant.