New Bedford, Fall River Receive Educational Grants

New Bedford and Fall River will each receive $40,000 in educational grants from the state.

The Department of Early Education and Care announced on Friday that they were awarding $500,000 in grants to 13 cities and towns to develop strategic plans for providing high-quality preschool to more children in their community.

The "Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative" planning grants will help communities design a collaborative, public/private partnership model for providing high-quality preschool that is aligned with Massachusetts' Preschool Expansion Grant program.

Grant recipients will use the funds to assess the needs of the families and children in their community and identify available resources to expand preschool programs and services for 3 to 5 year old children that supports their learning.

Officials say the grant program targets communities that have multiple risk factors to children's educational success such as high rates of poverty and homelessness.

Cape Cod was also awarded $39,000 through the grant program.

Grant recipients will submit strategic plans to to the Department of Early Education and Care in June.