(UPDATE) Online Application Period Extended until Dec. 10 for Pre-K Operators & Early Childhood Care Providers
(UPDATE, 11/30/21) Application Deadline Extended: First 8 Memphis has extended the online application period for First 8 Memphis Pre-K classrooms and early care/education services at the new South City Early Childhood Education Center until Friday, December 10. Both applications are totally online. Complete details for both applications are below.
Request for Proposals Now Open for First 8 Memphis Pre-K Classrooms & Early Care/Education Services at the New South City Early Childhood Education Center
Originally Posted 10/18/21: On Monday, October 18, First 8 Memphis (F8M) opened two online application processes to support early learning in Shelby County. Proposals are being accepted for Pre-K operators for the 2022-23 school year, as well as early childhood services at the new South City Early Childhood Education Center opening in 2023-24.
F8M is Shelby County’s early care and education systems-building organization, working to support families and young children from birth to age 8 in order to meet the community’s vision of ensuring 90% of students are ready to enter Kindergarten and 90% of third-graders are reading on grade level by 2025. In pursuit of these goals, F8M solicits proposals from interested and qualified operators to serve children and their families in high-quality early childhood education programs each year.
Two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available for operators in Shelby County:
Additional details for each RFP are included below.
Operating Partners for F8M Pre-K Classrooms
Application Opens October 18 | Application Closes December 10 (Update, 11/30/21)
The application is totally online. View the full RFP for requirements.
Overview: This RFP is intended for local education agencies (LEAs), childcare centers, charter schools, private schools, and others wishing to provide free Pre-K education to income-eligible families with children. Interested operators can apply for one or more F8M Pre-K classrooms. Pre-K operators will coordinate and provide early childhood education services to support young children’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development to ensure Kindergarten readiness (K-readiness). As part of moving students toward K-readiness, students and families will receive wraparound services to support students’ healthy growth and development through screenings, referrals, and ongoing engagement to meet the individualized needs of families.
Applications: The extended deadline for all applicants is December 10. Operators can apply online here. Submitted applications received by December 10 will be reviewed by a committee composed of F8M Board members, staff, City and County government representatives, and/or community members. Applications will be evaluated based on a scoring rubric, and selected applicants will receive an award letter of approval by mid-February 2022. Questions or concerns can be emailed to Pre-K@first8memphis.org.
Early Care/Education Operators (age 6 weeks to 4 years) at the South City Early Childhood Education Center
Application Opens October 18 | Application Closes December 10 (Update, 11/30/21)
The application process is fully online. View the full RFP for requirements.
Overview: F8M is soliciting proposals from interested and qualified early care and education operators to serve children, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, and their families in the South City Early Childhood Education Center beginning in 2023-24. The new center is part of the South City Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, a comprehensive redevelopment of the former Foote Homes public housing site near the South Main Historic District, downtown, and the Medical District. The newly developed campus includes a residential community (Foote Park at South City), mixed-use community space (renovated Martin Luther King Transition Academy), and the South City Early Childhood Education Center. Qualified early care and education operators will coordinate and provide early childhood education services to support children’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development to ensure K-readiness.
Applications: The extended deadline for all applicants is December 10. The application process is fully online. Operators can apply online here. Submitted applications received by December 10 will be reviewed by a committee composed of F8M Board members, staff, City and County government representatives, and/or community members. Applications will be evaluated based on a scoring rubric, and selected applicants will receive an award letter of approval by mid-February 2022. Selected applicants will be invited to enter into a lease agreement for the use of the Early Childhood Education Center facilities. It is anticipated that the space will be leased at a below-market rental rate, and the estimated lease payment will range from $4 to $10 per square foot; the total square footage of the Center is approximately 8,000 square feet. The final lease terms will be negotiated with the selected operator. Questions or concerns can be emailed to RFP@first8memphis.org.
