(Estimated Total for All Awards $150,000)

      The difference maker in achieving good outcomes from early education is the quality indicators available to teachers and students. The preschool’s accreditation status is a critical indicator of high quality in instruction. Parents know that an accredited preschool is likely to perform better and are often willing to pay more for accredited educational settings. Fair compensation for teachers in the independent preschool world depends, in part, on their ability to charge more tuition and fees. Thus, the extra effort for a school to achieve and retain its recognized status is well worth the additional expense.

      In 2024, the Trustees have set aside $150,000 to assist independent schools in making the improvements necessary to obtain accreditation or retain it once they achieve it. Unaccredited schools committed to the process will be expected to have a board of trustees or directors committed to the effort and to make substantial pledges of time and money. The interested preschool must work with an educational agency that we recognize as highly desirable and dependable. These include the following: NAEYC, HAIS, WASC, NECPA, and WINHEC.

      In general, the Castle Foundation grants will range from $15,000 to $25,000. The preschool is expected to match the Foundation’s donation. It is desirable that additional funding if needed, be sought from other Hawaii-based charitable foundations. Don’t hesitate to contact the Foundation’s Executive Director, Alfred Castle, to discuss your need for financing accreditation or reaccreditation before applying for funds. All proposals must be approved for submission to the Foundation by Mr. Castle.

      Please carefully research what is needed for accreditation to be achieved or renewed. The preschool’s application will need to show how the Castle Foundation’s grant will help the school meet the standards and improvements required.

      Completed grants which have been discussed with the Executive Director of the foundation are due on any of the three scheduled dates of January 8, 2024 for the February 15, 2024 trustee meeting, May 8, 2024 for the July 10, 2024 meeting, and September 6, 2024 for the December 4, 2024 trustee meeting.

Completed applications will contain the following key elements:

1. A cover letter requesting the funds and indicating the Board of Director’s commitment to quality improvements The letter must be signed by the preschool’s board chairperson and the signature of the preschool director;
2. A short description of the preschool, its enrollment, the current description of the teaching force, an operational budget, a budget indicating the cost of increasing quality, a copy of the most recent audit (or financial statement), and a short history of the preschool. Please also indicate the preschool’s current accreditation status or of the school’s intention to apply for accreditation;
3. A list of the preschool’s governing board;
4. Please include a letter from the proposed accrediting agency which should indicate the preschool is actively participating in accreditation or re-accreditation activities.
5. A complete description of the need for improved quality. Indicate how a grant up to $25,000 would improve quality and allow the school to achieve or retain accreditation status. Please include a timetable for the improvements and how the funding would enable the preschool to improve;
6. Please indicate what additional resources are available from the school or other external donors will be used to match the Castle Foundation grant. This is not required to be considered, but applications that seek additional external and internal resources to improve the school’s quality will be favored Castle Foundation funding.
7. Include a brief statement that the school welcomes all races, ethnicities, genders and religions.
8. If the preschool has not applied to the Castle Foundation within the past decade, please enclose the preschool’s charter, bylaws, and IRS tax exempt letter.