Program Unit Funding (PUF)

What is Program Unit Funding (PUF)?

Alberta Education provides Program Unit Funding (PUF) for children to access Early Childhood Services (ECS) in a preschool or special needs congregated setting. This is programming for children who require additional support to prepare them for Kindergarten and Grade 1. Depending on the level of support needed, children may have access to professionals like speech therapists, occupational therapists and more. Children can access PUF services as early as 2 years 8 months and for a maximum of 3 years, with the last year intended for kindergarten. Children must be at least 5 years old as of December 31 of the year they have started Kindergarten. Some PUF providers also offer Mild/Moderate Support for children without severe delays that do need extra help within the classroom.

Eligibility and Application Process

• The child must live in Alberta
• The child must be at least 2.8 years old as of September 1st of the year they start PUF Services
• Alberta Education provides the PUF funding directly to the providers so there is no application for the parents to do (just find a provider).
• The child does NOT need to have a formal diagnosis however, they may need to be assessed for any delays (some PUF providers do these assessment for the children).

Accessing PUF Services

• Option 1: Independent ECS operators and community preschools (community based)
  Community based – some PUF providers do not have the facility to provide services to children so they partner with community preschools and independent ECS operators. Not all preschools & ECS have PUF available so call your community preschool directly if you are interested and ask them if they could provide PUF supports for your child.
• Option 2: Special Needs congregated settings (facility based) 
  Some PUF Providers have their own special needs congregated setting (independent schools) where children go to receive PUF services.