Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, September 26, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve the Contract Between the Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., Doing Business As the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, and the Hillsborough County Public Schools, Effective October 1, 2006 (Student Services & Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The effective dates of this cost reimbursement contract are October 1, 2006, through September 30, 2007. The purpose of this contract is two-fold: to provide emergency child care assistance for foster parents accepting new foster children after the School Readiness intake sites are closed for evenings and/or weekends; and to provide emergency child care for families experiencing financial and medical emergencies who are not eligible for child care subsidies funded by the Agency for Workforce Innovation – Office of Early Learning. Those foster parents meeting the eligibility requirements of presenting a referral form from a caseworker and being actively employed will receive up to three (3) days of emergency child care financial assistance for each new foster child. Families experiencing financial and medical emergencies must be referred by the Early Learning Coalition and the duration of care determined by that agency. This emergency child care assistance will provide foster parents with the necessary support to maintain a normal work schedule in addition to meeting the needs of foster children and provide parents experiencing emergency situations with the child care assistance needed to cope with their crises.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 5 – The District will eliminate the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The total funding of $43,000 is to be used to provide emergency child care assistance. The cost of care per day can vary between $24 for an infant and $12 for a school-age child with the length of care ranging from three (3) days to a number of months depending on the circumstances and as authorized by the Coalition. The county funds are channeled from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County to the Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., doing business as the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, and by virtue of this contract, to the Hillsborough County Public Schools – School Readiness Programs.

EVALUATION

This contract is reflected in the year-end financial statements which are audited annually by the Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc. as prescribed by law. The Board will receive the audit reports when they are completed. The time of completion will vary based upon the activities of the auditors.

SUBMITTED BY: Beverly Wickson, Ed.D., Director, Early Childhood School Readiness

Gwendolyn L. Luney
Assistant Superintendent, Student Services & Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
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Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060926_184 * Section E Item# 5.14