Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Accepting $42,500 from United Way of Tampa Bay as Match Funding for the Early Childhood School Readiness Programs for the Period of July 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

For the past several years, the School Board has given approval to the Hillsborough County Public Schools – Early Childhood School Readiness Programs to apply for and accept match funds from United Way of Tampa Bay. This contribution provides a portion of the required dollar match that draws down federal funds for the School Readiness Child Care Programs and enables income eligible families to take advantage of early education and child care services. The United Way award letter was received in the School Readiness offices June 1, 2007, after the due date for submitting agenda items for the June 12, 2007, Board meeting.

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

Goal 5 - The District will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The total contribution of $42,500 made by the United Way of Tampa Bay is raised locally and used as match to draw down $693,498 in federal funds for the School Readiness Child Care Programs. The dollars provide direct early education child care services for approximately 364 eligible children for the six-month period at $1,900 per child.

EVALUATION

Each year the financial statements are audited by Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition as prescribed by law. The funding for Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is provided through federal dollars. The flow-through dollars are channeled by the Agency for Workforce Innovations. The School Readiness Program uses these funds to purchase child care in Hillsborough County. There is no district-generated revenue used for this purchase.

SUBMITTED BY: Beverly Wickson, Ed.D., Director, Early Childhood and After School Programs

Gwendolyn L. Luney
Assistant Superintendent, Student Services & Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
5.19
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070717_261 * Section E Item# 5.19