Approve Contract LK820 with the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

This two-year contract (October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2009) provides child care services for refugee families resettling in Hillsborough County. Refugee clients are referred for service by local resettlement agencies under contract to the Department of Children and Families – Office of Refugee Services. The funding is set at $750,000 annually for the care of approximately 185 children each year.

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

The total funding of $750,000 each year is to be used for direct child care services for approximately 185 children of refugee families, with 5.8% set aside for administrative and office supply costs. The average annual cost for child care is approximately $3,800 per child. These federal funds are channeled to the District through the Department of Children and Families-Office of Refugee Services.

Each year monitoring is conducted by the Department of Children and Families - Office of Refugee Services as prescribed by the contract. The funding for the Office of Refugee Services is provided through federal dollars. School Readiness Program uses these funds to purchase child care in Hillsborough County. There is no district-generated revenue used for this purchase.