Approve Accepting $42,500 from United Way of Tampa Bay as Match Funding for the Early Childhood School Readiness Programs for the Period of January 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008, Effective January 15, 2008 (Student Services & Federal Programs Division)

For the past ten years, the School Board of Hillsborough County, FL 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 December 14, 2007, after the due date for submitting agenda items for the December 11, 2007, Board meeting.

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 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.

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.