Approve Amendment #1 to the Local Child Care Funds Contract with Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., Doing Business as The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County, and the School Readiness Programs (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The contract provides a portion of the required 6% match for the School Readiness Program making it possible to draw down federal funds used to provide child care and early education services for children from income-eligible families. The term of the contract is October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008. Amendment 1 increases the funding by $175,000 to provide child care for income-eligible homeless children. In addition, $29,167 was redistributed from the 6% match funding to provide Child Care Purchasing Pool match dollars for homeless families as defined under the McKinney Vinto Act of 1987. The remaining $674,494 of the required match funding makes it possible to draw down $11,916,060 of child care federal funds. The original $95,000 allocation to be used for the match requirement for Child Care Purchasing Pool for working families receiving support services funded by Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and the original $142,000 allocation to provide child care for families in crisis remain unchanged.

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 amended total of $1,115,661 is used only for direct services to children. Approximately 3,284 will receive care through September 30, 2008. The breakdown is as follows:

• 3,136 children as a result of utilizing the $11,916,060 federal draw down at an average of $3,800/child

• 65 children as a result of utilizing the Child Care Purchasing Pool 50% match funds ($124,167 x 2 = $248,334/$3,800 average annual care per child)

• 46 McKinney Vinton-eligible children as a result of utilizing the additional $175,000 at an average of $3,800/child

• 37 children as a result of utilizing the $142,000 at an average of $3,800/child for families in crisis.

Each year the financial statements are audited by Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition as prescribed by law. This funding for Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County is provided by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. The School Readiness Program uses these funds to purchase child care in Hillsborough County. There is no district-generated revenue used for this purchase.