Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, February 7, 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 (Student Services & Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The effective dates of this cost reimbursement contract are October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006. The final draft of the document was received in the Hillsborough County Public Schools – School Readiness Programs’ office January 19, 2006, due to a longer-than-expected acceptance and approval process on the part of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County. The total funding of $10,000 is to be utilized to provide emergency child care assistance for foster parents accepting new foster children after the School Readiness intake sites are closed for the evenings and/or weekends. 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. The cost of care per day can vary between $24.00 for an infant and $12.00 for a school-age child. 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.

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 funding of $10,000 is to be used to provide emergency child care assistance for approximately 140 children in foster care. The county funds are channeled to the Hillsborough County Public Schools – School Readiness Programs from the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., doing business as the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County.

EVALUATION

The evaluation will occur by November 30, 2006, 60 days after contract expiration. The goal of this contract is to ensure that eligible children receive care in an emergency situation. Processing and enrolling children will meet the goal of providing emergency care. Therefore, the enrollment report compared to the utilization of funding will be utilized as the tool to evaluate this contract. The following formula determines funding utilization: number of eligible foster children x rate x number of days = funds expended total funding – funds expended = remaining funds. The above outcome will justify the continuation of the emergency child care program. It is the responsibility of the program manager and the School Readiness lead accounting clerk to provide documentation to Beverly Wickson, Ed.D., Director, Early Childhood Learning Programs & School Readiness Programs for submission to Gwendolyn Luney, Assistant Superintendent, Student Services & Federal Programs.

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.#20060207_168 * Section E Item# 5.07