Approve Accepting Match Dollars from United Way of Tampa Bay for the Early Childhood School Readiness Programs (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

For the past 12 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. United Way of Tampa Bay award letter was received in the offices of Early Childhood School Readiness Programs on June 29, 2009.

* Align financial resources to support the district’s strategic goals

The total contribution of $53,951 made by the United Way of Tampa Bay is raised locally and used as match to draw down $882,033 in federal funds for the School Readiness Child Care Programs. The combined match and draw-down dollars of $935,984 provide direct early education child care services for approximately 467 eligible children for the six-month period of July 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, at the rate of $2,000 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.