Hillsborough County Public Schools Business
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, October 26, 2010
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Amendment #1 of the School Readiness Program Contract with Hillsborough School Readiness Coalition, Inc., dba the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County Designating Current Funding as American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Dollars (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This contract provides early education and child care services for children from income-eligible families in School Readiness child care facilities. Amendment #1 designates a portion of current School Readiness funding as ARRA dollars, as well as specifies expenditures for ARRA Quality Initiative funds (i.e. Gold Seal) and ARRA Infant and Toddler funds. The effective date of this amendment is October 1, 2010. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the Early Childhood School Readiness Programs, the contract was received in its office on September 23, 2010. The timeline regarding this issue did not coincide with the School Board meeting schedule, which results in requesting Board approval after the fact.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The original total of $44,984,034 is not changed, but designates a portion of School Readiness Program funds as ARRA dollars to be spent on child care slots. The federal/state funding originates with the Agency for Workforce Innovation Office of Early Learning flowing through Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., doing business as Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County and passed to Hillsborough County Public Schools to provide early education and child care for children from eligible low-income families. The total funding minus intake and eligibility services, child care resource and referral, and administration costs leaves $38,488,061, which consists of $35,350,958 School Readiness slot dollars and $3,137,103 carried over from 2009 ARRA funding, for direct child care services at an annual average of $4,000 per child for approximately 9,622 children. Of the remaining funds, $361,312 are earmarked for ARRA Quality Initiative funds and $66,068 for ARRA Infant and Toddler funds. The term of the contract is July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011

EVALUATION

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 Agency for Workforce Innovations. School Readiness Program uses these funds to purchase child care in Hillsborough County. There is no district-generated revenue used for this purchase.

SUBMITTED BY: Beverly Wickson, Ed.D., Director, Early Childhood and HOST Programs

Gwendolyn L. Luney, Assistant Superintendent
Student Services and Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
A 5.13
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20101026_429 * Section A Item# 5.13