Approve Amendment #1 of the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) Contract with Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., dba the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

Under this contract, Hillsborough County Public Schools - Early Childhood School Readiness Programs provides the VPK program to eligible Hillsborough County families by performing intake and eligibility services for children registering for the program and for child care providers applying to be VPK providers, as well as disbursing monthly payments to VPK providers. Amendment #1 designates $1,479,216 as State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) slot dollars, which originate with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 funding. The Amendment also modifies contract language to ensure compliance with state and federal terms and conditions. It was received in the offices of the Early Childhood School Readiness Programs on January 20, 2010.

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

The original total of $24,479,697 remains unchanged, but $1,479,216 is designated as SFSF funding. The state funds, which now include SFSF dollars, originate with the Agency for Workforce Innovation Office of Early Learning, flow through Hillsborough County School Readiness Coalition, Inc., doing business as Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County and pass to Hillsborough County Public Schools to provide VPK implementation. The contract requires that $23,709,350 be used to provide the Voluntary Prekindergarten Program for approximately 9,951 Hillsborough County children who are four years old. The base student allocation is $2,575 for the 540-hour school year program and $2,190 for the 300-hour summer program. The term of this contract is July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

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 state dollars allocated by Agency for Workforce Innovation. School Readiness Program uses these funds to purchase VPK services in Hillsborough County. There is no district-generated revenue used for this purchase.