Title
Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - March 2022
Description
This report provides the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee, which serves as the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, with an updated summary of the Head Start Birth to Five Program's financial and programmatic status.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 requires each Head Start Grantee to share monthly information with the Governing Board and Policy Council on program planning, policies and operations. In compliance with the Act, the Head Start program provides a monthly report on the following areas:
- Fiscal expenditures;
- Enrollment reports;
- School attendance;
- Medical/dental exams; and
- Program information summaries.
Fiscal Expenditures
Attachment A shows year-to-date expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2021-22. The report includes a breakdown of each Education Service Provider, the Policy Council, Child Care Partnerships and administrative support budgets. Current year expenditures are in line with the approved budget.
Enrollment Reports
The Office of Head Start requires programs to report the total number of children enrolled on the last day of each month. At the end of March, enrollment was 2,490 out of 3,451 available slots.
All Education Service Providers continue to provide in-person instruction. At the end of March, preschool enrollment was 2,145 slots filled out of 2,963. In the Washington Elementary School District, one classroom was closed at Shaw Butte Elementary for five days to exposure to COVID-19.
The Early Head Start-Child Care Partners provide year-round in-person childcare. At the end of March, 142 slots out of 188 were filled. The increase in enrollment is due to lower numbers of positive COVID-19 cases and families beginning to feel more comfortable bringing their children to the centers.
The Early Head Start Home-Based program provides year-round home visitation. At the end of March, 203 slots out of 300 were filled. Families and staff have welcomed the return to in-person weekly home visits. Bi-weekly socialization sessions continued virtually in March.
The Head Start Birth to Five Program continues to recruit for all program options; the pre-school staff also focuses on eligible children for the 2022-2023 school year.
School Attendance
The annual target for attendance set by the Office of Head Start is 85 percent. Attachment B indicates that year-to-date attendance is 50 percent for the preschool program through the end of March. The Child Care Partners average remained at 46 percent at the end of March. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the percentages negatively.
Medical/Dental Exams
Head Start regulations require all children to have medical and dental exams annually. Through the end of March, 2,124 medical and 2,087 dental exams were completed, totaling 4,211 exams, as illustrated in Attachment C. Families are more comfortable taking their children to the doctor for well checks.
Program Information Summaries
Please see Attachment D.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.