Title
Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - August 2021
Description
This report provides the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee, which serves as the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, 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 information with the Governing Board and Policy Council on program planning, policies and operations monthly. 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 submit the total number of children enrolled on the last day of each month. At the end of August, enrollment was 1,951 out of 3,451 available slots.
All Education Service Providers (ESP) began the school year in person. At the end of August, enrollment for preschool was 1,602 slots filled out of 2,963. Three ESPs were not able to open all classrooms due to difficulty filling teacher and assistant vacancies. Parents expressed concern about their children potentially being exposed to COVID-19: they either decided not to attend the first day of school or withdrew their child during the month. Six preschool classrooms were quarantined for up to two weeks due to exposure to COVID-19.
The Early Head Start Home-Based program provides services year-round and continues to connect virtually with families for home visits and biweekly socialization meetings. At the end of August, 223 slots were filled out of 300. Some vacancies are due to children turning three and aging out of the program. Many of these children transition to Head Start preschool or a developmental preschool in their local school district.
The Early Head Start-Child Care Partners provide year-round in-person childcare. At the end of August, 126 out of 188 slots were filled. Cactus Kids Preschool closed at the end of the month due to a staff member testing positive for COVID-19. Many families continue to keep their children home or find alternative childcare options due to concerns about exposure to COVID-19.
Recruitment and enrollment continue to be a challenge due to the pandemic. Some families are waiting to enroll their children when COVID-19 numbers decline while others opt to wait for the next 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 through the end of August is 41 percent for the preschool program. The Child Care Partners average was 40 percent at the end of August. The low percentage is due to the pandemic.
Medical/Dental Exams
Head Start regulations require all children to have medical and dental exams each year. The new fiscal year started in July. Through the end of August, 546 medical and 516 dental exams were completed for a total of 1,062 exams, as illustrated in Attachment C. The numbers are below average due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families are delaying doctor or dentist visits due to concerns about exposure to the virus.
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.