Title
Request Approval to Apply for a Head Start Birth to Five Non-Federal Share Waiver - Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 8
Description
This report requests the Community Services and Education Subcommittee, which serves as the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, to authorize the Human Services Department Head Start Birth to Five Program to apply for a Non-Federal Share waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start. This request is for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The Head Start Birth to Five Program receives funding through the Office of Head Start, within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for two programs.
(1) Early Head Start, which serves 252 children from birth to age three and their families, either at home or in center-based settings.
(2) Head Start Preschool, which serves 1,957 children aged three to five in a center-based program.
The grant for these programs requires a 20 percent non-federal share match. For FY 2025-26, the total non-federal share match required is $11,325,058. The Head Start Birth to Five Program estimates securing $7,325,058, resulting in an estimated shortfall of $4,000,000. Despite the program's diligent efforts to fulfill the 20 percent non-federal share match obligation, collecting the additional contributions has proven challenging due to insufficient resources to claim as in-kind support.
The Head Start Birth to Five Program is requesting approval to submit a waiver to the Office of Head Start in the amount of up to $4,000,000 for FY 2025-26.
Contract Tem
The City of Phoenix, as the Grantee, is entering the third year of a five-year grant for the Head Start Birth to Five program. The remaining three years of the five-year contract term are July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. This request does not change the terms of the contract.
Financial Impact
Funding for the Head Start Birth to Five program is available through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council approved this item on May 11, 2026.
Locations
Alhambra Elementary School District, 4510 N. 37th Avenue
Cartwright Elementary School District, 5220 W. Indian School Road
Deer Valley Unified School District, 20402 N. 15th Avenue
Fowler Elementary School District, 1617 S. 67th Avenue
Isaac School District, 3348 W. McDowell Road
Laveen Elementary School District, 5601 W. Dobbins Road
Murphy Elementary School District, 3140 W. Buckeye Road
Pendergast Elementary School District, 3802 N. 91st Avenue
Phoenix Elementary School District, 1817 N. 7th Street
Riverside Elementary School District, 1414 S. 51st Avenue
Roosevelt Elementary School District, 6000 S. 7th Street
Skyrise School of Black Canyon, 10653 N. 25th Avenue
Skyrise School of Laveen, 755 S. 51st Avenue
Washington Elementary School District, 4650 W. Sweetwater Avenue
Wilson Elementary School District, 3025 E. Fillmore Street
Council Districts: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.