Title
Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - March 2021
Description
This report provides the Land Use and Livability 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.
- Program Information Summaries.
Fiscal Expenditures
Attachment A shows year-to-date expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The report includes a breakdown of each Education Service Provider, the Policy Council, Child Care Partnerships, and administrative support budgets. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, current year expenditures are slightly below average.
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 March, enrollment was 2,338 out of 3,451 available slots.
During March, the Education Service Providers offered in-person and distance learning options, except for Booker T. Washington Child Development Center and Greater Phoenix Urban League. In April, the in-person option will be offered at these two providers. At the end of March, enrollment for preschool was 1,967 slots filled out of 2,963.
The Early Head Start Home-Based program continues to connect virtually with families for home visits and biweekly socialization meetings. At the end of March, 242 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.
Early Head Start-Child Care Partners provide in-person child care. At the end of March, 129 out of 188 slots were filled. Cactus Kids Child Care Center and Immanuel Care for Children were closed for two weeks during the month due to staff and children testing positive for the virus. Out of This World Christian Child Care closed one classroom for two weeks because staff and children testing positive for the virus. Many families continue to keep their children home or find alternative childcare options due to concerns about exposure to the virus. Some parents have lost their jobs and are no longer eligible for the program.
The Head Start Birth to Five preschool staff has begun to take applications for the 2021-2022 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 March is 56 percent for preschool and 43 percent for the Child Care Partners. The low percentage is due to the coronavirus pandemic, as mentioned previously in the enrollment report section.
Medical/Dental Exams
Head Start regulations require all children to have medical and dental exams each year. Through the end of March, 2,059 medical and 1,912 dental exams were completed for a total of 3,971 exams, as illustrated in Attachment C. The numbers are below average due to the coronavirus 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 Inger Erickson and the Human Services Department.