Title
Approval to Accept Head Start Birth to Five Supplemental Duration Funding, Amend Delegate Contracts for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and Amend Previous Authorization to Enter Into Contracts for Fiscal Year 2019-20 (Ordinance S-45648)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to accept $3,687,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for Supplemental Duration funding. Further request authorization to amend delegate agency contracts for Fiscal Year 2018-19 and amend previous authorization to enter into contracts for Fiscal Year 2019-20 to include Supplemental Duration funding for both fiscal years and the creation of two Head Start Program Assistant positions in support of the additional classrooms. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Report
Summary
The Federal Fiscal Budget has appropriated funds to the Office of Head Start for the purpose of providing full school year and full school day programming to increase the total annual hours of high-quality early education services offered to children enrolled in the Head Start preschool option. There is strong evidence that Head Start children need greater exposure to high-quality early learning experiences than is currently provided under the Head Start minimum duration standards. Extending the duration of Head Start program services will enable sufficient time for teachers to conduct learning activities and intentional instruction that experts believe are important to later school success.
Supplemental Duration funds are awarded for the purpose of increasing the existing number of hours per day and the existing number of school days per year that are offered to Head Start preschool students. For Fiscal Year 2018-19, $1,350,000 will be used for start-up costs (i.e classroom supplies and playground equipment). For Fiscal Year 2019-20, $2,337,000 will be used for ongoing program operations. The City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five program currently serves 3,451 Head Start children birth to five years old.
The federal application for slots was based on increasing Grantee full-day programming to 45 percent in accordance with Program Instruction dated Sept. 9, 2018. The Grantee proposes to award conversion slots to delegate partners who currently have full-day programming at less than 45 percent of total agency slots. An additional 442 children will be converted from half-day to full-day. The funding variance is based on the different cost per child and also dependent on the conversion of a classroom or the creation of a totally new classroom. The creation of new classrooms will require two full-time Head Start Program Assistants to serve as coaches, ensuring Head Start quality standards are met. The delegates included in this opportunity were chosen because 45 percent of their current slots did not meet that threshold. See Attachment A for a list of delegates and the funding breakdown.
Financial Impact
The total amount of additional funding will not exceed $3,687,000. No additional General Funds are needed to operate programs.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- On Feb. 21, 2018, City Council gave the approval to enter into contracts with Delegate Agencies for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
- On March 6, 2019, City Council gave the approval to enter into or extend contracts with Delegate Agencies for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
- This item was approved by the Head Start Policy Council on April 8, 2019.
- This item was recommended for approval at the Parks, Arts, Libraries and Education Subcommittee meeting on April 24, 2019, by a vote of 4-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Deanna Jonovich and the Human Services Department.