Title
Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report – August 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 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 2022-23, which began July 1, 2022. The reports include a breakdown of each Education Service Provider, Child Care Partnership, the Policy Council, and the administrative support budget. The current year's expenditures align 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 August, overall enrollment was 1,909 out of 3,451 available slots.
Head Start Education Service Providers 2022-2023 School Year started between August 1 and August 15. At the end of August, preschool enrollment had 1,607 slots filled out of 2,963. Instructional staff shortages and waiting for classrooms to be licensed have impacted enrollment. The Greater Phoenix Urban League has 12 teacher and 12 assistant vacancies; Booker T. Washington has one teacher and one assistant vacancy. The Greater Phoenix Urban League is waiting for three classrooms to be licensed in the Cartwright Elementary School District. Booker T. Washington is waiting for 15 classrooms to be licensed in the Roosevelt Elementary School District and one in the Phoenix Elementary School District. The Arizona Department of Health Child Care License Division, which conducts inspections for licensing, is experiencing staffing shortages, which has created a backlog in scheduling inspection visits.
The Early Head Start Home-Based program provides year-round in-person home visitation. At the end of August, 158 slots out of 300 were filled. Vacancies are due to children turning three and becoming ineligible for the program, as well as, home visitor staffing shortages. The Home-Based program has 13 out of 28 home visitor positions vacant.
The Early Head Start-Child Care Partners provide full-day, year-round in-person childcare. At the end of August, 144 slots out of 188 were filled. Vacancies are due to children turning three and becoming ineligible for the program and instructional staffing shortages. Cactus Kids Preschool has six teacher vacancies and Immanuel Care for Children has one.
Recruitment to increase enrollment continues through social media messaging, billboards, community events, bus shelters, and digital messaging in two Ranch Market locations. Education Service Providers and Child Care Partners continue to recruit classroom staff through social media, job search websites, and collaboration with colleges. The Early Head Start Home-Based program is working with the City's Human Resources Department to recruit highly qualified home visitors.
School Attendance
The annual target for attendance set by the Office of Head Start is 85 percent. Attachment B indicates year-to-date average attendance through the end of August is 44 percent for the preschool program. The Child Care Partnership's year-to-date average is 50 percent at the end of August, both are below the target of 85 percent.
Medical/Dental Exams
Head Start regulations require all children have medical and dental exams annually. At the end of August, 1,213 medical and 1,150 dental exams were completed, totaling 2,363 exams, as illustrated in Attachment C.
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.