Title
Head Start Birth to Five Monthly Report - April 2023
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 that 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. 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 are slightly below the expected percentage due to staffing vacancies.
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 April, overall enrollment was 2,418 out of 3,451 available slots.
At the end of April, the Education Service Providers' enrollment was 2,149 preschool slots filled out of 2,963 available slots. Instructional staff shortages and pending classroom licensures continue to impact enrollment.
The Early Head Start Home-Based program provides year-round, in-person home visitation. At the end of April, the program filled 118 slots out of 300. Some vacancies are due to children turning three and are no longer eligible for the program. Many children transition to a Head Start or school district preschool program. Other vacancies are due to home visitor staffing shortages, with 14 out of 28 positions vacant.
The Early Head Start-Child Care Partners program provides full-day, year-round childcare. At the end of April, the program filled 151 slots out of 188. Some vacancies are due to children turning three and no longer eligible for the program. Many children transition to a Head Start preschool, a school district preschool program, or move to a three-year-old classroom in the childcare center. Other vacancies are due to instructional staff shortages.
Recruitment to increase enrollment continues through community events, bus shelter posters and digital messaging in two Ranch Market locations. Staff is collaborating with other city departments to identify additional innovative recruitment options. Education Service Providers and Child Care Partners continue to recruit instructional 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, offering hiring, retention and referral incentives.
Full Enrollment Initiative
The Head Start Birth to Five management team drafted a plan to eliminate under-enrollment and submitted it to the Office of Head Start, Region 9, on the due date of May 12, 2023. The plan identifies four critical factors that have impacted enrollment: workforce (hiring and retention), family needs, community needs, and language barriers. To comprehensively focus on these factors, subcommittees have been assembled with Head Start Birth to Five staff, policy council and governing board members, and community stakeholders. Head Start Birth to Five management team members will facilitate the subcommittees.
School Attendance
The annual target for attendance set by the Office of Head Start is 85 percent. Attachment B indicates the year-to-date average attendance through the end of April is 59 percent for the preschool program. The Child Care Partnership's year-to-date average is 54 percent at the end of April. The low percentage is partially due to instructional staff shortages and awaiting preschool classroom licensure. The attendance is based on funded enrollment and thus impacts the overall attendance percentages.
Medical/Dental Exams
Head Start regulations require all children to have medical and dental exams annually. At the end of April, 2,588 medical and 2,495 dental exams were completed, totaling 5,083 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.