Title
Request Approval to Submit Updated Program Options to the Office of Head Start - Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8
Description
This report requests the Economic Development and Housing 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, approval to submit a request for updated program options to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Program provides comprehensive early childhood education experiences and comprehensive social services to 2,209 children and their families through two service delivery models: (1) Preschool servicing 1,957 children age three to five, and (2) Early Head Start servicing 252 children ages zero to three and their families.
Early Head Start Transition
The demand for affordable and free childcare has significantly increased as state agencies reduce scholarship opportunities for working parents. In response to this growing need, the Head Start Birth to Five Program is requesting approval to transition all 64 home-based slots to center-based by July 2026. This gradual transition will allow families to make the best decisions for their children. Some parents may choose to enroll their children in one of the Early Head Start center-based classrooms, while others may prefer to continue with home visiting services, of which there are seven available within the Early Head Start service area. Program staff will assist families in finding the option that best meets their needs.
To meet the needs of the community, two Education Service Providers are expanding their services to include Early Head Start center-based classrooms. The Greater Phoenix Urban League (GPUL) will add slots in the Maryvale area by July 2025. This expansion will include 16 slots at Byron Barry Elementary, 16 slots at Cartwright Early Learning Center, and eight slots at Pendergast Early Learning Center. The Booker T. Washington Child Development Center (BTW) will be adding eight slots at its campus and another eight slots in the Roosevelt Elementary School District at M. L. King Elementary campus by July 2025. In January 2026, BTW will open one classroom of eight slots in the Alhambra Elementary School District (Alhambra), which has more than 2,700 children under the age of three, and another classroom of eight slots in the Washington Elementary School District (Washington), which has more than 2,600 children under the age of three. The last three classrooms will open by July 2026: two additional classrooms with eight slots in Alhambra and the remaining 12 slots will be placed in Washington. The specific locations for BTW's slots in the Alhambra and Washington Elementary School Districts have yet to be determined.
Fowler Elementary School District is expanding its Early Head Start program, increasing from 40 to 48 center-based slots starting in June 2025.
By July 2026, 252 children will be served in Early Head Start center-based classrooms.
During this transition period, certain staff will transfer from Early Head Start to Head Start, while others will remain in Early Head Start to continue delivering services to families in the center-based program. It is important to note that there will be no reduction in force; all employees will have a position once the transition is finalized.
Early Head Start Service Area
The 2024 Community Assessment shows that there are 1,125 children under the age of three living in the Roosevelt School District and 797 in the Phoenix Elementary School District. Both districts are within the service area of BTW.
BTW is interested in offering center-based Early Head Start services for eight toddlers on their campus at 1522 E. Adams Street, and eight additional at M. L. King Elementary, located at 4615 S. 22nd Street. Both locations are within Chicanos Por La Causa's Early Head Start service area.
Since the City of Phoenix currently provides preschool services in these locations, there is a strong interest in expanding services to include younger children. Introducing Early Head Start center-based services will facilitate smoother transitions for children moving from Early Head Start to Head Start services located on the same campuses.
The Head Start Birth to Five Program is requesting approval to submit a request to the Office of Head Start to provide services for 16 children outside of its Early Head Start service area.
If approved, this expansion would take effect in the next fiscal year, starting on July 1, 2025.
Locally Designed Option
The Office of Head Start requires 45 percent of preschool children attend school for a minimum of 1,020 hours over a nine-month period. However, the Head Start Program Performance Standards offer a locally designed option to allow grantees to align service hours with that of first-grade students in the district to meet the specific needs of their communities. For the 2025-2026 school year, three Education Service Providers (ESP), Alhambra, GPUL, and Washington have submitted requests to utilize this locally designed option.
Alhambra is proposing a total of 973 hours of instruction per year, which is above the required 784 hours for first-grade students. Similarly, Washington is requesting 946 hours per year, also exceeding the 784 hour benchmark for first graders. Both districts have designated every Wednesday as an early release day, where children are dismissed two hours early to provide teachers time for professional development. Effective in the 2025-2026 school year, the district's transportation department will no longer be able to transport children with Individualized Education Plan (IEPs) on early release days due to the shorter hours, leaving many students unable to attend class. The second reason concerns teachers' preparation time. Currently, elementary school teachers receive 40 minutes each day for preparation while their students attend special classes such as art, music, or physical education. Additionally, they have two hours of preparation every Wednesday. In contrast, Head Start preschool students do not participate in these special classes, meaning their teachers do not have access to this daily preparation time. Head Start teachers will utilize the time on Wednesdays for professional development, lesson preparation, and documenting student progress. This proposal benefits students with IEPs by addressing transportation limitations and providing teachers with contract-aligned schedules.
GPUL is proposing 916 hours of instruction per year, exceeding the required 784 for first-grade students. This schedule is designed to align with the school districts' schedules. GPUL provides educational services in several districts, including Cartwright, Isaac, Laveen, Pendergast, Phoenix, and Roosevelt. The Cartwright district is closed on Fridays, while Isaac has early release on Thursdays. The remaining districts have early release on Wednesdays. On days when children do not attend, Head Start teacher will concentrate on professional development, lesson preparation, and documenting student progress. This proposal benefits parents by aligning instructional time with the school district's schedule, and provides teachers with much needed time for preparation and professional development.
Contract Term
The City of Phoenix, as the Grantee, is entering in the second year of a five-year grant for the Head Start Birth to Five program. The remaining four years of the five year contract term are July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029.
Financial Impact
The grant funding is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. There is no financial impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council is scheduled to approve this item on May 12, 2025.
Location
Alhambra Elementary School District, 4510 N. 37th Avenue
Cartwright Elementary School District, 5220 W. Indian School Road
Isaac School District, 3348 W. McDowell Road
Pendergast Elementary School District, 3802 N. 91st Avenue
Phoenix Elementary School District, 1817 N. 7th Street
Roosevelt Elementary School District, 6000 S. 7th Street
Washington Elementary School District, 4650 W. Sweetwater
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.