Title: AC2-Amendment to Early Childhood Cluster Initiative Program (ECCI) Agreement

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approve an Amendment to reduce the funding for the Agreement Between the School Board of Palm Beach County and United Way of Palm Beach County, Inc. Relating to Children's Services Council Funding of the Early Childhood Cluster Initiative (ECCI) Program by $120,000 effective May 18, 2006 and authorize the Superintendent or his designee to sign all documents and contracts related to the grant which are required for implementation of grant activities.

Description:

This Amendment will reduce the grant by $120,000.  This funding will be used by United Way to contract with Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago to conduct a program evaluation.  The reduction in funding will not significantly impact the project.

The original agreement between the School Board of Palm Beach County and United Way of Palm Beach County, Inc. Relating to CSC Funding of Early Childhood Cluster Program is in effect from October 1, 2005 until September 30, 2006.  The Agreement provides for funding in the amount of $4,543,358 for implementation of the Early Childhood Cluster Initiative program in the following ten (10) elementary schools, each of which has a Beacon Center on campus: Barton, Forest Park, Lantana, Northmore, Pahokee, Pioneer Park, Pleasant City, Washington, West Riviera, and Village Academy. 

The ECCI program is modeled after the Perry Preschool Project and has the following components:
- Year round schedule for up to 360 children who must reside in the participating schools' service areas
- 10 hour per day services for 3 and 4 year old children
- High/Scope curriculum
- Funding for staffing pattern of one certified teacher and two Early Learning Associates per 18 children
- Funding for intense High/Scope curriculum training
- Funding for three administrative positions, six resource teachers, one volunteer coordinator, and four floaters
- On-site technical assistance provided by six resource teachers
- Linkage with select community child care centers and homes that receive funding through United Way to hire degreed teachers and who receive technical assistance from a resource teacher
- Parent involvement program

The ECCI program will be evaluated using statewide instruments to measure kindergarten readiness.  The assessments will include SRUSS (School Readiness Uniform Screening System), COR (Child Observation Record), ECERS (Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale) and PQA (Program Quality Assessment).

Financial Impact:
The Amendment will reduce the Department of Early Childhood Education's FY2005-FY2006 Special Revenue-Other Funds budget by $120,000 and will reduce the contract amount from $4,534,458 to $4,414,458.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets (akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us)

E. Wayne Gent

M.J. Steele

Attachments (list):
SRUSS ESI K Data.pdf
United Way Amendment.pdf
Original Contract with United Way and Board Rpt.pdf
Budget for ECCI.pdf
Q&AAC2.doc
Q&AAC2.doc