Title: School Readiness Rate Agreement for Early Childhood Education

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board approved the School Readiness Child Care Rate Agreement with Family Central, Inc., for subsidized child-care in selected elementary schools in the amount of $1,590,978, effective March 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all related documents and contracts.

Description:

 The purpose of this School Readiness Child Care Rate Agreement with Family Central, Inc., is to continue the method by which Early Childhood Education programs receive payment for children who are eligible for financially assisted (subsidized) child care for up to 10 hours a day.  This rate agreement follows our last rate agreement which was in effect from July 1, 2004 until December 31, 2005,  along with an extension, January 1 though February 28, 2006, which was necessary due to a delayed procurement process caused by Hurricane Wilma.  Family Central, Inc. was selected during the procurement process effective March 1, 2006.

This program provides services for approximately 362 eligible 3- and 4-year old children, as determined by Florida Statute 411.01, in 25 high need elementary sites.  Identified sites for the 2005/06 school year include:

Barton
Belle Glade
Forest Park
Galaxy
Heritage
Highland
K.E. Cunningham/Canal Point
Lantana
Lincoln
Northmore
Pahokee
Palmetto
Pine Grove
Pioneer Park
Pleasant City
Rolling Green
Roosevelt
Rosenwald
Starlight Cove
UB Kinsey
Village Academy
Washington
West Riviera
Westward
Wynnebrook

Family Central will monitor the Prekindergarten programs by conducting site visits at least once a year, to insure compliance of the signed rate agreement.  Follow-up visits will be made as needed. 

Evaluation will be accomplished through the SRUSS Kindergarten Readiness Instruments.

Financial Impact:
The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Funds Budget is an increase of approximately $1,590,978.  These funds will be allocated to the Department of Early Childhood Education for the operation of wrap around services for Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) children and full day services for children who are not age eligible for VPK.  There is no financial impact to the Operating Budget.

For Additional Information, contact:

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

E. Wayne Gent

M.J. Steele

Attachments (list):
Family Central 02.22.06.pdf
SRUSS ESI K Data.pdf