FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no anticipated impact to the Head Start funding allocation since the department has requested a Head Start enrollment reduction while maintaining the same level of funding. Savings from the slots reduction will cover unfunded Head Start program mandates, facility updates and Cost of Living Adjustments.
The department anticipates fully earning the State contract for preschool services, which if sub-contracted through partnerships, would still result in an estimated $90,976 in administrative funding to the department.
BACKGROUND:
The reduction of 150 Head Start slots and an increase of 168 new State preschool slots will result in the following program modifications:
- A reduction in class size of seven Head Start classrooms in an effort to enroll more three year olds; and
- The conversion of select classrooms from part-day, part-year to full-day, full-year to best meet community need; and
- The elimination of 72 preschool home based slots to meet the growing demand of center-based care; and
- An increase of 168 new State preschool slots to fully earn the State contract and generate additional revenue through partnerships throughout the County.
The proposed program model changes will have the following staffing impacts:
- Six of the seven Early Childhood Educator - Project positions, recommended by the department and approved by the Board of Supervisors on April 12, 2016 (D.5), to be re-established effective August 22, 2016 due the summer lay-off period of staff for the part-year preschool home based program model, will no longer need to be re-established; and
- Six of the seven former Early Childhood Educator - Project employees would not return to work on August 22, 2016, as requested by the department on March 25, 2016, and would remain in lay-off status; however, the department has completed the meet and confer process with Public Employees Union, Local One and has provided the six impacted former Early Childhood Educator - Project employees the opportunity to bid and be placed in other vacant project positions they qualify for to prevent any of them from losing employment beyond August 21, 2016.
The department's plan to minimize impacts to families and children is by case managing each impacted family to ensure them the opportunity to receive classroom based preschool services in other classrooms at nearby child care facilities.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The Department will be unable to make the programmatic modifications to maximize child care services to Contra Costa families and will not be able to maintain 100% Head Start enrollment at all times as mandated by the Office of Head Start.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The recommendation supports the following children's outcomes:
(1) Children Ready for and Succeeding in School;
(2) Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood; and
(4) Families that are Safe, Stable and Nurturing.