Explanation
Ordinances 2730-2016 and 1673-2017 granted the Department of Education the authority to enter into contracts with Columbus State Community College (CSCC) to provide accelerated Child Development Associate (CDA) programs to rapidly and conveniently train preschool teachers who are already serving Columbus children.
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is to create access to a high-quality early childhood education for every 4-year-old. Addressing early childhood learning means bringing awareness and resources to a critical learning stage in childhood development. Children who come to school ready to learn are more likely to succeed academically and in life.
Unfortunately, there are too few high-quality preschool providers in Columbus. Only about 15 percent of providers in the City are rated 3-5 stars in the Ohio quality rating system (1-5 stars) Step Up To Quality (SUTQ). About 76 percent of providers have no rating at all. This deficit is especially alarming as Ohio has a deadline that requires all providers be SUTQ rated by 2020 to be eligible to accept children funded by Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC). The community’s failure to adequately meet this deadline would displace thousands of our poorest children, put providers out of business, and cause a layoff of childcare workers.
The greatest determinant of the quality of a child’s education is the quality of that child’s classroom teacher. Increasing the quality of preschool teachers will not only better prepare our children for kindergarten but will greatly assist our community by meeting the State’s 2020 goal. The Department of Education has determined that helping existing preschool teachers receive their CDA will help to close both of these gaps.
Previously, CSCC was appropriated funds to develop and initiate a specialized CDA program and to train a certain number of teachers. In one instance however, CSCC was not able to enroll enough teachers to reach their expected capacity. In another instance, program development and operations costs were lower than expected. Because of these factors, CSCC has funds that are unspent.
This new ordinance, 1550-2018, gives the Director of the Department of Education the authority to extend the CSCC contracts for up to one year. This extension will allow CSCC to continue providing CDA training to Columbus teachers until they have spent down their balance.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funds are needed to modify these agreements.
Title
To authorize the Director of Education to modify contracts with Columbus State Community College to allow the college to continue providing CDA training to Columbus teachers.
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Education desires to modify two previous contracts, previously authorized under ordinances 2730-2016 and 1673-2017, with Columbus State Community College; and
WHEREAS, these modifications will allow the college to continue providing CDA training to Columbus teachers; and
WHEREAS, no additional funds are needed to modify this agreement; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education to authorize the Director to modify the contracts with Columbus State Community College for the public health, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Education is hereby authorized to modify contracts, previously authorized under ordinances 2730-2016 and 1673-2017, to allow Columbus State Community College to continue providing CDA training to Columbus teachers.
SECTION 2. That this modification is made pursuant to Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.