...Explanation
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is to create access to a high-quality prekindergarten 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.
Children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten experiences significantly improve their early literacy, language and math skills. Ample evidence shows that children who enter school unprepared fall farther and farther behind. Students who get a poor start in their earliest years are likely to struggle in high school and, subsequently, fail to graduate.
The purpose of Early Start Columbus is to expand high-quality prekindergarten services through partnerships with Columbus City Schools and community-based providers. The providers partnering in the Early Start Columbus Program have all demonstrated their ability to provide a high-quality prekindergarten education. In addition, all program partners are evaluated and scored through a thorough application process. Recommendations for funding are made by an independent grant review committee.
On April 7, 2016, a public hearing was convened by the Chair of the Columbus City Council Education Committee to review the work and priorities of the Early Start Columbus program.
Recent changes in state law makes allowable the braiding of Ohio Department of Education Early Childhood Expansion funds with those of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Service Publicly Funded Childcare program. The 2016-2017 Early Start Columbus Program combines Education Department funds with these funding streams to further extend the number of children served while using City funds more efficiently. This approach uses City funds as “last dollar” funding.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $4,400,000 from the 2016 Department of Education’s General Fund operating budget.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into contracts with high-quality prekindergarten organizations to provide educational services; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to authorize the expenditure of up to $4,400,000.00 from the General Fund. ($4,400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Education desires to enter into contracts with various high-quality prekindergarten organizations; and
WHEREAS, funding was budgeted in the general fund within the Department of Education’s operating budget for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, providers will administer quality prekindergarten services to Columbus 4-year-olds to prepare them for kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, the goal is that by 2020 the City of Columbus will make sure that every 4-year-old in Columbus is kindergarten ready; and
WHEREAS, research shows that quality pre-kindergarten instruction provides meaningful value to children’s educational performance and preparation for school; now therfore
WHEREAS, the Early Start Columbus 2016-2017 application process allows the Department to renew the contracts for up to one year, pending performance and funding availability.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Education be and is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with the following quality pre-kindergarten organizations, under the terms and conditions and in the amounts deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative:
A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning at Weinland Park (SFC) - contract compliance # 31-6025986
All Saints Academy - contract compliance # 31-4416400
Brightside Academy - contract complinace # 25-1686943
Child Development Council of Franklin County, Inc. - contract compliance # 311138997
Childhood League, Inc. - contract compliance # 31-6400177
Columbus City Schools - contract compliance # 316400416
Columbus Early Learning Centers - contract compliance # 314379619
Creative Child Care, Inc. - contract complinace # 31-0795403
Family Focus Learning Center - contract compliance # TBD
Fresh Start Learning Academy - contract compliance # TBD
Gladden Community House - contract compliance # 401269
Eye to I Learning Ctr LLC D.B.A. Heavenly Kids Center for Learning - contract compliance # 421713021
Hilltop Preschool - contract compliance # 460759007
Joyful Beginnings Children's Learning Academy - contract compliance # TBD
Kiddie Academy of Reynoldsburg - contract compliance # 451534885
Little Disciples Learning Center - contract compliance # 26-0270662
Maize Manor Preschool - contract compliance # 31-6014976
NCBC Human Service Corporation D.B.A. Kids Care Academy - contract compliance # 451534885
Our Kidz Enrichment & Child Care Center - contract compliance # 45-2875180
Our Lady of Bethlehem School and Childcare - contract compliance # TBD
Sonshine Christian Academy - contract compliance # 31-0986899
South Side Learning & Development Center - contract compliance # 314379811
St. Catharine Preschool - contract compliance # 314-38-6266
St. Cecelia Preschool - contract compliance # TBD
St. Mary Magdalene - contract compliance # TBD
St. Mary School - contract compliance # TBD
St. Stephen's Community House - contract compliance # 31-4379568
Starting Point Learning Center - contract compliance # 20298639
YMCA of Central Ohio - contract compliance # 314379594
SECTION 2. That Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes, Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $4,400,000 be and is hereby authorized as follows (see attachment Ordinance 1585-2016 Legislation Template):
Dept/Div: 42-01|Obj Class:03|Main Account:63050|Fund:1000|Sub-fund:100010|Program:ED001|Amount:$4,400,000|
SECTION 4. 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 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.