Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the Columbus Department of Education to enter into contract with Future Ready Columbus. Currently, the City is partnering with Future Ready Columbus to create a plan to ensure Columbus children are ready for kindergarten, but in order to achieve that goal, there is a need for additional research into how families access the early childhood education experiences that bring about kindergarten readiness. Future Ready intends to work with The Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy to conduct this research and will manage the contract with the Crane Center in order to fully integrate the research with the birth-to-five plan it is developing.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested in order to allow Future Ready Columbus to immediately begin the study research.
Fiscal Impact: Funds totaling $119,467.00 are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives sub fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Education to enter into contract with Future Ready Columbus for the purpose of researching residents’ access to and perceptions of early childhood education opportunities; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives sub fund; and to declare an emergency ($119,467.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the human brain undergoes a period of rapid development from birth-to-five years of age that sets the foundation for a person’s lifelong learning; and
WHEREAS, in addition to supporting brain development for optimal cognition and social-emotional wellness, early childhood education is also critical for ensuring that children possess the skills they need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond; and
WHEREAS, in order to achieve kindergarten readiness among Columbus children, the City of Columbus is formulating a birth-to-five plan with the support of Future Ready Columbus, which centers on creating trauma-informed, equitable, and high-quality early education...
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