Explanation
To address community concerns regarding public education, on December 13, 2012, the Mayor and City Council President Andrew Ginther convened the Columbus Education Commission. The Commission was charged with examining the challenges facing all students living within the Columbus City Schools boundaries and resulted in 55 recommendations grouped into six priority categories. One of the main priorities of the report was the development of a public-private partnership in education.
The purpose of the partnership is to “lead the drive for educational excellence within Columbus, leveraging all available public and private support and participation.” This new organization, FutureReady Columbus, has been recently established and has been charged, among other things, to fulfill the Mayor’s goal of universal access to a high-quality pre-kindergarten education for all four-year olds within the Columbus City Schools District. This funding is to be used specifically for that goal at the direction of the Columbus Early Childhood Education Council, an advisory council to the new organization.
The Mayor and the Commission believed that an investment in early childhood education will prevent achievement gaps, reduce the need for special education, increase the likelihood of healthier lifestyles, lower the crime rate, and reduces overall social costs. By expanding pre-kindergarten services, Columbus children will not only improve readiness for kindergarten but will be able to accelerate learning and academic performance beyond kindergarten.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Department of Education's 2015 General Fund budget.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the funding is provided to FutureReady Columbus in time for the new organization to meet their obligations.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into an agreement with FutureReady Columbus in...
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