City of Columbus - File #: 2148-2023

• File #: 2148-2023
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 7/10/2023
• In control: Education Committee
• On agenda: 7/31/2023
• Final action: 8/2/2023
• Title: To authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a contract with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at The Ohio State University to implement Ready4Success, a screening and improvement strategy, and Read It Again, Read it Again - Math, and to provide mid-year student assessment; and to authorize the expenditure of $491,000.00 from the General Fund. ($491,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
8/2/2023	1	ACTING CITY CLERK	Attest
8/2/2023	1	MAYOR	Signed
7/31/2023	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
7/31/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Read for the First Time
7/31/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Waive the 2nd Reading	Pass
7/31/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

Explanation

Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every child is ready for kindergarten. 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.

To make sure our children are ready for kindergarten, the Department of Education uses different tools and collaborates with certain organizations in the preparation of our children. Ready4Success (R4S), administered by the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at the Ohio State University, uses a multi-pronged strategy to support providers in preparing children for Kindergarten success. The goal of the R4S initiative is to improve children’s outcomes and kindergarten readiness. It does so by focusing on the instructional practices of pre-kindergarten teachers.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, the Crane Center staff will also develop and implement Read It Again (RIA), an evidence-based, low-cost instructional supplement designed to promote intentional teaching practices in early childhood education programs serving children from birth to age five. Developing, implementing, and offering RIA to all early childhood providers is aligned with, and is an early strategy of, the Future Ready By Five Strategic Plan driver one: providing development and education supports for all children.

Therefore, the Department of Education requests permission to contract for $491,000.00 with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at the Ohio State University to provide this crucial work.

This contract is being awarded pursuant to Columbus City Code Section 329.30, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts. The Department of Education chose the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Poli...