Explanation
Ordinance 1585-2016 granted the Department of Education the authority to enter into contracts with organizations to provide early education programs as part of Early Start Columbus.
The purpose of Early Start Columbus is to expand high-quality prekindergarten services for 4-year-olds living in the City of Columbus. 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.
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.
For the 2016-2017 school year, Early Start Columbus program providers were appropriated funds based on the number of children that they expected to serve. In some cases, providers were not able to enroll enough students to reach their expected capacity. Because of this, the providers have funds that are unspent, but still encumbered by the original ordinance.
This new ordinance, 1053-2017, gives the Director of the Department of Education the authority to extend the contracts of these providers for up to one year. This extension will allow existing providers to continue providing prekindergarten services under Early Start Columbus until they have spent down their encumbered funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funds are needed to modify these agreements.
EMERGENCY DESIGNTION: Emergency designation is requested to ensure the contracts are extended before they expire.
Title
To authorize the Director of Education to modify contracts with the 2016-2017 Early Start Columbus providers to allow them to continue providing prekindergarten services during the 2017-2018 school year, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Education desires to modify 2016-2017 Early Start Columbus contracts; and
WHEREAS, this modification will allow Early Start Columbus providers to continue to provide prekindergarten services; and
WHEREAS, no additional funds are needed to modify this agreement;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify said contracts to allow services to continue uninterrupted, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety; 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 ordinance 1585-2016 to allow the following Early Start Columbus providers to continue to provide prekindergarten services:
A. Sophie Rogers School for Early Learning at Weinland Park (SFC) - contract compliance # 31-6025986
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
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
South Side Learning & Development Center - contract compliance # 314379811
St. Catharine Preschool - contract compliance # 314-38-6266
St. Mary Magdalene - contract compliance # 314379636
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 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 for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.