Explanation
Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every 4-year-old in Columbus has access to a high-quality prekindergarten education. 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 prekindergarten teachers. For the 2018-19 academic year, the R4S initiatives will support and augment instructional practices in the areas of math, literacy and vocabulary. R4S initiatives will most heavily emphasize the delivery of online professional development courses, individualized job-embedded coaching and support for providers and evaluation of the impacts of R4S on participating providers and children.
Therefore, the Department of Education requests permission to contract 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 Section 329, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts. This organization was selected due to their prior experience and success in providing the same services in 2017.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract ($234,635) is available within the 2018 Department of Education General Fund budget.
EMERGENGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency designation is requested so that the development of the work can begin in July 2018.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department 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 needed for the achievement of the Mayor’s goal that every 4-year-old in Columbus has access to a high-quality prekindergarten education; to authorize the expenditure of $234,635.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($234,635.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Ginther’s vision for Columbus, America’s Opportunity City, is that every 4-year-old in Columbus has access to a high-quality prekindergarten education; and
WHEREAS, to make sure our children are ready for kindergarten, the Department of Education uses different tools and collaborates with certain organizations; and
WHEREAS, Ready4Success uses a multi-pronged strategy to support providers in preparing children for Kindergarten success; and
WHEREAS, Ready4Success improves children’s outcomes by focusing on the instructional practices of teachers; and
WHEREAS, this contract is being awarded pursuant to City Code Chapter 329, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Education to enter into a contract with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at the Ohio State University and expend such funds 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 authorized to enter into a contract with the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at the Ohio State University for the implementation of the Ready4Success program.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $234,635.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund as follows: (See attachment 1889-2018 EXP)
Div.: 42-01 | Fund: 1000 | SubFund: 100010 | Obj. Class: 03 | Main Acct: 63050 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $234,635.00
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 legislation.
SECTION 5. That for 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.