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 opportunities for children, as well as the ancillary services they and their families need to thrive; and
WHEREAS, this effort to ensure all young children receive high-quality early education experiences will be achieved, in part, by way of a thorough understanding of the factors that enable or challenge families’ access to early learning, such as transportation, language, and income; and
WHEREAS, the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy will conduct research and direct contact with residents on behalf of Future Ready Columbus and the City in order to aid the understanding of the factors that support or hinder families’ access to early childhood education and ultimately inform the birth-to-five plan and future program design; and
WHEREAS, this contract is being awarded pursuant to Section 329.30 of the City Code, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts. This organization was selected due to their current work on developing a birth-to-five plan for Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, $119,467.00 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives sub fund for appropriation to provide for this need; 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 to enter into contract with Future Ready Columbus to allow the study to begin promptly, for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; 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 enter into contract with Future Ready Columbus for the purpose of researching residents’ access to and perceptions of early childhood education opportunities;
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $119,467.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives sub fund, fund 1000, sub fund 100018, to Columbus City Council, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $119,467.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. This contract is being awarded pursuant to Section 329.30 of the City Code, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts. This organization was selected due to their current work on developing a birth-to-five plan for Franklin County.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.