Explanation
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.
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.
The purpose of Early Start Columbus is to expand high-quality prekindergarten services through partnerships with Columbus City Schools and community-based providers. The providers partnering in the Early Start Columbus Program have all demonstrated their ability to provide a high-quality prekindergarten education. All partnering providers are rated at least three stars in the State’s Step Up To Quality rating and improvement system.
State law makes allowable the braiding of Ohio Department of Education Early Childhood Expansion funds with those of the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Service Publicly Funded Childcare program. The 2021-2022 Early Start Columbus Program combines Education Department funds with these funding streams to further extend the number of children served while using City funds more efficiently. This approach uses City funds as “last dollar” funding.
South Side Early Learning at Hilltop- contract compliance # TBD
South Side Early Learning at Reeb - contract compliance # TBD
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $110,857.50 from the 2021 Department of Education’s General Fund operating budget.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Education to enter into contracts with high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations, South Side Early Learning at Hilltop and South Side Early Learning at Reeb, to provide educational services; to authorize the expenditure of up to $110,857.50 from the General Fund. ($110,857.50)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Education desires to enter into contracts with various high-quality prekindergarten organizations, South Side Early Learning at Hilltop and South Side Early Learning at Reeb to provide educational services and quality prekindergarten services to Columbus 4-year-olds to prepare them for kindergarten; and
WHEREAS, research shows that quality pre-kindergarten instruction provides meaningful value to children’s educational performance and preparation for school; and
WHEREAS, the goal is that all children in the City of Columbus will be kindergarten ready; and
WHEREAS, funding was budgeted in the general fund within the Department of Education’s operating budget for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, these contracts are being awarded pursuant to City Code Chapter 329, which allows for the City to negotiate not-for-profit service contracts as there are no city employees expertly positioned to do this work within the city; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Education to authorize the Director to enter into contract with high-quality pre-kindergarten organizations, for 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 Education be and is hereby authorized to contract with the following quality pre-kindergarten organizations, under the terms and conditions and in the amounts deemed necessary to advance the Early Start Columbus initiative:
South Side Early Learning at Hilltop- contract compliance # TBD
South Side Early Learning at Reeb - contract compliance # TBD
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $110,857.50 be and is hereby authorized as follows (see attachment Ordinance 2429-2021 Legislation Template):
Dept/Div: 42-01 | Obj Class: 03 | Main Account: 63050 | Fund: 1000 | Sub-fund: 100010 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $110,857.50
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 ordinance.
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 this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.