Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contracts, including a License Agreement, with Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) to serve as the operator and tenant of the new Hilltop Early Learning Center located at 45 Clarendon Avenue. CELC will be responsible for the design and implementation of a high quality program of pre-kindergarten education and wrap-around services in conjunction with the CELC’s sub-providers and partners, and provide support services to its sub-providers, the medical services provider, and community groups.
Mayor Ginther’s vision for America’s Opportunity City is that every child in Columbus enters kindergarten ready to learn. Becoming kindergarten-ready is about so much more than participating in a quality early learning program. Children who come to school ready to learn are more likely to succeed academically and in life. Ample evidence shows that children who enter school unprepared and who get a poor start in their earliest years are more likely to struggle throughout school and subsequently, fail to graduate. An investment in early childhood development helps prevent achievement gaps, reduces the need for special education, increases the likelihood of healthier lifestyles, lowers the crime rate and reduces overall social costs.
Strategies that assist children to successfully transition to kindergarten focus on serving the needs of the whole child and their families. Screenings that identify developmental delays early, along with referrals and rehabilitative services, are crucial in meeting educational goals. Home-visitation or center-based education and advocacy programs provide important information to family members on the early developmental needs of their child. For children and families that have experienced trauma and toxic stresses, mental and behavioral health and counseling services are necessary. In addition, meeting the basic needs of th...
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