To: ALL CHILDREN ACHIEVE From: Sara L. Hensley
COMMITTEE
Subject: STATUS ON THE EARLY CARE Date: 05-29-03
AND
EDUCATION STRATEGIC
WORKPLAN
BACKGROUND
On February 6, 2002, the Mayor in his State of the City Address made child care a high community priority and declared a child care crisis in the City of San José. On September 16, 2002, the Education, Neighborhood, Youth and Seniors (ENYS) Committee recommended approval of the new Early Care and Education Strategic Workplan- Investment in the Future 2002-2006. The plan was adopted by City Council on October 1, 2002. Staff was asked to provide quarterly updates and status on the progress of the implementation of the new Strategic Work Plan. Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) staff first presented an update at the April 10, 2003 All Children Achieve Committee meeting at which time the Committee accepted the report.
ANALYSIS
The Office on Early Care and Education Services continues to move forward in the accomplishment of the objectives outlined in the Investment in the Future: San Jose’s Early Care and Education Strategic Work Plan 2002-2006. The following is an update by Strategic Goal Area on the current program status and accomplishments:
Strategic Goal Area I: Increase the number of accessible, affordable, quality early care and education spaces to meet the need of San José Families.
Four Year Goal: Create 3,200 new early care and education spaces by June of 2006.
FY 2002-2003 Goal: Create 220 new early care and education spaces by June 30, 2003 in the City of San José.
· The suspension of Redevelopment Funds has reduced the number of anticipated new early care and education spaces from over 750 to 220. Open to date are 100 new spaces this year and an additional 120 are anticipated to open by June 30, 2003.
· City staff in partnership with the Silicon Valley Economic Development Corporation, launched the Smart Start San José Family Child Care Facility Support Mini-Micro Loan/Grant Program. The purpose of the loan/grant program is to provide family child care providers financial assistance in order to enhance the quality of their respective facilities. Extensive marketing and outreach efforts resulted in the submittal of 97 applications. The Silicon Valley Economic Development Corporation and two Early Care and Education Commissioners are reviewing the applications and will be forwarding funding recommendations to the Director of PRNS. It is anticipated that final funding decisions will be made by June 2003.
Strategic Goal Area II: Facilitate education and professional development on how to start, operate, and/or work in high-quality early care and education programs.
Four Year
Goal: Provide, coordinate or make available education and training to
1,000 early care and education providers.
FY
2002-2003 Actual: 322 early care and education providers have
been trained to date.
· Smart Start San José New Business Creation and Retention Services participants completed the 10-week Business Plan course on March 28, 2003. Participants received Professional Growth hours for this course.
·
Early Care and Education Services co-sponsored a Music and
Movement Class at Mission College in partnership with WestEd Institute for
Early Childhood Professional Development and the Asociácion De Proveedoras
Hispanas del Condado de Santa Clara.
The training was in Spanish and participants received three semester
units for this class.
· The City of San José in partnership with Santa Clara County Office of Education, hosted the 5th Annual Best Practices for Early Childhood Educator’s Conference on May 17, 2003. The City facilitated a panel discussion on School Readiness and provided interpreters. Over 360 participants participated in this conference.
Strategic Goal Area
III: Create a public education
Campaign to inform the public about early care and education options and
issues.
·
In May
2002, the Office on Early Care and Education Services in coordination with
the Office of the Mayor, completed and submitted a project questionnaire application
that was requested from United States Congressman Mike Honda on behalf of
the United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations. Proposed projects are to address specific ways of getting the general
public involved in Government sponsored programs. The City of San José completed and submitted
a Child Care Tax Credit Education and Support Program proposal that will increase
family awareness and use of both the State and Federal Child Care Tax Credit
options.
· The application submitted by the City of San José requested $99,350. Grant Award decisions will be made by June 2003.
· Councilmember Judy Chirco, the Early Care and Education Commission Liaison and the Mayor presented a proclamation dedicating April as the Month of the Young Child.
· The City held its 15th Annual Children’s Faire, “The Sky’s the Limit!” on Saturday, April 12, 2003. Everyone’s spirits were high in spite of heavy rain. Mayor Ron Gonzales and Councilmembers Williams and Cortese presented the Outstanding Contributor to Child Care Awards and recognized the first annual recipient of the George R. Howard Memorial Award for outstanding volunteerism in the service of young children and their families.
· The San José Early Care and Education Commission (formerly the Child Care Commission) hosted a Public Hearing on May 22, 2003, to present the Early Care and Education Strategic Work Plan and to hear public input regarding the impact the State’s budget crisis is having on child care.
Strategic Goal Area IV: Increase political and community advocacy
for Early Care and Education.
· The Early Care and Education Commission requested support from the Mayor and City Council to:
* Support SB127 and SB197 sponsored by Senator Barbara Boxer
* Oppose the (California) Governor’s Realignment of Child Care out of the Department of Education
* Support Smart Start San José Program partners scheduled in Cycle I to be funded by the Redevelopment Agency
Strategic Goal Area V:
Integrate the Early Care and Education Plan with local, State, &
National Initiatives in order to leverage and increase resources and ensure a
comprehensive service delivery system.
· City staff in coordination with the Office of the Mayor, completed a proposal requesting $750,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services that would support implementation of the City’s strategic work plan.
· Completed and submitted an overview of Smart Start San José strategy to be distributed at the Conference of Mayors that was held in May 2003.
· Participated in the Financing and Business Resource Faire hosted by the Early Education Local Planning Council and the Local Investments in Child Care on March 8, 2003.
· City staff is working with the Santa Clara County Partnership for School Readiness. The purpose of this collaborative is to link and leverage organizations and resources that target children ages 0-6 years of age.
· Staff continues to align its current strategies with other community-based initiatives such as: SNI, First Five Santa Clara Valley, Evergreen Valley High School, the Local Child Care Planning Council, San José/Evergreen Community Colleges, and the Early Childhood Institute for Professional Development-WestEd.
COORDINATION
This report was prepared in coordination with the City Attorney’s Office, the Budget Office and the San Jose Redevelopment Agency.
CONCLUSION
In this economic climate of budget reductions, Early Care and Education Services staff continues its work in realizing the City’s vision that all children enter school with the foundation needed for academic and social success. These times will call for creative efforts in the areas of seeking outside funding sources, working collaboratively, and expanding professional development opportunities for early care and education teachers and service providers.
SARA L. HENSLEY
Director of Parks, Recreation
and Neighborhood Services