DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
2018-2020 Competitive Grants RFP
SUMMARY:
This item includes a briefing and potential approval of Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants Request for Proposals for San Antonio education entities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Pre-K 4 SA competitive grants were approved during the original vote in 2012. The first Request for Proposals was released in November 2015 and awarded $4.2 million to fifteen agencies for the 2016-2018 grant cycle. Renewals granted for Year 2 of the distribution totaled an additional $4.2 million. The grants are awarded in two-year cycles, and Pre-K 4 SA is releasing a new Request for Proposals for the 2018-2020 term.
ISSUE:
Pre-K 4 SA intends to award approximately $4.2 million in grant awards per year to education entities across San Antonio with the goal of improving program and teacher quality through educator training, purchase of instructional materials, and provision of services aligned with best practices in early childhood education. The Pre-K 4 SA Grants Program seeks proposals that support the following goals:
1. Equitable Access: To support equitable access to high quality early learning across the City by increasing the number of accredited child development centers.
2. Instructional Quality: To improve the instructional quality in early childhood classrooms a) by increasing the number of teachers with a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, b) through the programmatic use of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), and c) by providing targeted professional learning aligned with the Pre-K 4 SA High Quality Impact Pyramid.
3. Student Outcomes: To improve student learning and growth along the Pre-K through third grade continuum through common assessment and student outcome data sharing.
4. Pre-K - 3rd Alignment: To align curriculum standards from Pre-K through third grade by providing professional learning for district and program leaders.
5. Family Engagement: To support Pre-K through third grade learning by developing a welcoming environment and a sense of belonging for families and communities.
6. High Quality Impact Pyramid: To increase the quality components of early education programs based on the High Quality Impact Pyramid.
Eligible applicants may apply in the following four categories:
A. Public ISDs/Charter Schools
B. Accredited Private/Parochial Schools
C. Child Development Center 1: Licensed centers with accreditations including NAEYC, NAC, NECPA, Texas Rising Star 4, Texas Rising Star 3, or other national accreditations
D. Child Development Center 2: Licensed centers with Texas Rising Star 2 accreditation or unaccredited centers seeking to become accredited
The department plans to release the Competitive Grants Request for Proposals in September 2017. A committee of Pre-K 4 SA staff and external reviewers will evaluate the responses, and finalists will be recommended for approval from the Board of Directors during March 2018. Contracts for awarded agencies will begin July 1, 2018.
This item will include an overview of the RFP timeline, a description of the grant program goals, eligibility criteria for the four categories, the evaluation committee structure, and details on the evaluation criteria.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the Request for Proposals is not approved at the August Board of Directors meeting, the timeline for the RFP process will be delayed. Selected candidates need time to plan and budget the funds into their FY 2019 budget, so delaying the timeline will constrain the ability to use grant funds as effectively as possible.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
Pre-K 4 SA staff recommends that the Board of Directors approve the Request for Proposals for Pre-K 4 SA competitive grants.