DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Bruck, CEO
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Education Grants proposal and awards process
SUMMARY:
This item includes a briefing on the Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Education Grants proposal and awards process for the 2016 - 2017 academic year for San Antonio educators.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In November, 2012, the San Antonio voters approved a 1/8th of a cent sales tax to fund the Pre-K 4 SA Initiative which would address the provision of high quality prekindergarten education to four-year-olds through:
1. Four Model Centers serving 500 students each with full-day Pre-K instruction;
2. Professional development for Pre-K through third grade teachers; and
3. Competitive grant awards to local school districts and other education providers to educate an additional 1,700 students annually.
The vision for these Competitive Education grants was to provide additional full-day and/or enhanced prekindergarten services in existing programs for 1,700 students per year.
The Pre-K 4 SA Board of Directors approved the release of the Request for Proposals for Competitive Education Grants on Thursday, November 3, 2015. The Pre-K 4 SA Board provided policy direction and approved the awards process. The Request for Proposals was released on Friday, November 6, 2015.
ISSUE:
This item provides a briefing on the Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Education Grants proposal and awards process for the 2016 - 2017 academic year for San Antonio educators.
In order to achieve the goal of increasing access to quality prekindergarten programs, Pre-K 4 SA’s Competitive Education Grants will fund projects to expand or enhance educational opportunities for four-year-olds in San Antonio, especially programs that target underserved categories. Selected Competitive Education Grant awardees can serve this population through the following projects:
1) Expansion opportunities that may include but are not limited to: offering full day programs, extended day programs, and additional classrooms.
2) Enhancement opportunities that may include but are not limited to: improved curriculum/assessment, increased professional development opportunities, increased/improved parent involvement, and decreased class size or teacher to student ratio.
Pre-K 4 SA will fund $4.5 million in Competitive Education Grants for the 2016-2017 academic year. Funding will be distributed between three groups as directed by the Pre-K 4 SA Board of Directors: 1) public and charter schools, 2) private and parochial schools, and 3) childcare centers. Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Education Grant dollars will be distributed based on the proportion of students currently served in these categories in San Antonio.
In order to be eligible to receive Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Education Grant funding, applying entities must be located within and serve students who reside within San Antonio City limits, confirm that they are serving only pre-k 4 students, demonstrate that they are a high-quality program, utilize Pre-K 4 SA professional development as part of their plan, and must be willing to participate in a quality and outcome program evaluation.
Pre-K 4 SA released the Competitive Grants Request for Proposals on November 6, 2015. Responses are due no later than Friday, December 18. An external committee will begin evaluating the responses in January 2016, and staff will present this item for Pre-K 4 SA Board approval in March 2016. The external committee with the consent of the CEO will select final grantees. These recommendations will be made to the Pre-K 4 SA Board of Directors for their consideration and approval. Per the Pre-K 4 SA Bylaws and Governance Structure, City Council action is not required.
This briefing will be made to the full City Council on December 16, 2015.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Competitive Education Grants totaling up to $4.5 million will be funded solely by the Pre-K 4 SA 1/8 cent sales tax. The City’s General Fund nor any other City resources will be used for this grant program.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.