DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Bruck, CEO
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Competitive Grants
SUMMARY:
This item includes a briefing and Board discussion of Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants submissions to include the staff recommendation to fund 15 organizations for a total of $4.2 million, and award contract templates with anticipated Board approval on April 5, 2016; Agencies and Citizens to be Heard; and a Board work session/discussion of grants.
This Board/Work Session is designed to allow for agency feedback. The Board will consider the awardees and the contract templates during the April 5, 2016 Board meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants were approved during the original vote in 2012. The vision for these grants was to provide additional full-day and/or enhanced prekindergarten services in existing programs for 1,700 students per year. The RFP for the Competitive Education Grants for Pre-K Four Programs was released on November 6, 2015 and responses were due on December 18, 2015. A total of 23 entities submitted responsive applications to be considered for grant funding.
ISSUE:
To achieve the goal of increasing access to quality prekindergarten programs, Pre-K 4 SA's Competitive Grants will fund projects to expand or enhance educational opportunities for four-year-olds in San Antonio, especially programs that target underserved students. Funding will be distributed between three groups: 1) public and charter schools, 2) private and parochial schools, and 3) childcare centers.
In order to award funding in these three categories, Pre-K 4 SA conducted a multi-stage evaluation process to review, score, and recommend applicants for funding:
1) Evaluation Committees: Three committees of education experts and community leaders were assembled to evaluate and score proposals in the public/charter, private/parochial, and childcare center categories.
2) Interviews...
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