DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Teachers 4 Toddlers Program
SUMMARY:
Consideration of a request for Board approval and ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pre-K 4 SA and the Beldon Family Foundation for the implementation of the “Teachers 4 Toddlers Program (T4T Program)”, which aims to address the critical shortage of highly skilled infant-toddler teachers in San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Using a shared services model that has proven successful in other parts of the nation, Pre-K 4 SA and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County are working with a coalition of San Antonio child care providers to leverage automation of services and economies of scale to build a sustainable business model that allows child care providers to invest in quality improvements. Developing and retaining skilled teachers is a key goal of the Shared Services Coalition. While Pre-K 4 SA offers free training, including a course that allows child care teachers to obtain a nationally-recognized teaching credential, providers are unable to cover costs associated with having teachers attend training or offer incentives to retain teachers once they are credentialed.
The “T4T Program” will help to solve this problem by reaching two goals in its first phase: 1) Supporting a cohort of childcare workers from the Shared Services Coalition child development centers to obtain the Infant/Toddler Child Development Associates (CDA) Credential; and 2) Retaining cohort participants as infant/toddler teachers for at least 1 year after credentialing.
The “T4T Program” builds on existing efforts by Pre-K 4 SA to increase the quality of child care in San Antonio. The program accomplishes this by addressing the critical shortage of highly skilled infant-toddler teachers in San Antonio through creating a career pathway that allows child care teachers to obtain teaching credentials and earn a stipend for serving as infant-toddler teachers in child care centers serving low-income children.
This Memorandum of Understanding will allow Pre-K 4 SA and the Beldon Family Foundation to establish the “T4T Program” through a $25,000 grant contribution from the Beldon Family Foundation. Pre-K 4 SA will administer and provide oversight of the program including establishing policies and procedures, executing application documents signed by candidates and child development centers, providing financial and accounting services, conducting program evaluation, and issuing program reports. Pre-K 4 SA will also provide the credentialing course and credential exam preparation.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the Board’s approval and ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pre-K 4 SA and the Beldon Family Foundation for the implementation of the “T4T Program”, which aims to address the critical shortage of highly skilled infant-toddler teachers in San Antonio.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the Board does not approve the Memorandum of Understanding, Pre-K 4 SA will not be able to establish the “T4T Program” to address the critical shortage of highly skilled infant-toddler teachers in San Antonio.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes Pre-K4 SA the acceptance and appropriation of a grant from the Beldon Family Foundation in the amount of $25,000.
RECOMMENDATION:
Pre-K 4 SA staff recommends Board approval and ratification of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pre-K 4 SA and the Beldon Family Foundation for the implementation of the “Teachers 4 Toddlers Program”.