DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Sarah Baray, Ph.D.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Competitive Grants
SUMMARY:
This item includes a staff briefing and Board discussion of Pre-K 4 SA Competitive Grants awards to include staff recommendation to fund nine organizations with a cumulative value of up to $2.7 million with anticipated Board approval on June 16, 2020.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
To achieve the goal of systematically creating a comprehensive, high-quality early learning system in San Antonio, 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 among two categories: 1) public and charter schools and 2) private and parochial schools.
The RFP for the Competitive Education Grants for Pre-K Four Programs was released on December 20, 2019 and responses were due on February 7, 2020. A total of 10 entities submitted applications to be considered for grant funding.
In order to consider funding awards 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: Two committees of education experts and community leaders were assembled to evaluate and score proposals in the public/charter and private/parochial categories.
2. Interviews: Interviews were conducted with the finalists that were recommended by the evaluation committees.
3. COVID-19 Check-in: To address the changed environment in which applicants are serving students, Pre-K 4 SA conducted phone calls with each of the respondents to discuss feasibility and applicability of proposed projects. Each of the respondents felt the proposed projects are still applicable and can adapt should current social distancing recommendations/requirements continue into the new school year.
4. Executive Committee: Based on recommendations from the evaluation committees and results from the interviews and check-ins, the Executive Committee finalized the list of awardees and funding recommendations.
Based on this evaluation process, Pre-K 4 SA staff has identified 9 organizations across the two categories to recommend for funding at a value of $2.7 million. The Board will vote to approve the awardees during the June 16, 2020 Board meeting.
This item will contain a briefing on the awarded organizations and a Board discussion/work session of the recommended proposals.
ISSUE:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is a briefing for informational purposes only.