City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 5, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Plan For The Use Of Funds Allocated In The FY14 Budget Process To Address The Child Day Care Fee System Waiting List.
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ISSUE: Request for approval of a preliminary plan to begin the process of serving families on the Child Day Care Fee System (Fee System) waiting list.
BACKGROUND: On May 6, 2013, City Council allocated $950,000 in contingent reserves for FY 2014 to be used to clear the Fee System waiting list. During the add/delete process, individual council members suggested that in addition to clearing the Fee System waiting list, staff work with community partners to develop a comprehensive plan for serving at-risk children under the age of five. Staff recommends that the process of serving families from the waiting list begin on July 1 to ensure that as many children as possible have access to child care services in FY14 until a full study of resources can be made.
During the summer of 2013, staff will meet with community partners to coordinate the provision of early childhood education services to families and address: 1) an assessment of city-wide capacity (number of slots) in child care programs; 2) the impact of space issues; 3) a review of the variety of programs available to meet families' needs; 4) an assessment of the adequacy of funding; and 5) a review and cross check of waiting lists to identify potential duplication. Primary partners include private child care centers, Alexandria Head Start and Early Head Start, Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) preschool classrooms. A report on this assessment will be brought to City Council in the fall.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1) A...
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