Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 8, 2026 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026 The Early Childhood Council convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 301 West Second Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Hamilton called the Early Childhood Council Meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Hamilton, Vice Chair Menard, and Members Alvizo, Cárdenas, Freeland, Latham-Sikes, McCollum, McIllwain, McNary, and Rivas Board Members in Attendance Remotely: Member Navarro PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Barbara Grant Boneta, representing the Success By 6 Coalition, provided public comment on upcoming event for the Week of the Young Child and the April coalition meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Early Child Council Regular Meeting on March 11, 2026. The minutes from the Early Childhood Council regular meeting on March 11, 2026, were approved on Member Latham-Sikes’s motion, Member McNary’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Member McCollum was absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Conduct officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair. Vice Chair Menard named Dr. Choquette Hamilton and Craig McNary as nominees for Chair and Brooke Freeland as nominee for Vice Chair. Dr. Choquette Hamilton was approved as Chair of the Early Childhood Council for the term beginning on May 1, 2026, and ending April 30, 2027, on Vice Chair Menard’s motion and Member McNary’s second, on an 11-0 vote. 1 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 8, 2026 Brooke Freeland was approved as Vice Chair of the Early Childhood Council for the term beginning on May 1, 2026, and ending April 30, 2027, on Vice Chair Menard’s motion and Member McNary’s second, on an 11-0 vote. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. Discuss City of Austin social service contract rubric. Members discussed City Council Resolution No. 20260226-056 regarding a social service contract rubric. Members agreed on a working group to meet to discuss potential social service contract recommendations for the Early Childhood Council to consider at a future meeting. Members Navarro, Cárdenas, and Freeland volunteered to meet to discuss a recommendation, and to invite community members representing the Success By 6 Coalition, the Ready Families Collaborative, and One Voice Central Texas to participate in the discussion. Raising Travis County implementation updates from Hilda Rivas, Travis County Health & Human Services Research & Planning Division Senior Planner. Hilda Rivas provided updates on Raising Travis County (RTC) community engagement opportunities and the impact to date of the RTC collaboration with Workforce Solutions. Updates from the March Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting. Member Alvizo provided updates on the Joint Inclusion Committee meeting and the JIC budget recommendations. Austin Independent School District (AISD) Pre-K updates from Yvette Cárdenas, AISD Executive Director of Academic Programs. Yvette Cárdenas provided updates on Pre-K applications received by the district since April 1. STAFF BRIEFINGS 7. Updates from related local early childhood groups such as Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children, Success By 6 Coalition, Child Care Regulation, and Workforce Solutions Capital Area. Caitlin Oliver shared information about a City proclamation for the Week of the Young Child. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Members listed the following future agenda items: • Austin ISD Pre-K updates • Presentation and discussion about Austin ISD Head Start • Presentation about United Way’s Early Care & Education Landscape Survey • Presentation about the City of Austin’s Quality of Life Studies Chair Hamilton adjourned the meeting at 9:47 a.m. without objection. 2 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, April 8, 2026 The minutes were approved at the May 13, 2026, meeting on Member McNary’s motion, Member Navarro’s second on a 9-0 vote. 3