20201021-3b: Thanking Council for SAVES Child Care Support — original pdf
Recommendation
Early Childhood Council Homepage
Agenda — original pdf
Versión en español a continuación. Special Meeting of the Early Childhood Council September 18, 2020 Early Childhood Council to be held September 18, 2020, with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance by Thursday, September 17, 2020 by noon. All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the September 18, 2020, Early Childhood Council Meeting, residents must: •Email or call the board liaison at 512-663-2792 or Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov no later than noon the day before the meeting. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. • This meeting is not broadcast live. Reunión del Early Childhood Council, 18 de septiembre La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social. Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (antes del mediodía el jueves, 17 de septiembre). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los residentes deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en 512-663-2792 or Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el 17 de septiembre el día antes de la reunión). La información requerida es el nombre del orador, los números de artículo sobre los que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutrales, y un número de teléfono o dirección de correo electrónico. • Una vez que se haya llamado o enviado por correo electrónico una solicitud para hablar al enlace de la junta, los residentes recibirán un correo …
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Approved Minutes — original pdf
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL CALLED MEETING Friday, September 18, 2020 The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened on Friday, September 18, 2020. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Alvarez, Vice Chair McHorse, Members Bliss-Lima, Conlin, Cortes-Castillo, Gordon, Huston, and Paver Staff in attendance: Rachel Farley, Cindy Gamez, Michelle Rodriguez, Ashlee Kraus, Shay Breen CALL TO ORDER – Chair Alvarez called the meeting to order at 3:13 p.m. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from 6/10/2020 meeting The August 10, 2020 meeting minutes were approved by a vote of 7-0-0 with Member Cortes- Castillo off the dais 2. PRESENTATIONS: a. Economic Development Corporations - Matthew Kwatinetz, Q Partners Economic Development entities that function as inclusive growth organizations. People and businesses are not left behind as it grows. Intervenes to make what is needed (such as early childhood education, transportation, workforce training, fresh food, affordable housing, etc.) more accessible so that it is economically feasibility to living here. Makes sense to integrate early childhood education into the economic development entity because if functions as an equalizer for children, workers, and economy of the city. Mr. Kwatinetz has been working with the City on the creation of an Austin Public Development Corporation (APDC) which will function like a real estate developer that works for the people. The APDC was going to launch in March but timeline was slowed by the pandemic. Benefits- broader focus than most developers, more return on the public investment, the organization coordinates the needs, multi-use developments that can be used at all different times of day are more economically viable. The corporation functions as the developer, not as the operator of the businesses or organizations housed there (like child care program, retail space, art space, etc.). It speeds up the processes for real estate procurement and evaluations in collaboration with subject matter and service provider experts. Currently he is working with the City of New York to expand free Pre-K to all areas. Worked on geo-mapping needs, potential public spaces, resources. Conducted analysis of existing child care and schools and proposals to central storage and open up for program space. Partnered with the Department of Education on RFPs to child care programs to provide free Pre-K. The Corporation will be a 501c3 and a local government corporation that can blend governmental funding from all levels. Funds generate by one activity can be used to support another activity within one building or across …
Agenda — original pdf
Special Meeting of the Early Childhood Council August 10, 2020 Early Childhood Council to be held August 10, 2020, with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (by Sunday, August 9, 2020 at 12:00 noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Early Childhood Council Meeting, residents must: •Email the board liaison at Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov or text or call her at 512-663-2792 no later than noon on Sunday, August 9 (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov by Noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •This meeting is not broadcast live. EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2020, 1:00 P.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from 6/10/2020 meeting 2. Moment of silence and words of remembrance for Jacquie Porter 3. PRESENTATION: Looking Ahead to the 87th Texas Legislature, City of Austin Intergovernmental Relations Officer, Brie L. Franco 4. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Chair updates, Raul Alvarez i. Discussion and possible action on nominations committee and officer ii. Representation on the Joint Inclusion Committee iii. Discussion and possible action on ECC Annual Internal Review election b. Policy Work Group Updates- Anna Lisa Conlin and Cathy McHorse i. Discussion and possible action on recommendation to Council about 5 key messages for families from the Success By 6 coalition ii. City of Austin investments in child care supports during coronavirus iii. Discussion and possible action on recommendation to Council regarding forthcoming staff response to Council resolution 20200729-089 c. Updates on Dove Springs Health …
Backup — original pdf
87TH STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Intergovernmental Relations Office – Brie L. Franco, Officer TEXAS LEGISLATURE INCREASINGLY FOCUSED ON CITIES Total Bills Introduced Total Bills Passed City-Related bills introduced City-Related bills passed Year 76th-1999 77th-2001 78th-2003 79th-2005 80th-2007 81st-2009 82nd-2011 83rd-2013 84th-2015 85th – 2017 5,813 5,612 5,633 5,512 6,241 7,464 5,938 5,950 6,476 6,800 1,622 1,601 1,384 1,389 1,481 1,459 1,379 1,437 1,329 1,208 1,230+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,200+ 1,500+ 1,500+ 1,900+ 1,900+ 2,500+ 86th – 2019 7,324 1,429 2,300+ 130+ 150+ 110+ 105+ 120+ 120+ 160+ 220+ 220+ 294 338 • 54 % more City- related bills were passed between 2015 and 2019 • 182 % more City – related bills were passed between 2009 and 2019 8/6/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 2 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: IGRO ROLE In the 86th session • 3,970 Bills/JR’s were filed in last 10 business days before filing deadline, March 8th. (54%). • 7,324 bills read and analyzed by IGRO. • Over 2,500 bills were determined by IGRO to affect cities. • 1,296 Bills/JR’s required analysis/action by departments and IGRO. 8/6/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 3 TREND: ANTI-CITY TONE: GOVERNOR ABBOTT "As opposed to the state having to take multiple rifle-shot approaches at overriding local regulations, I think a broad-based law by the state of Texas that says across the board, the state is going to pre-empt local regulations, is a superior approach“ * – Governor Greg Abbott, March 21, 2017 *Source: “Abbott wants "broad-based law" that pre-empts local regulations” Texas Tribune, March 21, 2017 Governor Greg Abbott in 2017 8/6/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 4 TREND: ANTI-CITY LEGISLATION: POST 85TH SPECIAL SESSION "Our cities are still controlled by Democrats…And where do we have all our problems in America? Not at the state level run by Republicans, but in our cities that are mostly controlled by Democrat mayors and Democrat city council men and women. That's where you see liberal policies. That's where you see high taxes. That's where you see street crime." * -Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, 2017 Lt Governor Dan Patrick in 2016. Photo by Gage Skidmore. *Source: “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for "all our problems in America" Texas Tribune, AUG. 4, 2017 8/6/2020 87th Legislative Agenda 5 TREND: ANTI-CITY TONE: POST 86TH SESSION “Any mayor, county judge that was dumb ass enough to come meet with me, I told them with great clarity, my goal is for this to be the worst …
20200810-4bi: Five Key Messages for Families during COVID-19 — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council Recommendation Number: 20200810-4bi Five Key Messages for Families during COVID-19 WHEREAS, current challenges our community faces due to the COVID-19 public health pandemic are unprecedented; and WHEREAS, often-changing in messages to the community have created confusion and fear for families with young children; and WHEREAS the first five years of life are vitally important for healthy intellectual, physical, and social emotional development; and WHEREAS, the Success By 6 Coalition recommends five simple messages for parents and caregivers that can unite us in word, spirit, and a sense of community; and WHEREAS, these five messages represent a consensus of leaders in early childhood education; and WHEREAS, repetition and consistency help combat confusion and misinformation at a time when clarity is vital; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to share and amplify these five Key Messages for families with young children through all available channels including social media, council office communications, and communications from city staff. 1. Wear a mask every time you leave your home. If you must enter a public building such as a grocery store, try to keep the number of people with you to a minimum. Remember, kids under the age of two should NOT wear masks because of the risk of suffocation. 2. Sign up for Bright By Text for timely resources, simple encouragements, and supports for caregivers: http://www.bit.ly/SMARTATX 3. For the well-being of young children, keep home routines going as much as you can, include daily talking, playing, reading, and singing. 4. Fill out the Census at http://www.mycensus2020.gov/to ensure our community has the resources and representation we need for the next 10 years. 5. Call 2-1-1 or visit http://www.connectatx.org/ to access information about basic needs, including food, childcare, mental health, physical safety, and more. Date of Approval: 8/10/2020 Record of the vote: 7-0-0 Attest:
20200810-4biii: Support for action on response to Council Resolution 20200729-089 — original pdf
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Early Childhood Council Recommendation Number: 20200810-4biii Support for action on response to Council Resolution 20200729-089 WHEREAS, on July 29, 2020, City Council adopted resolution 20200729-089 directing the City Manager to collaborate with the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Child Care Task Force to report on the state of child care and supervision and support for children and youth in our community and include actionable recommendations by August 13, 2020 to address the current and imminent challenges; and WHEREAS, the resolution directs the City Manager to collaborate with local school districts to make City facilities such as libraries and recreation centers available to local school districts and working families for the duration of virtual instruction due to COVID-19 should that be helpful; and WHEREAS, Austin Public Health staff and members of the Task Force are finalizing that report which, as directed by Council, will include recommended measures for stabilizing the local child care system and actions that may be taken at the local, state, and federal levels, including an assessment of the viability of establishing a Child Care Stabilization Fund that may award immediate and ongoing stabilization grants and other solutions to increase equitable access to quality child care; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Early Childhood Council encourages the Austin City Council to support the recommendations in the forthcoming report to Council in response to Council Resolution 20200739-089 and act in a timely manner to fund and implement them. Date of Approval: 8/10/2020 Record of the vote: 7-0-0 Attest:
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Agenda — original pdf
Regular Meeting of the Early Childhood Council WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2020 8:30 - 9:30 AM Early Childhood Council to be held 6/10/2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Tuesday, June 9, 2020 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the June 10, 2020, Early Childhood Council Meeting, residents must: • Email both the board liaison at Cynthia.Gamez@austintexas.gov or call Cindy Gamez at 512-972-6216, no later than noon on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Cynthia.Gamez@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020, 8:30 A.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from 5/6/2020 special called meeting 2. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Child Care Task Force- Cathy McHorse and Anna Lisa Conlin b. Coronavirus-related supports for child care (including, but not limited to, Child Care Relief Fund, Housing and Urban Development funds, support for home child care providers)- Cindy Gamez c. Policy and funding options for supporting child care over the long-term- Policy Work d. Success by 6 Coalition policy advocacy work- Cathy McHorse Group members 5. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Child care facility work 6. RELATED GROUP UPDATES (As needed) a. Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children b. Child Care Regulation c. Workforce Solutions Capital Area FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT ______________________________________________________________________________ The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon …
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Agenda — original pdf
Special Meeting of the Early Childhood Council Wednesday, May 6, 2020, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Early Childhood Council to be held May 6, 2020, with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Tuesday, May 5, by Noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Early Childhood Council Meeting, residents must: Call or email the board liaison, Rachel Farley, at 512-663-2792 or Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov no later than noon on Tuesday, May 5. The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. Handouts or other information may be emailed to Rachel.Farley@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020, 10:00 A.M. VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES from 3/11/2020 regular meeting 2. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS a. Updates on the Austin-Travis County COVID-19 Child Care Task Force- Cathy and Anna Lisa b. Consider recommendation on use of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for support for child care c. Consider recommendation on Council Item 20200507-23 resolution regarding development of a program to sustain small and local non-profits and businesses with federal pandemic relief funds d. Consider recommendation to maintain funding for AISD Parent Support Specialists at the current level 5. STAFF BRIEFINGS a. Update on Dove Springs Health Center 6. RELATED GROUP UPDATES (As needed) a. Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children b. Child Care Regulation c. Workforce Solutions Capital Area FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Possible presentations to schedule: …
20200506-2b: Recommendations for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Coronavirus Response Funds — original pdf
Recommendation
20200506-2c: Development of CARES Funding Program to include a $1 million Child Care Support Fund — original pdf
Recommendation
20200506-2d: Preserve Funding for Austin Independent School District Parent Support Specialists — original pdf
Recommendation
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Agenda — original pdf
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 8:30 a.m. City Hall, Board and Commission Room #1101 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas AGENDA Members: Raul Alvarez, Chair (Rentería, D3) Cathy McHorse, Vice Chair (Tovo) Johanna Hosking (Adler) Eliza Gordon (Harper-Madison, D1) Matt Worthington (Garza, D2) Sebastian Wren (Casar, D4) Aletha Huston (Kitchen, D5) Rebecca Harrison (Flannigan, D6) Rhonda Paver (Pool, D7) Ashley Bliss Lima (Ellis, D8) Mary Jane Burson (Alter, D9) Ami Cortes-Castillo (Austin ISD) Anna Lisa Conlin (Travis County) CALL TO ORDER CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 8, 2020 regular meeting minutes 2. PRESENTATION a. Success By 6 (SX6) Leadership Team early childhood policy agenda- Brooke Freeland, Consultant, United Way for Greater Austin 3. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS: a. Vote to recommend Council add a representative from the ECC to the Joint Inclusion b. Policy work group update on boards and commissions budget community engagement c. Vote to recommend Council encourage Austin ISD (AISD) to fund teaching assistants for Pre- d. Vote to recommend Council direct the estimated $3 million in new property tax revenue from the “Mañana Fund” to early childhood initiatives e. Vote to recommend Council maintain funding for Parent Support Specialists within AISD at Committee meetings K classrooms the current level f. Community Partnership and Engagement work group next steps g. Success By 6 Mayor and Council office visits about early childhood issues h. Week of the Young Child updates (April 13-17) 4. STAFF BRIEFING- Rachel Farley, Austin Public Health a. Time, location for April 1, 2020, and September 9, 2020, ECC meetings b. Updates on child care centers on City of Austin leased/owned properties 5. RELATED GROUPS (As needed) a. Austin Chapter of the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children b. Child Care Licensing c. Child Inc. d. E3 Alliance e. Workforce Solutions FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Next Meeting- 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2020, Uphaus Early Childhood Center, 5200 Freidrich Lane, Austin, TX 78744- Presentation by Neighborhood Housing and Community Development; last opportunity for ECC to make budget-related recommendations Possible presentations to schedule: City of Austin Consultant exploring Economic Development Corporations Family Connects Head Start/Early Head Start Austin ISD teen parent program and …
Backup — original pdf
EARLY CHILDHOOD ONLY 34 % of children under four from households with low income are receiving any early learning services at all. There is a gap between our community needs and service capacity. We have many more children who are at risk and eligible for early childhood services than our funding and programs can serve. 90% of children under six from households experiencing poverty are children of color. FUNDING GAP Austin/Travis County investments are lagging those of other communities. SX6 AND 2-GEN BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS Aligning with City Strategic Direction 2023 Goals • Hire one new FTE staff member at Austin Public Health to support Early Childhood initiatives. ($95,000 annual cost) o Bolsters early childhood integration within all relevant city departments including Quality of Life Commissions (Parks and Rec, Library, the Health Department and Schools, etc.) to improve coordination, planning service implementation and capacity building. o Demonstrates a strong public/private partnership by helping the community meet a required matching grant as part of $425,000 philanthropic investment by the Pritzker Children’s Learning Initiative. o From 1995 – 1999, the City had three staff members focused on early childhood. In 2000, budget cuts eliminated two of those positions. Since 2000, only one staff member – a program coordinator – has focused on early childhood. • Preserve Parent Support Specialists (PSS) funding within AISD ($1,290,000 annual cost) o PSS empower parents to become active participants in the education of their children. They develop and promote inclusive Family-Friendly Schools. Instrumental in creating a strong connection between the school, City and County departments, and community service providers using a coordinated integrated services model approach that improves the quality of life of families. o In 2018–2019, PSS provided services to 11,223 students’ parents, families or guardians, of whom 66% had students at elementary grade levels. o PSS organize and/or conduct classes, trainings, and workshops to support parent education and life skills. Last year, AISD families participated in 3,339 of these events at 70 schools. o Using a combination of federal, district, and city funding, AISD employs PSS in 60 Title I schools. The majority are elementary schools. • Recommend the estimated $3M in new property tax revenue from the “Manana Fund” be directed to early childhood initiatives as outlined in Resolution #20190620-089. o Funding will help scale proven and effective programs aimed at improving access and quality and advance coordination and navigation for families and service providers. …
20200311-3a: Encourage representation from the Early Childhood Council on the Joint Inclusion Committee — original pdf
Recommendation
20200311-3c: Encourage Austin ISD to Fund Pre-K Teaching Assistants — original pdf
Recommendation