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:
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 …
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: …
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 …
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. …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 11, 2020 The Early Childhood Council (ECC) convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at City Hall. Board Members in Attendance: Chair Alvarez, Vice Chair McHorse, Members Gordon, Conlin, Burson, Hosking, Cortes-Castillo, Wren, Bliss Lima Staff in attendance: Rachel Farley, Estella Kirscht, Donna Sundstrom, Cindy Gamez, Michelle Rodriguez, Mary Jamsek CALL TO ORDER: Chair Alvarez called the Meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. INTRODUCTIONS - ECC members and guests introduced themselves CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: Amy Kidwell – Effective March 1 Child Care Licensing has changed their name to Child Care Regulation; implemented new minimum standards curriculum, monthly training, 25 people training at a time but need space for additional training, with the idea to branch out to other areas; Unregulated Unit is working to send message to parents all over Texas about choosing regulated care, the State gave 28 positions across the state, with 23 already filled and have 5 more to fill Paola Ferate-Soto with Austin Public Library will pass on contact info for parent support specialists in schools to Chair Alvarez; asked about an interpreter for the April 1 meeting; Rachel Farley will ask Clerk’s Office for interpreter support DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST – N/A 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Conlin motioned and Member McHorse seconded to approve the January 8, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes with no changes; minutes were approved unanimously. 2. PRESENTATION a. Success by 6 (SX6) Leadership Team early childhood policy agenda- Brooke Freeland, Consultant, United Way for Greater Austin- explained policy proposals aligned with Strategic Direction 2023, Travis County strategic plan, and 2-Gen strategic plan. Budgetary items proposed: o Add a full time employee focused on early childhood at Austin Public Health- early childhood has been understaffed for over 20 years o Preserve funding to AISD for Parent Support Specialists to support families and parents in 60 Title I schools, primarily elementary schools; AISD funds half, City funds other half o Manana Fund additional $3 million in new tax revenue to early childhood and other initiatives Non-budgetary items proposed o Encourage AISD to allocate funding to Pre-K teaching assistants to reduce teacher:student ratios o Economic Development Corporations (EDC)- opportunities for public-private partnerships to create revenue; City could purchase and rehab buildings; EDC could generate funds for early childhood education; City has hired a consultant to explore the possibilities o …
EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020 8:30AM CITY HALL, BOARD AND COMMISSION ROOM #1101 301 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. INTRODUCTIONS 2. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST 3. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed three minutes to address their concerns. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 13, 2019 regular meeting minutes 5. PRESENTATION a. Briefing on Land Development Code (LDC) Revision- Annick Beaudet, Assistant Director for Long Range Planning and Traffic Management, Austin Transportation Department/Co-lead LDC Revision 6. NEW BUSINESS AND POSSIBLE ACTIONS: a. Consider action on recommendations related to the Land Development Code b. Chair and Vice Chair updates, Chair Raul Alvarez and Vice Chair Cathy McHorse i. Timeline for fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget recommendations to Council ii. Commissions holding budget community engagement meetings iii. Saturday, February 22, at City Hall, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.- Budget Workshop for Boards and Commissions members iv. ECC representative to attend Joint Inclusion Committee meetings c. Policy work group updates, Anna Lisa Conlin and Cathy McHorse i. Consider action on FY 2021 budget recommendation requesting the City fund an additional full-time Early Childhood position at Austin Public Health ii. Consider action on recommendations requesting that related Commissions, including the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission and the African American Resource Advisory Commission, make budget recommendations to Council requesting the City fund an additional full-time Early Childhood position d. Community Partnership and Engagement work group updates e. Success By 6 Coalition leadership team updates, Mary Jane Burson and Cathy McHorse 7. STAFF BRIEFING a. Rachel Farley, Austin Public Health i. ECC meeting locations ii. Dove Springs Health Center and Child Care Center 8. RELATED GROUPS (Only 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 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Next Meeting- 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 12, 2020, Location is TBD (not at City Hall) b. February 12- Success By 6 Leadership Team presentation on early childhood policy agenda c. Possible presentations to schedule: Family Connects Head Start/Early Head Start Austin ISD teen parent program and child care centers 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 …
