Preschool Benefits Preschool benefits (academically and socially) all children, but may be particularly valuable for children ● from poor or disadvantaged families. ● Dual language learners can increase English-language proficiency which in turn supports improved self regulation. Preschool provides all children with opportunities to learn to interact with a diverse group of peers, to ● participate in group activities, and to listen and follow directions--all necessary skills for successful participation in school.. Longitudinal studies suggest that there are long-term benefits in terms of social adjustment, reduced ● criminality, stable relationships and work history for preschool participants. “Investments in high -quality early childhood education and care support our current workforce (working parents) and strengthen business today while building the workforce we'll depend on tomorrow and for decades to come.” US Chamber of Commerce
FSC Timeline Skyline CAP announced in July 2018 that the Rappahannock County Head Start Program would no longer be funded. F uture 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 School Year School Year Years School Year RCPS/CCLC will ● ● State freezes apply for next CCA funding, but RCPS/CCLC form RCPS receives ● ● round of MDG reopens VPI FSC partnership MDG & PDG funding in ● Planning for to serve 26 funds “to November 2020 enrollment children increase access begins ● Rapp Co BOS to preschool” ● CCLC will approves $150k RCPS/CCLC ● carryover just of funds share enrollment $48,485 in MDG ● CCLC accepts 28 funds children
FSC: Program Successes ● 54 FSC children served at CCLC in addition to 42 preschoolers served at RCPS 4 Latino children from non-English speaking household ● enrolled at CCLC ● 10 children referred for early intervention services to RCPS; 2 children referred to CCLC for inclusive services ● RCPS provides transportation to/from CCLC--the biggest barrier to preschool participation ● RCPS provides speech & language and behavioral support at CCLC Rappahannock County is serving the same number of preschoolers with MDG funds as United Way of SW Virginia (Pulaski,Giles, Floyd & Montgomery Counties)
FSC: Program Challenges ● Classroom sizes are still too large with an average of 18.5 children across the three preschool classrooms ● CCLC experienced more children with behavioral issues this year resulting in additional staff and training expenses ● MDG funds of $100,000 covered tuition costs for only 13 of the 28 children accepted for the 2019-20 school year. CCLC subsidized the remaining 15 children in the current school year. ● Without an additional (and reliable) source of subsidy for low-income families, CCLC and other providers cannot continue to grow.
Years 1 & 2: FSC Revenue Revenue Total = $260,000 Revenue Total = $287,000
Years 1 & 2: FSC Averaged Expenses CCLC’s published tuition rate for full -time preschool is $853 monthly- -or just over $10,000 annually. This rate helps support our families, but covers just 61% of annual expenses. ● VA Licensing requires a 1:8 ratio for preschool classrooms. In both years of FSC operation, CCLC has employed 6 staff in 2 classrooms to serve all of our preschool children.. Additionally, in Year 1 CCLC employed a Family Support Coordinator ● Program expenses include classroom materials and teacher training ● Operating expenses include utilities, license and food expense
Public Child Care Funding Sources ● Federal Head Start Program Federal Child Care Development Block Grant ● (CCBG) provides Child Care Assistance funding to working parents based on household size and income. Virginia has a “child target” for each CCLC participates in the USDA Food Program county. Rappahannock currently has 32 slots all and is a Virginia DSS subsidy provider. Both of which are in use. sources of revenue supplement grant and Federal Child Care Food Program provides funding ● donor funds to cover operating expenses and for licensed child care providers offering tuition discounts. breakfast, lunch, and snacks to children. Virginia Preschool Initiative provides funds to ● support preschool for “at risk” children. Rappahannock County is in the Governor’s budget for $52,000 this year.
Head Start Eligibility ● Head Start funds are provided to states to provide early childhood education to the most vulnerable children ages 0-5. “ Based on community needs Most Head Start grants require a Community Action Program to act as ● and other factors, the grantee the grantee. The grantee is the only party with appeal rights in the made the determination to event of a dispute. close the classroom where Head Start services were being Children who are homeless, in foster care or receiving SSI; children ● provided by its partner (RCPS).” with a documented disability; or, families receiving or eligible for TANF are automatically eligible for Head Start admission. Nicholas Vucik, January 16, 2019, responding on behalf of ACF to Sen ● Head Start grantees are required to provide an annual review of the Mark Warner’s office inquiry. enrollment and community data to determine whether eligibility requirements have been met. . Skyline CAP found Rappahannock County children enrolled in Head Start were too often financially ineligible, and concluded that eligible children were unlikely to be found given the county’s demographics.
Pros & Cons of Head Start PROS CONS ● Reliable funding stream ● Preschool Head Start Mixed-age classrooms provides $8,000 per child ● ● Case Management for year round care; Services average cost in VA is Home visits $10,500 ● ● Parenting Classes ● Head Start requires a BA- ● National Learning level teacher & case Community manager increasing ● Serves very needy families expenses ● HS Expansion grants are not routinely authorized
Recommendations 1. Support a second preschool classroom at RCPS increasing capacity to 30 children 2. Create a Preschool Set-Aside Fund for 2020/21 and future years. ● CCLC & RCPS together have served an average of 44 children for the past two years. ● For the 2020/21 school year, CCLC will carry over $48,485 of the Year 1 MDG grant. With a projected total of $112,050 of MDG funds available in Year 2, CCLC will have the capacity to provide services for 11 children (@ $10,000 per child) and will need $30,000 in funding to provide a preschool class of 14 children. MDG funding is not certain for the 2021/22 school year. Grant proposals are due in November ● 2020 and RCPS and CCLC anticipate submitting a joint proposal. Grant funding is for 2 years. ● Both Belle Meade and Hearthstone School are seeking to become licensed subsidy providers working with Virginia Quality. We anticipate both organizations participating in the 2021/22 preschool enrollment process.
Best Case Scenario: Budget if MDG Returns for SY 2021/22 & SY 2022/23 SY 2020/21 SY 2021/22 SY 2022/23 MDG Funds (Secured) $ 112,050 $ 109,150 $ 90,850 CCA Funds $ 9,600 $ 19,200 $ 28,880 Other $ $ 11,650 $ (donations/carryover/ grants) County Ask $ 30,000 $ $ 20,350 $ 151,650 $ 140,000 $140,000 Total
Worst Case Scenario: Budget if MDG Does Not Return for SY 2021/22 & SY 2022/23 SY 2021/22 SY 2022/23 CCA Funds $ 19,200 $ 28,800 Other $ 50,000 $ 50,000 (donations/carryover/ grants) County Ask $ 70,800 $ 61,200 Total $ 140,000 $140,000
Questions, Comments? For more information about CCLC, please go to: www.rappcclc.org See our daily program content on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildCareLearningCenter/ For more information about the benefits of preschool, please see: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/03/524907739/pre-k-decades-worth-of-studies-one-strong-message For more information about the National Chamber of Commerce’s position on quality childcare and preschool education, please see: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/early-childhood- education/the-business-case
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