To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Contract # 39-998-1 (CSB) Apply and accept funding from the California Department of Education for the California State Preschool Program
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Department Director, or designee, to apply for, accept and execute the Continued Funding Application including any modifications or extensions thereof pursuant to State guidelines, with the California Department of Education, in the amount not to exceed $22,529,130 to provide state preschool services to eligible children and families for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
If awarded, the Employment and Human Services Department will receive $22,529,130, which will be 100% State, all of which will be budgeted in FY 2025-26. There is no County match required.
BACKGROUND:
California State Preschool Program (CSPP) and the California Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Support (CPKS), funded by the California Department of Education (CDE), are state programs that promote the school readiness of children ages three (3) through five (5) years old from low-income families. CPKS funds are an expenditure-only agreement that supplements CSPP total funds, of which $22,501,630 of the funding is for CSPP and $27,500 is for the Prekindergarten and Family Literacy Program (CPKS). CSPP provides a learning environment that supports children’s growth in the following domains: language and literacy; cognition and general knowledge; physical development and health; social and emotional development; and approaches to learning. Children and families can access these through various service models, including directly operated centers or community partner schools/centers that children attend part or full day.
On December 12, 2023, the Board approved the Continued Funding Application (CFA) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (C.53).
On September 2, 2024, CDE issued Management Bulleting 24-09 notifying CSPP Executive Officers and Program Directors of the Continued Funding Application for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Per California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5CCR), Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services is submitting a CFA request from the Child Development Division. By authorizing the signature of Employment and Human Services Director, the application will meet all requirements for submission of FY 2025-2026 CFA to CDE.
Approval of this staff report will allow the continued provision of the CSPP services to program eligible children and families
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Should the proposed action not be approved by the Board of Supervisors, the County will not be able to receive funding to operate California State Preschool Programs for eligible children and families in Contra Costa County.
CHILDREN’S IMPACT STATEMENT:
This staff report supports three of the community outcomes established in the Children’s Report Card: 1) “Children Ready for and Succeeding in School” 3) “Families that are Economically Self-sufficient”: and 4) Families that are Safe, Stable, and nurturing” by offering comprehensive services, including high quality early childhood education, nutrition, and health services to low-income children throughout Contra Costa County.