Title
Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into a Cooperation Agreement or Agreements with the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers for the shared operation and administration of the City of Pittsburgh Child Care Quality Fund for a period of two (2) years from the opening of the fund, in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) and for the payment of the costs thereof.
Body
Whereas, Within the City of Pittsburgh approximately 18% of child care facilities have reached the high quality designation of STAR 3 or STAR 4 using Pennsylvania’s Quality Rating and Improvement System Keystone STARS. High quality facilities provide a stimulating, safe and nurturing environment for children which prepares them for school and to reach his or her full potential. Reaching the designation of high quality can be very cost prohibitive for child care facilities. It is especially difficult for programs that serve low and moderate income families where tuition costs may not cover the true cost of care. The City of Pittsburgh Child Care Quality Fund will provide grants to facilities that will increase the percentage high quality child care facilities.
Whereas, The Early Learning Resource Center will have Quality Coaches on staff that will interact on an ongoing basis with all registered child care facilities. These coaches will educate providers in the City when they meet with them about the quality fund and will help them to identify areas of their program that can be improved with the goal of moving lower quality facilities up to STAR 3 and 4. Quality Coaches will work with the child care facilities to create a written plan of improvement that will include specific Keystone STARS quality standards in order to apply for grant funding.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, are hereby authorized to enter into an Cooperation Agreement or Agreements with the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers for the shared operation and administration of the Child Care Quality Fund for a period of two (2) years from the opening of the fund, in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) and for the payment of the costs thereof.
Section 2. The authorized Agreement or Agreements shall be approved by the City Solicitor as to form and substance.
Section 3. The final language of the Cooperation Agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and Alliance for Infants and Toddlers shall require an advisory committee to monitor the Child Care Quality Fund. The advisory committee will be composed of representative’s city departments and subject matter experts from the City of Pittsburgh.