REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 9, 2025
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Contract with WestEd for the California Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Services Teaching Pyramid Training
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 4 to Contract No. 22-11 with WestEd, to provide the California Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Services Teaching Pyramid training, increasing the contract amount by $134,980, from $963,275 to $1,098,255, with no change to the contract term of January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2025.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Director, 383-2078)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The increased contract amount of $134,980 is 90% ($121,482) funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families grant funds and 10% ($13,498) funded by the California Department of Education. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2025-26 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Preschool Services Department (PSD) operates the Early Head Start, Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership, Head Start, State General Child Care and Development, and State Preschool programs. These programs provide education, health, nutrition, cognitive, social/emotional, and physical growth and development, and parent involvement services for children ages zero to five years with the overall goal of increasing family engagement and the school readiness of young children in economically disadvantaged families.
WestEd is designated by the State of California, Early Education and Support Division, as the sole authorized provider of California Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Services (CA SEFEL) Teaching Pyramid training. Teaching Pyramid is a systematic framework of evidence based, user friendly practices to help early childhood educators meet the needs of the growing number of children with challenging behaviors and mental health concerns. WestEd provides coaching, leadership facilitation, and exclusive training on advanced content of CA SEFEL.
Since January 2021, WestEd has trained PSD staff on how to support children with challenging behaviors and mental concerns. The training consists of leadership team development, professional development, document implementation, and classroom coaching and support. The training allows the PSD staff to better serve these children and their families. The recommended amendment will allow WestEd to continue providing CA SEFEL Teaching Pyramid training to new PSD staff and adds services to support the comprehensive professional development of the PSD educators, which include support to the trainers, and classroom coaching staff.
On November 13, 2020, the Purchasing Department approved noncompetitive Contract No. 4400016187 with WestEd to provide CA SEFEL services, in the amount of $193,475, for the period of January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
On January 11, 2022 (Item No. 20), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-11 (previously Contract No. 4400016187) with WestEd to provide CA SEFEL services, updating Section II - Contractor Responsibilities to expand regional teams, train a new cohort and follow up on previously trained cohorts, increasing the contract amount by $250,000, from $193,475 to $443,475, and extending the contract an additional year, for a total contract period of January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2023.
On June 13, 2023 (Item No. 48), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 22-11 with WestEd to provide CA SEFEL, increasing the contract amount by $403,300, from $443,475 to $846,775, and extending the contract an additional year, for a total contract period of January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2024.
On May 21, 2024 (Item No. 44), the Board approved Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. 22-11 with WestEd to provide CA SEFEL, increasing the contract amount by $116,500, from $846,775 to $963,275.
Approval of Amendment No. 4 will increase the funding for additional trainings during this contract period. Additional trainings include but are not limited to Training for Trainers, and Practice Based Coaching Institute for all newly hired Teacher III’s, Disabilities Specialists, and Behavior Specialists. A total of 26 staff will be completing these additional training courses. WestEd’s performance will continue to be monitored by a review of monthly reports to ensure compliance with the administrative, fiscal, and program requirements of the contract. WestEd will cooperate with San Bernardino County (County) in the monitoring and evaluation of this contract and comply with all established reporting requirements. The contract may be terminated without cause by the County with 30 days’ written notice.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on July 23, 2025; County Counsel (Sophie Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on July 23, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst, 386-0218) on August 19, 2025.