REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 17, 2024
FROM
ARLENE MOLINA, Assistant Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Agreement with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Revenue Agreement with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools providing incentive stipends for teaching staff participating in the Quality Counts California Workforce Pathways Stipend program, up to the amount of $600,000, and administrative costs up to the amount of $80,000, for a total not to exceed amount of $680,000 for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.
(Presenter: Arlene Molina, Assistant Director, 383-2078)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Revenue Agreement (Agreement) with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) is 100% State funded through the California Department of Education. The Preschool Services Department (PSD) is not requesting adjustments to its 2024-25 budget at this time but may return to the Board to request such adjustments if necessary. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
PSD operates the Head Start, Early Head Start, State Preschool, and the General Child Care and Development (CCTR) programs and serves more than 2,000 children in 31 locations through direct services throughout San Bernardino County. The programs provide education, health, cognitive, social/emotional, physical growth and development, and parent involvement services for children ages 0 to 5 with the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in economically, disadvantaged families.
Under the terms of the recommended Agreement, SBCSS will provide stipends for teaching staff to retain employees who meet the minimum criteria for the Quality Counts California (QCC) Workforce Pathways Stipend program. Teaching staff must work directly and consistently with subsidized children in a classroom or virtual setting at least 15 hours per week, for at least nine of the last 12 months working within the Child Development/Early Childhood Education (ECE) learning model to qualify for the stipend.
PSD receives revenue agreements from SBCSS for teaching staff incentive stipends in July of each fiscal year. However, the amount of these revenue agreements is not determined until the required QCC applications are completed. These applications are completed by applicants electronically at the California ECE Workforce Registry website.
Last year, approximately 75 PSD staff who worked with California State Preschool Program eligible children qualified for the stipend. The program was initiated by the State of California to encourage teachers working in state-funded child development programs to remain in the field of early childhood education and pursue further training and education. Retention of early childhood education staff benefits children enrolled in the State programs by offering a continuity of care with the same teacher from year to year.
On October 23, 2024, Human Services Administration, Contracts Unit, received notification of the Agreement. This item is being presented at this time, as this is the first available date following the required fiscal, administrative, and legal reviews. Approval at this time will not impact PSD’s services and activities, as it is anticipated that the referenced QCC Workforce Pathways stipends will be distributed in August 2025.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on November 13, 2024; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 14, 2024; Finance (Allegra Pajot, Administrative Analyst III, 386-0218) on November 26, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on November 26, 2024.