REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 9, 2024
FROM
JACQUELYN GREENE, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Non-Financial Contract Template with School Districts for Special Education Programs
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve non-financial Contract template with local area School Districts to provide special education programs for children enrolled in Head Start or State Preschool Programs located within the School District service area, effective upon execution by both parties for a maximum term not to exceed five years.
2. Authorize the Assistant Executive Officer, Deputy Executive Officer of Human Services or Director of the Preschool Services Department to execute the Contract template with the individual School Districts, on behalf of the County.
(Presenter: Jacquelyn Greene, Director, 383-2005)
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 Contract template is non-financial in nature and therefore, does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Preschool Services Department (PSD) provides Head Start, Early Head Start, and State Preschool programs that include comprehensive child development and family services comprised of education, health, nutrition, parent involvement, and psychological services for children ages zero to five and their families. The overall goal of these programs is to increase the health and school readiness of disadvantaged children and increase the self-sufficiency of low-income families. Head Start and State Preschool programs have been operating in San Bernardino County since 1965. Since 1999, PSD has provided these programs through a combination of direct and contracted services.
Head Start Performance Standards and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) require collaboration in the form of formal non-financial agreements with school districts, referred to as Local Educational Agencies (LEA), that provide disability services for children. The primary objective of the agreement is to provide tools that will assist a child to effectively progress through the school system.
Children who are suspected of having, or are at risk of having, developmental delays or disabilities may be referred by family members, doctors, or school providers to the LEA for a comprehensive evaluation and identification of the appropriate service needs necessary for the child’s educational success. The PSD and the LEA work together in a coordinated effort to increase a disabled child’s ability to learn.
The LEA will provide children ages three to five, who are deemed disabled, with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), enrollment in any needed programs, educational aids, and services, which may include enrollment in state preschool at a LEA in addition to attendance in PSD’s Head Start classroom. The LEA is equipped to provide educational services and directly serve any child considered to be moderately to severely disabled. The IEP includes an assessment of the child’s present level of development and instructions for services necessary for the child’s progress. The effectiveness of the services will be assessed by the LEA annually and any necessary changes to the IEP will be made at that time. All PSD enrolled children will be monitored for progress across all domains, such as cognitive and social emotional development to align with the progress identified in the IEP.
The recommended non-financial Contract template will allow PSD to enter into agreements with individual local area School Districts to assist in identifying, enrolling, and evaluating eligible children between the ages of three and five years, who are in need of special education and related services. The Contract template outlines the special education services available to children with eligible disabilities who are enrolled in Head Start or State Preschool Programs located within the School District service area, which will be provided in an inclusive environment according to the child’s IEP. In addition, the Contract template provides the method to refer children to the individual School District’s Early Childhood Assessment Team for evaluation as soon as the need for special education services is determined.
PSD will ensure that children with identified needs receive the services to which they are entitled under Head Start Performance Standards and/or State Preschool requirements for children with disabilities, IDEA, and applicable Federal and State regulations.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Patty Steven, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on December 13, 2023; County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on December 12, 2023; Finance (Chris Lange, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on December 13, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on December 19, 2023.