REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 8, 2021
FROM
PHALOS HAIRE, Director, Preschool Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for FootSteps2Brilliance Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Memorandum of Understanding with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools for FootSteps2Brillance, an interactive, digital literacy-based mobile technology program for improved early education, in the amount of $167,061, for the period June 9, 2021 through June 8, 2026.
(Presenter: Phalos Haire, Director, 383-2005)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total amount of the recommended Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of $167,061 is 100% federally funded through the Administration for Children and Families. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Preschool Services Department (PSD) 2020-21 budget and 2021-22 recommended budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Under the terms of the recommended MOU, PSD and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (Superintendent) will continue to utilize the Footsteps2Brilliance program with the inclusion of two additional applications, Clever Kids University Pre-Reader and I-Can-Read. PSD and the Superintendent implemented Footsteps2Brilliance in 2016 at eight Head Start sites with approximately 802 Head Start children to assist children in becoming college and career ready.
The recommended MOU will allow PSD to reach children in the remainder of the PSD Head Start classes including the contract agencies providing equity and access for all to support the Countywide Vision of assisting children ages 0-5 in becoming college and career ready through the San Bernardino County Community Cradle to Career Roadmap. Data collection tools within the platform will be utilized to track performance measures such as words and books read, phonological awareness, phonics, language, vocabulary and comprehension.
Through the recommended MOU, the Footsteps2Brilliance program will be given to approximately 3,872 children at 39 PSD sites throughout San Bernardino County. The program uses an innovative approach to early learning that will ensure children enter kindergarten ready to succeed academically. Ongoing professional development will also be provided to PSD staff to build capacity and learn best first instructional strategies that are developmentally appropriate. Additionally, the programs will provide PSD families access to hundreds of digital books ranging from traditional Spanish songbooks to expository text to academic language collections. All content in the Footsteps2Brilliance program is available and easily accessible in both English and Spanish, allowing the children to develop early literacy skills in both languages concurrently and promoting bi-literacy as a strength in our community.
PROCUREMENT
Not Applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by Human Services Contracts (Jennifer Mulhall-Daudel, Contracts Manager, 388-0241) on May 14, 2021; County Counsel (Kristina Robb, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 17, 2021; Finance (Paul Garcia, Administrative Analyst, 386-8392) on May 18, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Tanya Bratton, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0332) on May 18, 2021.