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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: January 28, 2010 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. oZ <br /> SUBJECT: Staff Review of Universal Pre-Kindergarten Proposal <br /> DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1) Child Care Coalition Proposal Frank Clifton, County Manager <br /> 2) Staff Review of CCC Proposal Gwen Harvey, Assistant County <br /> 3) Child Care System in Orange Manager, 245-2307 <br /> County Nancy Coston, Social Services <br /> 4) 2006 Child Care Task Force Director, 245-2802 <br /> Report <br /> PURPOSE: To receive staff review of a proposal by the Orange County Child Care Coalition <br /> requesting County funding for Universal Pre-kindergarten <br /> BACKGROUND: At the Board of County Commissioners' meeting on June 2, 2009, three <br /> members of the Orange County child care community read prepared statements endorsing a <br /> written proposal by the Orange County Child Care Coalition. The Coalition proposed creation of <br /> an Orange County Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program (OC-UPP) with a goal to ensure 70% of <br /> all four year olds are enrolled in a preschool program in the County meeting the NC Pre- <br /> Kindergarten Program Standards by June 30, 2013. Childcare classroom fees would be partially <br /> or fully paid by OC-UPP funding provided by the County. The Coalition, acknowledging the <br /> County's difficult financial situation, asked the County to create an Early Learning Task Force to <br /> study the proposal and develop a response. The Board unanimously approved a <br /> recommendation by Commissioner Nelson to refer this request and related proposal to County <br /> staff for follow-up. <br /> Following direction by the Board of County Commissioners, staff have met, reviewed, and <br /> discussed the Orange County Child Care Coalition's proposal for County funded universal pre- <br /> kindergarten. Staff finds universal pre-kindergarten while a laudable concept would be a <br /> considerable and costly addition to the already high level of public support for education <br /> available to Orange County children. Technically, the proposal fails to explore methods of <br /> implementation outside of private child care centers or address alternative funding mechanisms <br /> within a challenging economic environment. Staff references the 2006 Orange County Child <br /> Care Task Force Report, which recommended additional subsidy dollars as the highest funding <br /> priority for expanding child care opportunities for eligible families. Staff also reminds the Board <br /> of challenges and conflicts inherent to the dual subsidy system within Orange County and <br /> previous support given Social Services by the Board of County Commissioners and Social <br />