TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement with the California State Library, to accept and expend grant funding in the amount of $145,000 for Library Literacy Services; and
Increase appropriations in the General Grants Fund Group in the Library Services Department by $145,000, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Library Services Department’s application to the California State Library Shared Vision Community Partnership Grant for Early Learning Programs was approved, allowing the Department to launch a Learning Together program in Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 20) and FY 21 with funding from the State for a Parent Education Specialist, books and materials, and promotional expenses.
Learning Together is a parent education program that consists of two Early Learning Festivals, a series of parent education workshops and a kindergarten readiness summer program. The Parent Education Specialist will join the Library’s Youth and Family Services Division, which is responsible for citywide early literacy initiatives, including the Summer Reading Program, Dive into Reading, Play & Learn, Daddy & Me @ the Library, Cuento Y Cantos, and Read con Amigos.
The City of Long Beach (City) is home to more than 32,000 children under five, making up 7 percent of the City’s population. Young children are concentrated in north and southwest Long Beach. These areas of Long Beach have higher than average proportions of low-income households, with certain zip codes in these communities having over 47 percent of children living below the poverty rate, compared to 3.6 percent and 5.8 percent in the more affluent Long Beach communities. Additionally, studies have shown that only 37 percent of low-income families read to their children on a daily basis.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on June 15, 2020 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 19, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council...
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