TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents with the California Department of Education in an amount up to $90,000 to operate the Even Start Family Literacy Program; to execute a contract with the Long Beach Unified School District in an amount up to $85,000 to provide family literacy services; to execute any needed subsequent amendments; and increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Human Resources Department (HR) by $90,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Pacific Gateway and Long Beach Unified School District (School District) jointly applied to the California Department of Education for Even Start Grant funds to continue operation of a local family literacy program. The Even Start Program (Program) helps to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by improving educational opportunities for low-income families and by helping parents gain the skills needed to become full partners in the education of their young children. The Program integrates early childhood education, adult literacy and basic education, and parenting education into a unified family literacy approach.
In Long Beach, Pacific Gateway and the School District have further enhanced program activities by linking the workforce development programs of the Career Transition Center into the mix of services for the participating adult parents. Services are delivered at the Long Beach School for Adults, the Career Transition Center, and at various Head Start locations throughout the community. The Program also provides books for participating families to create at-home libraries to encourage ongoing reading.
Pacific Gateway will contract with the School District in an amount up to $85,000 to deliver program services to approximately 40 low-income families, and to provide technical assistance and coaching to qualified Head Start entities interested in delivering Family Literacy Programs. Pacific Gateway will use the remaining $5,000 for gra...
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