[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6454939,"mediaKeyId","5856952-43c23f1d6872d08c11d115c95a09124b","parentId",5856952,"title","Franklin County panel outlines costly, phased plan for universal preschool and expanded childcare supports","audioSeconds",3306,"startMs",404000,"endMs",3710000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856952-43c23f1d6872d08c11d115c95a09124b&start=404&end=3710","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856952-43c23f1d6872d08c11d115c95a09124b/thumbnail_404000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6454939/Ohio/Franklin-County-panel-outlines-costly-phased-plan-for-universal-preschool-and-expanded-childcare-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454939-da81dcf5ca45c755b90a2cd5ff643a70/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450017&Signature=cCAuMhdFz6jOUJTEX3qXPWr2eX90eu5fiKNBxER~mKPo93pdQYZrdZRejEXxgI6VXCHc7qRHimeA1LzJ9pMboC5mx2eCZ30kp016yn3hfLWjKxGtGKDPU9hswsHClc5TzEQ85fXtRra1GyHGxV4xO-tep6-dKWrD9KBRT3JIZAoaAfKpkel4Ndaab3wloXC2kSXrRuNKP4N5yoCBLUoZUTxN8aQHkZmPsQGpjg-ExIUrVfRunofHpZQ7nnYvJlwUoR5KzeuyqxKFDpzfaz-XRtNagRJq7E~ePSgZ5W-7dhz-YNINi~zomRZaTTArYCeFwG-Mw9Q-JtgQqXABShAuOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Columbus","date","2025-09-30T12:29:44Z","article","Scarlett, an early childhood consultant working with Franklin County, told the Columbus City Council committee that building a comprehensive early learning system will require phased, data-driven work and large new revenues. \"It is early learning education,\" Scarlett said, stressing that the sector extends beyond childcare to health, family supports and workforce development.

The presentation summarized national evidence — notably the Perry Preschool and Abecedarian studies and the “Heckman” return‑on‑investment framework — that early, high‑quality interventions produce long‑term gains in education, health and labor‑market outcomes. Scarlett said those landmark studies inform local design and measurement choices.

Why it matters: Committee members were warned the price tag for countywide, universal programs is large. Scarlett said a full countywide universal scenario produced an illustrative annual cost of $1,812,000,000 in the firm’s modeling, and the group created smaller phased scenarios to test affordability and scale. A targeted prototype limited to three high‑need ZIP codes was modeled at an annual cost of roughly $54,000,000; with existing subsidy slots included the modeled cost for that prototype fell to about $42,000,000.

Presenters and county working groups identified several core program elements: affordable, high‑quality classroom seats; pay and benefits sufficient to stabilize the early‑learning workforce; funded professional development; mental and behavioral health supports for young children; and a data platform to track kindergarten readiness and other outcomes. Scarlett said the county team spent eight months cleaning and aligning disparate administrative data systems (state, county, hospital, provider) to create a first consolidated view of children 0–8.

Panelists described current local conditions and shortfalls. Tasha Booker, CEO of Action for Children, said the Franklin County RISE scholarship program now touches more than 700 families and that the commissioners previously allocated $42,000,000 to RISE; she warned the countywide scholarship is scheduled to sunset in November 2026. Booker said many families will lose access to preschool scholarships if no replacement funding is found.

Panelists and questioners also discussed access and enrollment barriers. Scarlett said roughly one‑third of 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds in the county are reached by the state’s publicly funded childcare (PFCC) subsidies and that PFCC eligibility rules recently set a 33‑hour threshold for full‑time supplement eligibility. Panelists noted roughly 48% of local providers reported empty classrooms or reduced enrollment, often because parents cannot afford slots; monthly childcare costs cited in the discussion ranged from about $800 to $1,700 for infant care.

How to proceed: The steering committee described a path of piloting in priority ZIP codes, refining cost modeling and identifying a backbone agency—often a nonprofit in other cities—to manage operations and flexibility. Speakers emphasized blended public, philanthropic and private funding at local, state and federal levels. Scarlett said the group is continuing to refine data and to develop prototype parameters with 5‑, 10‑ and 15‑year scaling options.

The committee asked for more detail on return on investment. Speakers pointed to the Heckman framework — “for every dollar you invest, seven dollars in return” was cited as the common high‑level claim — and to other jurisdictions that have applied social‑impact financing and employer incentives to reduce later costs to special education, juvenile justice and social services.

Panelists identified near‑term constraints: fragmented data collection, workforce instability (low pay and benefits), and limited awareness among employers of childcare’s effect on employee retention. They recommended case management and stronger referral partnerships with clinics and hospitals (Nationwide Children’s Hospital was named as a data partner) to enroll children not currently in care.

Ending note: Presenters urged a stepwise approach — prototypes, backbone governance, continuous evaluation and targeted equity strategies — rather than a single “flip‑the‑switch” rollout. Scarlett said communities typically start small, “and scale that over time,” using the prototype data to reduce the ultimate funding gap.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Funding Review Advisory Committee: Meeting #9","oneSentenceSummary","Franklin County presenters told the Columbus City Council committee that delivering affordable, high-quality early learning at scale will require phased investment, partnerships and prototype pilots; county modeling showed multi‑hundred‑million and billion-dollar scenarios and a smaller $54 million prototype for three ZIP codes.","taxTitle","Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",75950,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6454934,"Columbus State president: Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge aim to expand postsecondary access and meet regional labor demand",2865,3776000,6641000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856952-43c23f1d6872d08c11d115c95a09124b&start=3776&end=6641","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856952-43c23f1d6872d08c11d115c95a09124b/thumbnail_3776000.jpg","/articles/6454934/Ohio/Columbus-State-president-Columbus-Promise-and-Buckeye-Bridge-aim-to-expand-postsecondary-access-and-meet-regional-labor-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6454934-aa24909da7df40d2284edb2555a34224/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450017&Signature=bSOY7QTbrPTSrj57j3wFNvEl4ppMyNJBYYW0fwN~vXMQHxxukTPxD-wtMzHVnXdPsYNddSjurWwPcYPfS95WkkLIrFAKjF3NLF9hAUHQJmVJVTc4qbUZh9BvzDFm71L0uLJe4BDoYFCuPbpszyGp29tG3hOF7vu-9PE6qzhfQVa~XifpZ0H3Tht32iQLXmKBW67sAm7YDviiCd8YqPehJUamh2uazHD4g6z7nFWJAbQJWxTIOq2Wbq-0o-HXdJQ7twtQ-Dchpp2t~xLhbNhx9f0OcugBA2uVgLeiP9CTHj8GqnT1NC4a-G7xbq-ydfBpuaCtwWlt7MlFF70~OtLGnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. David Harrison, president of Columbus State Community College, told the Columbus City Council committee that postsecondary access and workforce partnerships will determine the region’s ability to fill high‑quality jobs. \"This is a moment in time for our region,\" Harrison said, adding that talent will determine whether major projects succeed.

Harrison described two central initiatives. Columbus Promise guarantees full tuition at Columbus State for graduates of Columbus City Schools and pairs that promise with student supports. The program’s first phase relied on an initial $5,000,000 city investment, $1,000,000 from Columbus State and $6,000,000 in private fundraising; the city later committed $10,000,000 for a second phase. Harrison said Columbus Promise has increased enrollment of Columbus City Schools graduates and improved early measures of student success.

Harrison also described Buckeye Bridge, a partnership with The Ohio State University that will allow Columbus State associate-degree earners from families with gross incomes at or below $100,000 to transfer to OSU with tuition and fees covered. He called the combination of Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge a potential regional differentiator because it creates a predictable path from high school to a four‑year degree for many local students.

Why it matters: Harrison emphasized demographic headwinds — a projected decline in Ohio high‑school graduates and a falling college‑going rate — and that Central Ohio’s economic growth will depend on increasing postsecondary attainment and reskilling adults with some college and no degree. He said Columbus State serves roughly 10,000 high‑school students and 7,000 adult students yearly and that nearly 80% of entering students require remediation or developmental supports.

Employer partnerships and capital commitments were highlighted as essential. Harrison described a $25,000,000 endowment from OhioHealth to hire faculty and staff in perpetuity for health programs and noted a proposed YMCA partnership near campus that could provide fitness facilities and high‑volume drop‑in childcare for students and community members.

Committee members asked about costs and sustainability. Harrison said a full‑time Columbus State student pays about $5,500 in tuition annually; many Promise students are Pell‑eligible or part‑time, reducing that per‑student tuition burden. He said wraparound supports (housing, food, transportation and childcare) are harder to cost precisely but are a critical part of student success. The committee discussed levy authority for operating support; Harrison said state changes extended levy authority to some state community colleges and that four Ohio community colleges already use local operating levies.

Next steps: Harrison urged sustaining and scaling Columbus Promise for Columbus City Schools and exploring regional extension; he recommended combining early childhood investments with postsecondary guarantees to create a cradle‑to‑career pipeline. \"If they grow up knowing Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge are there for them ... it becomes much more than a financial thing. It becomes a through line of hope,\" Harrison said.

Ending note: Council and committee members pressed for clarity on sustainable funding models, employer engagement and potential moonshot scenarios; Harrison said benchmarking and further modeling are under way and that Columbus State will continue to work with city, county and private partners.","Dr. David Harrison outlined Columbus State’s partnerships — Columbus Promise, Buckeye Bridge, employer ties including OhioHealth — aimed at expanding college access and aligning credentials with regional job growth; officials flagged financing, wraparound supports and scaling questions.","actionData","errors"]

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Franklin County panel outlines costly, phased plan for universal preschool and expanded childcare supports

Columbus State president: Columbus Promise and Buckeye Bridge aim to expand postsecondary access and meet regional labor demand