Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Childhood Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears Kids & Co. enrollment trends and plans to tighten eligibility verification
Summary
Kids & Co. reported higher summer enrollment, operational billing issues with an online system, and a proposal to require two-day weekly commitments for hourly rates; staff proposed verifying free-childcare eligibility with documents (Medi-Cal/SNAP) rather than relying on an outdated state list.
Bridgette presented an update on the Kids & Co. before-and-after-school and summer program, reporting average daily enrollment near the mid-30s and a recent high of 54 children. “As always, it's a pleasure being here,” Bridgette said as she reviewed a seven-week summer session and enrollment trends; she told the board that only about two to three paying families currently attend on some days because many slots are used by employees or ELOP-eligible families.
Bridgette explained operational problems with the ProCare payment system (missing ledger entries for some families) and described a policy change proposal to require families to commit to two or more days per week to qualify for the hourly rate structure. To target limited ELOP (state early-learning) funds more precisely, she proposed verifying eligibility with current documentation such as a SNAP card or Medi-Cal rather than relying on an out-of-date state list, a change others in the county are already using. Board members asked clarifying questions about fund flow and whether Kids & Co. is a separate entity; staff confirmed Kids & Co. operates as part of the district and that ELOP funds are passed through to the program.
Next steps: staff will continue designing the eligibility and rate structure and return with a formal proposal and enrollment impact estimates.
