COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

DATE:

May 13, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 7, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

John L. Maltbie, County Manager

SUBJECT:

After-School Homework Center Agreement for 2004-05 School Year

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of Grant Agreement with the San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools for the continuation of After-School Homework Centers in San Mateo County.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure Basic Health and Safety for All ; and Sow the Seeds of Our Future Prosperity

Goal(s): Children grow up healthy in safe and supportive homes and neighborhoods; and the skill level of new workers rises with improved K-12 education and training opportunities.

The Homework Centers contribute to the goals by providing a safe learning environment after school where elementary school students are provided with tutoring assistance to improve academic achievement. The percentage of students identified as at-risk of retention who were promoted to the next grade, and the percentage of parents and teachers who agree that the homework centers provide a safe learning environment, improved from FY 2003 to FY 2004. It is anticipated that performance in the current year will be maintained at the same levels as the prior year.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2003 Actual

FY 2004
Actual

FY 2005 Estimate

Percent of students identified as at risk of retention who are promoted to the next grade

81%

89%

89%

Percent of parents/teachers responding to the Homework Center survey who agree that the centers are providing a safe learning environment after school

96%

98%/99%

98%/99%

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:

As part of the FY 2004-05 Budget, the Board approved $300,000 from the County General Fund to continue the operation of After School Homework Centers in local school districts throughout the county. Approximately 5,000 students in 58 participating schools in 16 districts are being served in the current school year. These schools have undergone an application and approval process and entered into individual agreements with the County Superintendent of Schools in order to receive funds from the County. Every County dollar is 40% matched by funding from local businesses, foundations, categorical funds and other sources identified by each school.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Some Homework Center highlights for the prior school year:

●

5,081 students were served, and 58% of these students used the Homework Centers at least two days per week.

●

Of the students served, 29% are at risk of retention and 29% are English learners.

●

115 high school students were trained to be tutors, of whom 77 or 67% were paid at an average of $8.84 per hour.

●

2,958 or 58% of students served showed improvement in grades and attendance.

●

1,327 or 89% of students who were at risk of retention were promoted to the next grade

●

97% of parents and 95% of teachers responding to the Homework Center survey agreed that the centers are providing the necessary academic assistance to improve the achievement of participating students.

●

98% of parents and 99% of teachers responding to the Homework Center survey agreed that the centers are providing a safe learning environment after school.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The term of the agreement is July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005. Workload issues and priorities related to the County budget were causes for the delay of this item. Total funding for this agreement is $370,000 in FY 2004-05. Of this amount, $300,000 is from the County General Fund memberships and contributions budget in the County Manager’s Office. The remaining $70,000 is from unspent County funds carried over from the prior year by the County Office of Education.

The Recommended Budget for FY 2005-06 will include the same level of funding at $300,000 from the General Fund. If approved, next year’s agreement with the County Office of Education will include the $300,000 and any unspent carryover amounts from FY 2004-05.