That the City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year agreement with Dr. Teresa Egan for professional consulting services related to the La Habra Child Development Program's methodology and staff development, on-site assessment and curriculum development, and strategic planning at a rate of not to exceed $5,000 per month to improve program operations.

The City of La Habra operates a full-service grant funded Child Development Program that includes a State Preschool and a School-age Child Care Program.  While both programs are in good standing with the California Department of Education and the Department of Social Services, the City independently initiated a comprehensive review of its child development program last year to assess the effectiveness of its professional standards and methods of operation.

The assessment was conducted in response to a First 5 Orange County study of students which indicated that many Orange County children entering kindergarten are making inadequate developmental progress. Specifically, children entering kindergarten in the La Habra City School District (LHCSD) were trailing their peers, and because approximately one-third of LHCSD's kindergartners transition from the City's Preschool Program, an emphasis on early academic achievement can increase the likelihood of success later in life, as well as identify potential areas of concern and implement changes to improve overall student performance.

The California State Preschool program provides full-day preschool to 72 children and part-day preschool to 120 children in La Habra.  The full-day program provides 246 days of service per year while the part-day program operates 180 school days per year.  The General School-age Child Care program provides before and after school care for 185 school-age and 55 infants/toddlers in partnership with Family Child Care Homes throughout Orange County for 246 days during the school-year.  With support from both LHCSD and First 5 Orange County, the City continues to address the issue of kindergarten readiness for children in its programs, as well as train and educate parents and staff about how they can help students succeed.  In addition, the City provides parents and caregivers with guidance on how to create an environment most conducive to childhood learning and healthy development.  

In April 2020, the City initiated a Child Development Task Force to address the findings from the initial program assessment and contracted with Dr. Teresa Egan to lead the Task Force.  Dr. Egan met weekly with the group to provide support and guidance through an in-depth analysis of the program's current teaching systems, curriculum development, professional development strategies, compliance standards, and more. Dr. Egan also conducted up to ten bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with supervisory staff to provide professional development and leadership training in a concentrated setting and provided policy analysis with recommendations for implementation. The Task Force has demonstrated success across several areas of the program, including completion of curriculum standards for all preschool teachers, creation of a professional development training and tracking plan, and an increase in student scores in multiple core categories.  

Dr. Egan was selected, at the time, to provide the professional services due to her experience, technical skills, knowledge of the community and local school districts, understanding of program requirements, and ability to recommend meaningful changes for the benefit of program participants. Dr. Egan retired as an Associate Superintendent from the La Habra City School District in 2020, serving nine years in that role and eleven years as a Principal of three different K-2nd grade schools in the City. She possesses a Masters of Education and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and developed the School Readiness Plan currently used by the District. Dr. Egan also serves as the Dissertation Chair for Concordia University, teaches Coaching to Principals through the State of California Licensing Division, and is mentoring Principals throughout the County.  She is highly regarded by students, parents, and teachers and has offered much needed training and insight regarding the City's program. 

The early phases of the Child Development Task Force has been a success and has met all of its goals for 2021. To continue to build on this success, staff recommends continuation of the plan into 2022, with a proposed transition of the Task Force's focus into evaluating and updating the standards of the General School-age Child Care Program. If approved by the City Council, Dr. Egan will provide an in-depth assessment of the General Child Care Program operations, staffing and licensing requirements, professional development goals, individual and group training of staff, overhaul the core curriculum, and continue monitoring the progress and improvement of the preschool staff and overall program at a rate not to exceed $5,000 per month. The Child Development grant award has adequate funding to cover all costs associated with these professional development services.

The Child Development Program's reserve account includes funding that can only be used for Professional Development and training services such as this Task Force.  All costs associated with this proposed one-year contract, in an amount not to exceed $60,000, will be covered by the Child Development general or reserve account and no General Fund support is required.