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Council-Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

04/07/2026

From:

Lisa Shafer, Community Development Director

Strategic Plan Focus Area:
Not Applicable

Information

Subject:

Resolution No. 2026-019: Relating to Administration; approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Intergovernmental Agreement with Pima County for the Pima Early Education Program (Lisa Shafer)

Discussion:

On June 1, 2021, the Town Council approved Resolution No. 2021-077 authorizing staff to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Pima County for the new Pima Early Education Program (PEEP) to fund a new pre-school program at Estes Elementary for the 2021-2022 school year. The Town contributed $132,000 towards the first 10-month program school year. The following years, the Town Council authorized Amendment One, Two, Three and Four to the IGA, funding the preschool class at Estes for a total of $717,140 over the full five years of the original contract. The new contract is for one year and will continue to fund the pre-school program at Estes Elementary for the 2026-2027 school year, which provides high quality education to 18 students.

The overall goals of PEEP are to increase the number of 3-5 year-old children from low-income families attending high quality preschools in Pima County and to increase the number of high quality preschools in Pima County. A household family income must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify for this program. To be considered a quality preschool, the preschool must have a Quality First rating of 3-5 stars, be a Head Start provider or be nationally accredited. At the end of the 2024-2025 school year, 1,552 children from income eligible families received assistance from this program to attend high quality preschools across Pima County. Sixty-nine of these children participated in PEEP's programs within the Marana Unified School District, 34 attended Head Start classes in Marana and nine preschoolers received scholarships to attend Quality First Preschools in Marana. PEEP's, along with other state and federal programs, are serving about 41% of families in need of this assistance. The number of preschools rated as high quality has also increased from 199 at the start of the program to 307 in year four. In the first year of the program, there were 12 school district classes and that has increased to the current 36 classes. The Town-funded PEEPs class at Estes Elementary School has maintained full enrollment this year of 18 students.

The County has approached the Town requesting the Town consider funding the Estes Elementary PEEPs program. If the Town Council approves the PEEP IGA, the Town will pay a total of $153,339.20 towards Estes Elementary PEEPs class for school year 2026-2027.

Financial Impact:

Fiscal Year:

2027

Budgeted Y/N:

Amount:

$153,339.20

Pending Council approval, the contribution amount for this program will be budgeted within the General Fund for the upcoming fiscal year.

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval of the IGA with Pima County for the Pima Early Education Program.

Suggested Motion:

I move to adopt Resolution No. 2026-019 approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute the Intergovernmental Agreement with Pima County for the Pima Early Education Program.

Attachments

Resolution No. 2026-019

Exhibit A to Resolution

Annual Report