Title:
Title
Agreement: Freedom School Summer Youth Program Grant Agreement
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01050
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to execute a Grant Agreement with Roberts Family Development Center in the amount of $290,000 for the Freedom School Summer Youth Program.
Contact: Christopher Conlin, Assistant City Manager, (916) 808-8526; Lindee Lane, Youth Development Policy Manager, (916) 808-1171, Office of the City Manager
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Agreement
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On June 11th, 2019, as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019/20 Budget adoption, City Council set aside funds for certain youth programs, including $290,000 for the Roberts Family Development Center’s (RFDC) proposed Freedom Schools Program (FS) for this summer. The FS model is a six-week, evidence-based summer literacy and cultural enrichment program designed to serve children and youth in grades K-12.
The FS program focuses on communities where quality academic enrichment programming is limited, too expensive, or non-existent. The FS program aligns with principles laid out in the Council adopted Citywide Youth Development Plan including the need to focus increased investments in underserved youth and communities. FS empowers youth to believe in their ability to make a difference in themselves, their families, communities, country and world with hope, education and action. Students also receive two nutritious meals and a snack daily, as well as a book each week to build their home libraries.
The FS program enhances children’s motivation to read and makes them feel good about learning. At the same time, the program connects families to needed resources in their communities. Freedom School students engage in a research-based, multicultural Integrated Reading Curriculum that supports them and their families through five essential components: high quality academic enrichment, parent/family involvement, social action/civic engagement, intergenerational leadership development, and physical/mental health
The Basic Reading Inventory (BRI) is a required evaluation tool used by administrators of the FS model. The BRI is an individually administered informal reading assessment that evaluates the five core components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension strategies. Evaluation results show that students, on average, gain instructional reading levels or maintain and do not experience summer learning loss.
RFDC is uniquely qualified to administer the FS model. In January 2014, RFDC was selected as a nationally recognized Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools Sponsor Agency. Moreover, RFDC is a qualified community-based organization that has been providing academic enrichment services for Sacramento youth since 2001 through the following objectives; 1) Nurture Personal Growth; 2) Strengthen Families; 3) Enhance Community Development; and 4) Increase Civic Involvement.
Policy Considerations: The proposed action is consistent with the Council-approved Citywide Youth Development Plan & Framework for Children and Youth Programs that calls for the City and its partners to provide youth with research-based supports and opportunities.
Economic Impacts: There is vast research demonstrating that investing in young people can have long-term impacts both on an individual’s future outcomes and on the public in the form of broader tax base.
Environmental Considerations: The recommendation in this report is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Section 15378(b)(4) and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).
Sustainability: None.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: After school and out-of-school time children and youth programs such as those provided by the Robert’s Family Development Center, contribute to multiple goals outlined in the City of Sacramento Citywide Youth Development Plan and create safe spaces for youth and their families to learn, grow and thrive.
Financial Considerations: There is sufficient funding available in the North Area Freedom Schools (I02181200) project to fund this agreement. Funding for this program was approved as part of the FY2019/20 Budget adoption on June 11th, 2019.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.