Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Dave Pine, District 1
Supervisor Carole Groom, District 2
Subject: Amendment of Agreement to Administer and Disburse Fund to Increase Learning Hub Spots for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students in San Mateo County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the County Manager, or designee(s), to amend the existing agreement with the Community Equity Collaborative and the SMCU Community Fund for administration and disbursement of an additional $480,000 in donated funds for grants to qualifying operators of learning hubs to expand the availability of learning hub slots for socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the County, with a term ending December 31, 2021.
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BACKGROUND:
A. Learning Hubs Expansion Fund
On January 26, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the “Learning Hubs Expansion Fund,” a $1.5 million grant program for the expansion of learning hubs-which are supportive spaces where K-12 students can engage in distance learning-serving socioeconomically disadvantaged students throughout the County.
Eligibility for grants from the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund is limited to non-profit providers and public entities (such as cities and school districts) that meet the following threshold requirements:
• Currently operate a learning hub (or operated a learning hub during the 2020-2021 school year) in the County;
• Serve K-12 students whose schools are expected to remain in distance learning (including in hybrid models that include a distance learning component) due to COVID-19;
• Operate during traditional K-12 school hours;
• Provide students free access to WiFi;
• Include on-site adult supervision to support learning and assist with student technology needs;
• Allow for safe socialization with peers in compliance with existing state and local COVID-19 guidelines;
• Serve primarily (50% or more) socioeconomically disadvantaged (SED) students, defined as students whose annual family income is less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI); and
• Will increase the number of available learning hub slots for SED students, as defined above.
Grant funding is distributed broadly throughout the County according to a weighted point system that prioritizes applicant programs that meet the following criteria:
• 75% or more of the students served in the program are SED students, as defined above;
• 75% or more of the students served in the program are in grades K-8;
• A significant number of the students served in the program are English-language learners, students with special needs, students in the foster care system, and/or students experiencing homelessness;
• The program is operating with the support of the local school district that serves students who participate in the program;
• The program provides participating students with meals and/or other supports (such as mental health services);
• The program currently has students on a waitlist; and
• The program currently has access to the staffing and facilities required to expand hub learning slots.
Grant amounts are based on the number of additional learning hubs slots proposed to be added by the successful applicants and, at the end of the grant period, all grant recipients will submit a written report detailing their expansion of learning hub slots using grant funds.
Applications are reviewed by the Learning Hub Initiative Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of the Board of Supervisors, County Manager’s Office, and the San Mateo County COVID-19 Child Care Response Team (which includes representatives from First 5 San Mateo County, San Mateo County Office of Education, Child Care Partnership Council, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 4Cs of San Mateo County, and Build Up for San Mateo County’s Children).
The County has contracted with both the Community Equity Collaborative (“Collaborative”) and SMCU Community Fund (“Community Fund”) to administer and disburse grants from the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund (the “Agreement”) for total administrative fees not to exceed $6,000. The term of the Agreement is through December 31, 2021, unless either the entirety of the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund are earlier disbursed by the Community Fund or any funds remaining as of June 30, 2021 are returned to the County.
As of March 18, 2021, the entire $1.5 million contributed by the County has been committed for disbursement as grants from the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund.
B. Private Donations to the Fund
Recently, private donors contributed an additional $505,000 to the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund, $25,000 of which has been paid directly to the Collaborative as administrative fees, with the balance, $480,000, to be disbursed as grants according to the above criteria established by the County.
DISCUSSION
We recommend that the Board authorize and direct the County Manager, or designee(s), to amend the Agreement to incorporate the additional $480,000 donated to the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund. The County will pay the Community Fund an administrative fee of $12,000 (2.5%) to administer and distribute the additional $480,000. All other terms of the Agreement would remain unchanged.
FISCAL IMPACT:
As explained above, the County will pay the Community Fund $12,000 to administer and distribute the additional $480,000 donated to the Learning Hubs Expansion Fund. The $12,000 administrative fee will be paid from County General Funds, subject to the application of and potential reimbursement from state and/or federal funds that may be made available in connection with the County's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no other fiscal impacts associated with amending the Agreement.