Title
Accepting an early care and education program plan recommendation.
Body
WHEREAS on July 27, 2022, the City Council passed Res 22-1183 that established an Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee; and
WHEREAS in September 2022, the Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee, comprised of a diverse group of experts in early childhood, nonprofit and labor leaders, parents and providers, began meeting to examine whether Saint Paul should fund a program for early learning; and
WHEREAS the Committee examined the current public funding streams for early childhood at the state, financial modeling on what a program might cost, and sources of funding available to the City; and
WHEREAS the committee heard from representatives of four city-run early learning programs from around the country who operate with various models and the Committee debated possible models for a program in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS the Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee presented its final recommendations to the City Council on March 22, 2023; and
WHEREAS the Early Learning Legislative Advisory Committee strongly recommended that Saint Paul create an early learning program to meet Saint Paul’s need for stable and affordable early care and education, and that the program be funded through a special levy to be approved by voters, increasing property taxes over time and dedicated to early learning for Saint Paul children 0-5; and
WHEREAS funds for a contractor to create a detailed program plan were included in the 2024 budget, approved by the City Council and signed by Mayor Carter; and
WHEREAS Dr. Nikole Jones, a local expert in early care and education, was selected to create the program plan, which is attached to this resolution as “Saint Paul Early Childhood Program Plan”; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Council accepts this plan for an early care and education program and commits to working with the Mayor and his administration to refine this plan and prepare for program implementation should funding be approved by voters.