Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque - Iowa Reading Corps Agreement Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 12.
ITEM TITLE: Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque - Iowa Reading
Corps Agreement
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of a grant agreement
with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for
Summer Academy 2016 AmeriCorps programming and
wrap around care.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Campaign for Grade Lew:l Reading Summer Academy- City Manager Memo
MVM Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Grant Agreement with CFGD Supporting Documentation
Summer Academy 2016 Supporting Documentation
THE CITY ODubuque
AI-AmericII a Ciry
DUBi&E r
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Campaign for Grade Level Reading Summer Academy Programming and
Wrap Around Care Grant Agreement Approval
DATE: April 10, 2016
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware recommends City Council approval of a grant
agreement with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for Summer Academy
2016 AmeriCorps programming and wrap around care.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Micliael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
THE COF Dubuque
DtUB
EAII•AmericaCitY
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
2007•2012 •2013
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
SUBJECT: Campaign for Grade Level Reading Summer Academy Programming and
Wrap Around Care Grant Agreement Approval
DATE: April 8, 2016
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is request approval of a grant agreement with the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for Summer Academy AmeriCorps
programming and wrap around care after the Academy.
BACKGROUND
The Third Grade Reading Initiative began with the development and now
implementation of the Community Solutions Action Plan (CSAP) that resulted in an All-
America City Award. Leisure Services staff was highly involved in the development of
the plan and has continued to be involved in the overall Campaign committee as well as
the summer learning committee.
The Leisure Service Department has been engaged in work related to the City Council
15-17 Management in Progress Social Cultural Vibrancy Goal related to Campaign for
Grade Level Reading. This work is also equity work in our community.
3rd grade is a critical milestone for students academically and socially. Up until 3rd
grade, students are learning to read. Therefore, students focus mostly on reading
which includes letter recognition, letter sounds, word recognition, blending words,
reading fluently, etc. After 3rd grade, students transition into reading to learn.
Therefore, in order for students to understand their science problems, social studies
problems, math problems, students have to read them. And if students can't read, they
are going to struggle in these subjects. When school is difficult for students, students
can become disengaged and potentially disruptive.
In the summer of 2013, the Leisure Services Department partnered with the Summer
Learning Committee members to offer the Summer Academy Pilot program. This
academy was a summer long program dedicated to morning education and afternoon
activity. The main focus of this pilot was to combat the "summer slide" and measure the
programs effect on a student's ability to retain or improve his/her reading scores during
the summer months. Leisure Services along with numerous community have partnered
on the Summer Academy since its inception. Last year due to Chapter 62, the
Dubuque Community School District led the morning early literacy summer school and
partners assisted with afternoon activities.
DISCUSSION
A Summer Learning committee of the Campaign for Grade Level Reading has been
meeting since the summer program ended last year planning for this summer planning
for the 2016 summer program. Representatives include all the partners listed above.
The Dubuque Community School District runs the early literacy summer school from
8:00 a.m. to noon which will be for 200-250 children entering 1 sc and 2nd grades. The
Greater Dubuque Community Foundation has partnered to provide a Summer Program
Facilitator Emily Blue. Ms. Blue is coordinating the entire day's activities for children
involved in the Summer Academy.
Evaluation of the program last year showed that parents and guardians needed access
to early drop off (before care of 7:00-8:30 a.m.) and extended pick up (after care of
3:00-6:00 p.m.) in order to facilitate their children attending Summer Academy. This
before and after care would happen in the schools where the Academy takes place.
There is a requirement that organizations handling before and after care in School
District facilities meet Iowa Department of Human Services rules. The City of Dubuque
Leisure Services currently offers after care during the school year in school district
facilities.
Leisure Services worked with Eric Dregne of the Community Foundation of Greater
Dubuque to search for resources that would allow the Leisure Services Department
Recreation Division to take the lead on before and extended care. Iowa Reading Corps
is an AmeriCorps program sponsored by the United Ways of Iowa. Eric reached out
and found that the Iowa Reading Corps had availability for placement of 8 members
(positions) for 300 hours each. This number of hours would cover the reading portion of
the day (morning) as well as the enrichment portion of the day (afternoon) and some
after care for the six week Summer Academy. The members would be contracted
through the United Ways of Iowa to the City of Dubuque Leisure Services Recreation
Division for the Summer Academy programming and extended care. Generally the
Iowa Reading Corps members would serve from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. to
6:00 p.m.
Recreation Division staff along with Ms. Blue will supervise the Iowa Reading Corps
members. Additionally Recreation Division playground staff and AmeriCorps Partners
in Learning members will support the before care from 7:00-8:30 a.m. and extended
care from 3:00-6:00 p.m. when hours are not covered by the Iowa Reading Corps
members.
2
The Community Foundation committed $22,500 of grant funding to pay for the Iowa
Reading Corps positions. This will cover 100% of the cost of the contract between Iowa
Reading Corps and the City of Dubuque Recreation Division. The grant agreement
attached codifies the agreement for services and commitment of funds between the City
and the Community Foundation. This agreement means there will be $22,500 of
expenses and an offsetting grant of$22,500. This arrangement is part of a larger
Summer Academy budget which is approximately $229,750. This larger budget is the
total budget for the Academy which includes commitments of all partners.
The commitment of additional staffing for before and extended care through the
Recreation Division playground staff and AmeriCorps Partners in Learning members will
be done within the current city budgets of each division.
Leisure Services has AmeriCorps Partners in Learning; however, our current program
did not have positions available as the programming positions during the 9:00 a.m. —
5:00 p.m. timeframe as hours were committed to serving the School District during the
school year and summer programming with St Marks, the Library, Multicultural Family
Center and Playground Explorations (the revamped summer learning playground).
Additionally one AmeriCorps program may not serve or supervise another AmeriCorps
program.
Attached you will also find a white paper that outlines more details about the Summer
Academy program.
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval of the grant agreement with the
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque for Summer Academy 2016 AmeriCorps
programming and wrap around care.
cc: Mary Bridget Corken-Deutsch, AmeriCorps Partners in Learning Director
Dan Kroger, Recreation Division Manager
Shirley Horstman, Director of Student Services
Eric Dregne, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Attachment: Grant Agreement
White paper on Summer Academy
3
April 4, 2016
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque Grant Agreement
Marie Ware
Leisure Services Manager
City of Dubuque, Leisure Services Dept.
2200 Bunker Hill Road
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Marie,
A check for $20,000 to City of Dubuque Leisure Services Dept. ("Grantee") will be
awarded to you. This constitutes a grant to support Grantee's "Summer Academy 2016
AmeriCorps" programming and wrap around care.
By accepting this grant, the City Leisure Services Department agrees to use the funds
to support eight (8) Iowa Reading Corps, AmeriCorps positions which will be utilized by
the Recreation Division for the Summer Academy taking place June 13 — July 29, 2016.
The City Leisure Services Department Recreation Division will engage in any contracts
required, support training and reporting requirements and provide supervision for the
Iowa Reading Corps, AmeriCorps positions for the duration of their service. Iowa
Reading Corps AmeriCorps members service hours requirements are 300 hours per
position for 8 positions.
This grant is made by Foundation subject to the following terms and conditions:
a) Grantee is an organization that is a governmental entity.
b) Grantee will utilize the grant's proceeds only for the work described above.
c) Grantee will inform Foundation immediately of any change in or IRS proposed or
actual revocation (whether or not appealed) of its tax status described above.
d) Grantee will provide documentation of expenditure of funds for Iowa Reading
Corps and copies of reports to Iowa Reading Corps.
This grant is earmarked for the project identified above, as described in Grantee's
funding proposal and related correspondence. It is not earmarked for transmittal to any
other entity or person, even if Grantee's proposal or other correspondence expresses
expenditure intentions. Rather, Grantee accepts and will discharge full control of the
grant and its disposition and responsibility for complying with this agreement's terms
and conditions.
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700 Street, Suite 195 t^aL 551.583 8619
Dubuque,, IA 52001 officeeldbqfoundatiumbr
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This grant is not in any way earmarked to support or carry on any lobbying or voter -
registration drive. If this grant is restricted to a specific project, Grantee hereby reaffirms
that the project's current budget, as previously submitted or explained to Foundation,
accurately reflects Grantee's present intentions to expend at least the amount of this
grant (plus any other grant from the foundation this year for the same project) on project
non -lobbying and non -voter -registration activities in Grantee's current fiscal year.
Grantee's deposit, negotiation, or endorsement of the enclosed check will constitute its
agreement to the terms and conditions set forth above. However, for Foundation's files,
please have the enclosed copy of this letter reviewed and signed where indicated by
authorized officer of Grantee and then returned to within 30 days.
Sincerely,
Nancy Van Milligen
President/CEO
On behalf of Grantee, I understand and agree to the foregoing terms and conditions of
Foundation's grant, and hereby certify my authority to execute this agreement on
Grantee's behalf.
Signature:
Name: Roy `D. Buol
Title:
Date:
(PRINT)
Mayor
April 25, 2016
Dubuque Campaign for Grade-Level Reading:
Summer Learning, Summer Academy 2016
A major factor that leads to academic achievement, including graduating from high school, is achieving
reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade. In fact, research tells us that when students fail to read
proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, 74% of them won't graduate high school.
Third grade represents the pivotal point where children move from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn'.
In Dubuque, local organizations and stakeholders are partnering to close the gaps separating low-income
students from their peers; raise the bar for reading proficiency; and ensure all children an equal chance at
success. Dubuque's Campaign for Grade-Level Reading has developed an action plan to improve grade level
reading for 1", 2nd and 3rd Grade students and metrics to measure progress by 2015 in all three focus areas:
School Readiness, Attendance ft Summer Learning. This paper will focus on our Summer Learning efforts
and in particular a pilot program called the Summer Academy.
Summer is a critical time for students; evidence shows that students experience summer learning loss during
the long summer months when they are not engaged in learning activities on a regular basis. The problem is
even worse for students of low-income families who often do not have access or resources to attend learning
based summer programs or have less access to books and reading opportunities. An innovative initiative in
Dubuque has will pilot a program to change that.
Summer Academy
During the pilot programs in the summers of 2013-15, the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading honed best
practices and built the necessary partnerships to bring the Summer Academy to scale this summer. During
this pilot period we learned what works towards the goal of preventing summer learning loss. Eighty-four
percent (84%) of students maintained or improved their reading proficiency during the pilot period. Summer
Academy deploys a replicable model that features summer learning best practices and utilizes certified
teachers, teaching assistants, and AmeriCorps to support a research-based curriculum.
The Summer Academy Experience
The Summer Academy is a six-week long, full-day learning experience that combines academic instruction
with fun and hands-on enrichment activities, field trips, and service projects. The program is designed to
engage parents as partners and help students gain new academic skills to ensure they are prepared to enter
school in the fall ready to excel.
A day at Summer Academy starts with a healthy breakfast and community-building events. Students then
transition into classrooms, where certified teachers and trained teaching assistants lead small-group
instruction in reading. Summer Academy staff use research-based curricula aligned to Common Core
standards, and apply differentiated instruction according to student's unique learning needs.
After lunch, students take part in a series of enrichment courses and activities focused on topics such as
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), creative arts, and health ft exercise. Examples include
(robotics, digital music production, creative writing, drama, athletic activities, character development, and
financial literacy).
Fridays at Summer Academy are "Exploration Fridays" - students are out in the community taking part in
field trips to local museums, parks or other fun destinations, as well as community service projects that
provide experiential learning and fun!
Wrap around care, will be available everyday in the morning (7a-8:30p) and afternoon (3p-6p) to support the
needs of working families. Providing this extended childcare increases attendance by allowing working
families to drop-off or pick-up students before and after work.
Grade-Level Reading Focus
Reading proficiency at the end of 3rd grade is a critical benchmark in a student's education. It is the point
in time when students are expected to shift from learning to read to reading to learn.
To help students master their reading skills and develop a love of learning, the Summer Academy includes
an intensive summer learning model. It starts with a staff of outstanding educators, including certified
teachers, trained assistants and reading mentors (AmeriCorps). Educators are equipped with curricula
aligned to the Common Core and best practices for reading development.
These resources, combined with differentiated instruction enable educators to adapt and adjust instruction
to align with the individual needs of the student and the approach used during the school year, providing
important reinforcement of literacy skills.
Transportation to Summer Academy is available from "express sites" which are pick-up/drop-off sites
located at neighborhood schools.
Community Partners
To address issues in the area of Summer Learning, an innovative group of community partners is using a
collective impact model and building a best-practice model for summer programming, named Summer
Academy. Together the group is learning how to integrate learning opportunities into existing summer
programming and developing an intensive and separate summer learning program for students most in need.
Summer Academy Task Force
Dubuque Community School District (host site)
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Every Child/Every Promise
Dubuque Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA
City of Dubuque Leisure Services
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Loras College
Boys and Girls Club
In addition to the task force members the Summer Academy is supported by dozens of summer program
providers who will provide enrichment activities for students. This program will bring together key
community partners to increase the capacity and quality of afternoon activities. The partners will link the
learning goals from the morning curriculum to interactive activities they will present in the afternoon.
These providers will also learn best practices they can take back into their own summer programs to build in
learning.
When is the program?
Summer Academy will run for six weeks, from June to July.
Summer Academy 2016
Program Budget Expenses
200-250 children entering grades 1" and 2nd grade
6 week program receiving DCSD instruction/lunch
8-12 Monday - Thursday and all day
Summer Academy program Monday - Friday
including wrap around care everyday in the morning and evening
Expenses
Personnel $ 34,500
AmeriCorps (8 members) $ 20,000
Enrichment Programming $ 5,000
Supplies $ 2,500
Meals $ 36,250
Transportation $ 24,000
Communications $ 2,500
Intensive Reading Program $ 90,000
Evaluation $ 15,000
Total Expense $229,750