Head%20Start%20Collaborative%20Contract%202024-2025.pdf

Parent document: July 18, 2024, Regular Session-07-18-2024.pdf

Text

JACKSON COUNTY PRE-K AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT, effective for the 2024-2025 school term, between the JACKSON
COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION (“The Board’) and the APPALACHIAN COUNCIL
HEAD START (“The Provider’).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, The Provider operates a preschool center for four-year-olds and three-year-
olds with Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and,

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed to collaborate in the delivery of preschool services
for up to 220 children, to be distributed over eleven (11) classrooms, in Jackson County
Schools, which will be known as a WV Pre-K Sites, and,

NOW, THEREFORE, both parties agree to the following terms and conditions:

1. DUTIES OF THE PROVIDER
A. Services: The Provider will assure the following:

The Provider will participate in the operation of twelve (11) licensed preschool classrooms
in Jackson County. The Provider will recruit, identify and enroll eligible preschool children
and provide services identified in WV Rule 126CSR28.

1. The provision of twelve (11) classrooms appropriately equipped to meet the needs of
up to 220 four-year-old children and/or three-year-old children with IEPs with learning
centers designed to support early literacy, early numeracy and language
development. Each classroom will enroll no more than 20 children with no less than
two adults, one of whom is a teacher as specified in WV Policy 2525.

2. The WV Pre-K Program will operate based on the academic calendar of Jackson
County Schools. Hours for students will be 8:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.

3. The Provider will provide Family Service Workers who will make home visits, assist
families with resources, locate assistance in crisis and will serve as a family advocate
& liaison between family and community services.

4. The BOE will maintain attendance logs and provide The Board with the information
necessary to ensure The Board can maintain student records on the West Virginia
Education Information System (WVEIS) system through the appropriate elementary
school for the attendance area.

5. Recruit, enroll and serve eligible 4-year-old children and/or three-year-old children
with IEPs.

6. The utilization of the High Scope Curriculum, using purposeful and systematic
authentic assessment to gather evidence of each student’s progress based on all

1


domains of the WV Early Learning Standards, reporting the results to parents and on
the WV Pre-K Child Assessment System as required by the WVDE and adhering to
Policy 2525.

7. The utilization of inclusive practices when enrolling children, including children with
disabilities, children whose primary language is not English, as well as children of low
socioeconomic status.

8. Individual student portfolios shall be maintained by The Provider to document the
progress of individual students.

9. Student progress will be reported to the child’s parent/guardian.

10.A MHDS/Head Start representative should be contacted to attend Individual Education
Plans (IEP) with The Board.

11.The program will be evaluated using the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale
- Revised (ECERS-R) evaluation instrument when designated by the Jackson County
UPK Committee and when not evaluated with ECERS-R the classroom will be
evaluated using the instrument chosen by the UPK Committee.

12. The Provider will monitor the Pre-K classroom a minimum of one (1) time per year to
assure compliance with Head Start Performance Standards, Policy 2525, and Early
Learning Standards. One fidelity CLASS observation will be completed during the
school year. A second CLASS observation may be conducted if any of the scores
fall below the national average. The second CLASS observation will take place after
staff have had adequate training in the deficient areas. Unless an in-person meeting
is requested by The Board, scores will be sent via email to the Director of
Elementary Education & Staff Development, Principal, and Classroom Staff. Scores
that are shared will be on a scale of high, medium, and low. The Early Childhood
Education Specialist will make every effort to schedule visits, but due to time
constraints, some visits may be unannounced.

13. The Head Start monitoring tools will be chosen prior to the beginning of school and
utilized throughout the year.

B. Enrollment: The Provider will enroll at least sixty (60) students eligible to participate
in the WV Pre-K Program in eleven (11) classrooms in Jackson County Schools. The
remainder of the students will be enrolled by The Board. The students will be West
Virginia residents.

C. Family Involvement: The Provider will assure the following:

1. All families receiving Head Start services will be provided with at least two
parent/guardian/family home visits with the early childhood staff of the WV Pre-K
Program.

2. The Provider will work with Jackson County Schools to ensure the smooth transition
of children from the WV Pre-K Program into kindergarten settings, involving families
in transition planning.

3. Parents/guardians/family members will be encouraged and welcomed to participate
actively in decision-making about their child’s education and care.

2


4. Parents/guardians/family members will be encouraged to observe and participate in
group activities.

5. Parents/guardians have appropriately immunized the student according to The
Provider's guidelines.

D. Staffing: The Provider will ensure the following:

1. The Provider will provide two (2) Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teachers
(ECCATs), beginning on August 21, 2024, through the conclusion of the Jackson
County Schools 2024-2025 calendar.

2. The ECCAT must provide documentation of their certification to Jackson County
Schools prior to the start of the school year.

3. The ECCAT will participate in at least eighteen (18) hours of staff development
training, six (6) of which must be devoted to children with special needs that have
been mutually agreed upon by The Provider and The Board as meeting the
requirements of WV Policy 2525.

4. The ECCATs will attend thirty-six (36) hours of training over a twenty-four (24) month
period on the curriculum and assessment standards that have been mutually agreed
upon by The Provider and The Board as meeting the requirements of WV Policy 2525.

5. The ECCATs will be evaluated and disciplined by The Provider.

E. Communications: Open communication will be maintained with The Board. The
Board and The Provider shall be receptive to suggestions in regard to the content and
conduct of the WV Pre-K Program.

F. Transition: The following activities will take place to assure smooth transitions for
children moving from the WV Pre-K Program to kindergarten:

1. The WV Pre-K teacher shall share data gathered and maintained about individual
students relative to their progress throughout the year with the student’s receiving
kindergarten teacher prior to the close of the school year.

2. The WV Pre-K teacher shall conduct activities throughout the year to orient children
to kindergarten settings, including visitation of students to an elementary school prior
to the end of the school year.

3. The WV Pre-K teacher shall visit a kindergarten classroom two (2) times per year.

G. Policies and Procedures: The Provider shall orient students and their families with
respect to policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the Center.

H. First Aid: The BOE shall provide first aid to students in the event of an injury or illness
that occurs while students are under The Provider's care.

|. Proof of Insurance: Upon request by The Board, The Provider shall submit proof of
insurance coverage relative to any harm to participating students or The Board’s staff that
3


may arise due to acts of omissions of The Provider, its employees or agents. The Board
will reciprocate to The Provider of same upon request. The Center agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless The Board from any and all liability in conjunction with the
administering of the program by The Center.

J. Confidentiality of Records: The Provider shall ensure all educational and other
records; either received from The Board or formulated during the school year will be
confidential.

DUTIES OF THE BOARD

K. Staffing: The following provisions apply to the employment of staff by The Board for
the WV Pre-K Program:

1. The Board will ensure that certified teachers will be in each classroom and nine (9)
ECCATs to assist those teachers.

2. The teachers and ECCATs will be subject to all policies governing school employees
and will be evaluated by the school principal and/or the center director.

3. The Board will provide funding to Head Start to extend the contract of two (2) ECCATs
for up to 30 days, on an as needed basis, at the daily rate of the ECCATs not to exceed
a daily rate of $162.20 and a total maximum cost of $4,866.00.

4. The Board will provide opportunities for staff of the WV Pre-K Program to attend
County Staff Development Programs as required per West Virginia Policy 2525. The
Board Pre-K staff will have the opportunity to attend staff development programs
offered by The Provider.

5. The Board, through the building principal, will provide administrative supervision to the
WV Pre-K classroom.

L.Services:

1. The Board will conduct developmental and speech/language screening for all children
enrolled in the WV Pre-K Program who have not been screened within 45 days of
enrollment and provide to the Mental Health and Disability Specialist.

2. The Board will provide appropriate services for students with special needs as
determined by their IEP. IEPs for Head Start children will be shared with Appalachian
Council.

3. The Board will provide sufficient funds for curriculum materials to meet the standards
of a WV Pre-K Program.

4. The Board will provide transportation for preschool students will disabilities if it is so
noted on the student’s IEP.

5. The Board will provide breakfast and lunch for children attending the WV Pre-K
Program utilizing USDA guidelines.


6. The Board, through the staff of the eleven (11) classrooms in Jackson County
Schools, will provide Appalachian Council the following required documents for all
children enrolled in the Head Start program: weekly attendance records, absentee
information on the second day of a child’s absence, in-kind participation, notification
in change in child/family information, monthly disability reports, BASC-3 screening,
developmental screenings, bi-annual child height and weight information, monthly
BMI tracking for children who are referred by a physician, monthly health and safety
checklist, weekly lesson plans and newsletters.

7. The Board will be responsible to replace any BOE vacancies.

8. The Board will provide copies of developmental screenings to Appalachian Council.

M. General: A West Virginia health and safety walkthrough will be completed within 45
days of the start of the school year. Appalachian Council will participate in the
walkthrough and results will be submitted to Appalachian Council Facilities Specialist.

Lead testing will be completed at collaborative sites prior to collaboration and
if already collaborating, prior to 5/1/24. Lead testing will be completed every
three years after the initial testing. After three consecutive tests below the
standards, testing will not be required unless there is significant modifications
to the building. Per the Serving Our Children in Lead-Free Facilities policy
and Performance Standards 1302.47 (b) (1) (iii).

N. Transition: The following activities will take place to ensure the smooth transition
of students from WV Pre-K Program to Kindergarten:

1. Provide an orientation session for entering kindergarten students and parents.

2. Release designated kindergarten teachers, as feasible, to observe the WV Pre-K
Program and participate in the planning of the transitioning process.

3. Provide staff development opportunities for WV Pre-K staff.

O. Contract Amount: This contract involves no exchange of funds only a blending
of resources from each party and a payment by the Jackson County Board of education
in the estimated amount of $4,866.00.

P. Evaluation of Students: The Board shall conduct evaluations of individual
students in compliance with WV Policy 2419, unless The Provider has an individual
certified to perform such evaluations. The provider will work with the BOE teachers to
provide supports.

2. GENERAL TERMS


A. Assignment: Neither party shall assign transfer or otherwise change the Agreement
or any right or duty created hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party.

B. Term: The term of this Agreement shall be for a period commencing on July 19, 2024
and ending June 30, 2025.

C. Modification: The parties may mutually amend this Agreement. Any Amendments
shall be placed in writing, signed by both parties and attached hereto.

D. Entire Agreement: This Agreement, including all attachments, embodies the entire
agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. In the event of a
conflict between the terms of any attachment, or appendix, the terms of this Agreement
shall prevail. There are no promises, terms, conditions or obligations other than those
contained herein, and this Agreement supersedes all previous communications,
representations or agreement, either verbal or written, between the parties hereto.

E. Impasse: In the event a conflict should arise, the parties shall follow the Jackson
County Collaborative Impasse Procedures to resolve the issue and come to consensus.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this AGREEMENT has been executed by the parties by their
duly authorized representative as of the date set forth.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE COUNTY OF JACKSON

James E. Frazier, President Date

APPALACHIAN COUNCIL HEAD START

Head Start Director Date