Agenda Item
a. Approval of Agreement with Easterseals North Georgia (ESNG)
Summary: Presented by: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Division of Curriculum & Instruction
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the agreement between EasterSeals North Georgia and the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) in the amount of $696,874.
Why: This contract agreement defines the respective responsibilities and understandings of the Easterseals North Georgia (ESNG- Head Start) and the DeKalb County School District (collectively referred to as the “Cooperating Agencies”) concerning certain children residing in the school district and served by the ESNG. The Cooperating Agencies are jointly responsible for the provision of appropriate services to children with disabilities beginning at age three, as mandated by Public Law 99-457 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In compliance with the federal guidelines of the funding agency known as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Cooperating Agencies shall provide age-appropriate services to these children through a collaborative effort as specified in the contract agreement.
Details: DCSD has maintained a cooperative agreement with Head Start for fifteen (15) years. The District currently provides eight (8) fully certified special education teachers to Head Start to serve up to forty-two (42) students with disabilities in preschool, co-taught classrooms with typical peers. Students are placed in these settings based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP) needs. They are placed as close to their home school as possible. DCSD is currently seeking to enter into an agreement with ESNG to continue inclusive services until June 30, 2023.
Financial impact: The total cost of teachers’ salaries and benefits for this agreement for the 2022-2023 school year is $696,874. This total is allocated through Preschool Disability Services State Grant in the following charge code:
201.38.06.00.126201.734.2620.
Contact: Ms. Stacy Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, Curriculum & Instruction, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.0731
Ms. Michele Summerlin, Executive Director, Exceptional Education Department, Division of Curriculum and Instruction, 678.676.2163
Effective: Upon Board approval
Status: Reviewed by General Counsel
About Easter Seals North Georgia Children Services
Easter Seals North Georgia provides high-quality services strengthening
children and their families’ at the most critical times in a child's
development. Each day, ESNG delivers comprehensive education and
childcare to more than 3,000 children age 6 weeks to five years old with
disabilities and special needs.
Children with disabilities and special needs find high quality services designed to meet their individual
needs when they come to Easter Seals. We provide programs to low-income children to ensure that they
have equal opportunities in their communities. Teams of therapists, teachers and other health
professionals help each child overcome obstacles to independence and reach his or her personal goals.
Easter Seals also includes families as active members of any therapy program, and offers the support
families need.
Easter Seals North Georgia Children Services, through its varied programs, is committed to providing the
highest quality education and care that enriches family life, nurtures each child’s unique abilities and that
ensures parent’s peace of mind.
Head Start
Head Start is a federally funded child development program for low income young children
and their families. Since its inception in 1965, more than 12 million children and families have
benefited from Head Start’s comprehensive services. The primary target population for Head
Start is children between the ages of 3-5 from families living below the federal poverty line.
Head Start Programs are funded by the Department of Health and Human Services directly to local
community agencies.
Early Head Start
As with Head Start, Early Head Start offers children and families comprehensive child development
services through center-based, home-based, and combination program options. The mission of Early
Head Start (EHS) is to enhance the development of very young children, and promote healthy family
functioning. EHS is an intensive, comprehensive, flexible program that is designed to reinforce and
respond to the unique strengths and needs of each individual child and family.
Easter Seals Child Development Centers-DeKalb County
With four child care centers (Clarkston, Columbia, Hambrick & Lawrenceville) and two partnerships
locations (Giselle Learning Center and Our House) in DeKalb County, we provide high quality services to
children ages six-months to five years old. Head Start classrooms consist of two highly qualified and
experienced teachers, 1 Lead teacher and 1 Assistant teacher. 4 year old classrooms have 18-20
children and 3 year old classrooms have 17 children. Our Early Head Start classrooms (ages 6 weeks-2)
consist of two highly qualified experienced teachers with both teachers serving as co-Leads. Each Early
Head Start classroom has a maximum of 8 children per class.