The Administration recommends that the Board of Education ratify the acceptance and execution of a Grant Agreement by The School District of Philadelphia, through the Superintendent or his designee, as follows:

From:

City of Philadelphia, Department of Human Services (DHS) 

Purpose: 

Reimbursement by the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS) for transporting foster care students living in Philadelphia to and from their school of origin.

Grant Start Date: 7/1/19

Grant End Date:  6/30/23 

Amount up to:  $800,000

Description:  

DHS will reimburse the School District for eighty percent (80%) of the total cost of transportation provided from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023, up to a maximum of $200,000 each year.  The School District transports over 40,000 students to and from school. Of this total, approximately 130 students reside in foster care. Some of these students are eligible to receive transportation services to and from their school of origin through a program established by DHS. The goal is to ensure that when students are placed in foster care the educational process continues uninterrupted and students have the opportunity to continue attending their school of origin. Changing schools can impede the academic achievement of students in foster care and runs counter to the District’s reading proficiency and college and career readiness anchor goals. Through the agreement with DHS, the School District will be reimbursed a portion of its transportation costs for up to 30 students each year. 

A ratification is required because the City of Philadelphia, Department of Human Services has indicated that they are willing to share the expense of transporting children in foster care with the District. On  January 4, 2021, the City sent an agreement committing to reimburse the District for transporting children in foster care up to $200,000 per year going back to July 1, 2019.

Funding Source(s):  FY20-21 Categorical