Q&A
Assistance with recruitment plans for nearly terminated sites
1:04:01
ยท
92 sec
Council Member Crystal Hudson asks about the DOE's assistance in establishing recruitment plans for the five nearly terminated early childhood education sites. Deputy Chancellor Simone Hawkins explains the department's approach to supporting these providers.
- The DOE recognizes the providers' long-standing community presence and expertise in local recruitment.
- The department plans to supplement providers' knowledge with additional strategies and approaches used across the community.
- Where necessary, the DOE will help reconfigure seats to better meet community needs and maximize enrollment.
Crystal Hudson
1:04:01
Okay.
1:04:02
Thank you.
1:04:04
And then you've also told the five nearly terminated sites, chair, may I continue?
1:04:10
Thank you.
1:04:11
That you would assist them in establishing a recruitment plan, yet many of these providers do not have the capacity or expertise to compile these plans, especially given hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid reimbursements from the city that restricts recruitment and hiring operations?
1:04:26
Other than suggesting the inclusion of components, how are you working with these providers to make these plans, and what tangible resources is DOE providing?
Simone Hawkins
1:04:36
Yeah.
1:04:37
So I do think many of these providers, including Fort Bend Council, I remember them during my time at the council under Tish James, they have been in community for a really long time.
1:04:46
And so if there's anyone who could put boots on the ground and recruit families, I do think it's definitely those veterans who have been doing this work.
1:04:54
They know where to look for children, they know where to connect with families and many of them throughout this time have said very clearly that the community needs them and they have seats that families want.
1:05:05
And so in addition to helping them draft that based on their expertise and knowledge, we are going to supplement that with our expertise and knowledge and say these are some of the approaches and strategies that we've done and supported providers with the across community.
1:05:20
And in our conversations too, some of our providers have shared that they just don't have the seats that meet community need.
1:05:26
And so where we can reconfigure seats, we will do that so they can maximize enrollment as much as possible.
Crystal Hudson
1:05:32
Thank you.
Ingrid Matias Chungata
1:05:33
You're welcome.