(a) Within thirty (30) days after its creation, the Commission on Universal Pre-Kindergarten shall convene its first meeting. Thereafter, the Commission shall meet no fewer than six times before March 31, 2016, at such times and at such places as determined by the Commission. All meetings shall be open to the public, and the Commission shall receive public testimony during no fewer than two of these meetings.
(b) The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive analysis of early childhood education in Philadelphia and produce a feasible plan to move the City toward providing universal pre-kindergarten, including proposals for funding that would not reduce existing education funding. The Commission's ultimate goal shall be a universal pre- kindergarten program to provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible educational services to the City's three- and four-year-olds throughout the City. The Commission's work shall be guided by the principle that early childhood education has the potential to produce life-long learners who will become contributing citizens.
(c) The Commission shall invite the participation of any staff of the Mayor or of the Council, as well as utilize any available resources, including studies or reports. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Commission also may retain such consultants as it deems appropriate, including (i) any organization or individual with recognized expertise in early childhood education or universal pre-kindergarten; and (ii) any organization or individual with recognized expertise in state or local tax policy, public funding, or revenue forecasting.
(d) All departments, boards, commissions and other City agencies shall cooperate fully with the Commission in the performance of its duties and responsibilities and shall provide any documents, data, analyses or other information relating to universal pre-kindergarten requested by the Commission, except documents the nondisclosure of which is legally privileged or which have been prepared for or by the Law Department for use in actions or proceedings in which the City is or may be a party. Upon the written request of a City agency, the Commission shall maintain the confidentiality of any documents, data, analyses or other related information to the extent legally permitted.
(e) By January 15, 2016, the Commission shall present a draft funding plan to the Mayor and Council for review and comment. Council shall enact a resolution providing comments on the draft funding plan to the Commission by March 15, 2016, which the Chief Clerk of Council shall transmit to the Commission. The Mayor also shall provide written comments no later than March 15, 2016. The Commission shall give due consideration to the comments of the Mayor and Council in drafting its final report.
(f) On or before April 15, 2016, unless Council by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of all members of the Council approves an extension to last for no more than thirty (30) days, the Commission shall by a simple majority vote of all members of the Commission adopt a written final report proposing specific steps toward a universal pre-kindergarten program, including an administrative structure and a final funding proposal. The Commission may further propose state or federal legislation or other policy changes necessary or helpful to the establishment of universal pre-kindergarten in the City. The Commission shall provide copies of its report to each member of Council and to the Clerk of Council, and the Commission shall see to it that a copy is posted on the City's official Internet site.
(g) The Commission may include in its report any relevant legislative, administrative or policy recommendations it chooses, but at a minimum shall include in its report both of the following:
(1) One or more proposed Council bills to raise revenues sufficient to fund the program proposed by the Commission, with other reliable revenue sources, as available.
(2) Recommendations to the Mayor and Council for achieving a universal pre-kindergarten program, including a timeline and estimated costs.
Notes
| 183 | Enrolled resolution numbered this as Section 4-1800; renumbered by Code editor. |