(a) Establishment of Fund. The Infant and Toddler Early Learning Scholarship Fund (“the Fund”) is hereby established as a category four fund to provide financial assistance to both family child-care homes and early care and education centers that are licensed by the State of California (collectively “Providers”).
(b) Sources of Funds. The Fund may re- ceive any legally available monies appropriated for this purpose including, but not limited to, monies received by the City through public-private partnerships.
(c) Use of Funds. The Department of Early Childhood (the “Department”), as successor to the Office of Early Care and Education (“OECE”), shall use monies in the Fund to provide grants to Providers under a funding program that the Department shall establish. The purpose of the grants shall be to expand access to quality infant and toddler care for parents and guardians who (1) reside in San Francisco, (2) work or attend school at least part-time, (3) have a child younger than 36 months old, and (4) have a moderate family income subject to a limit established by the Department, which shall be no less than 110% of Area Median Income for the San Francisco area, derived from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, adjusted solely for household size.
(d) Administration and Oversight of Fund. The Department shall administer the Fund.
(1) No later than six months after the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 161034 enacting this Section 10.100-81, and prior to issuing any grants, the Department shall adopt rules for the program consistent with this Section 10.100-81. The rules shall at a minimum establish a selection process for awarding grants, eligibility criteria for Providers receiving grants, procedures for determining the size and frequency of grant awards, processes for disbursement of grant funds, restrictions on the use of grant funds, criteria for determining which families’ tuition costs may be reduced by grant funds, and reporting obligations for Providers. The rules shall establish criteria that prioritize funding that supports parents and guardians who attend publicly funded colleges or universities in the City over those who attend other colleges or universities.
(2) Within 15 days after adopting initial rules for the program under subsection (d)(1), the Department shall submit a copy thereof to the Board of Supervisors. These rules shall not become effective, and the Department shall issue no grants thereunder, until at least 90 days after the Department has submitted the rules to the Board of Supervisors. Any subsequent rules or rule amendments adopted by the Department shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
(3) The Department shall submit an annual report to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor describing the implementation of the program.