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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 <br />TITLE: <br />CONTRACT AWARD FOR <br />LITERACY SYSTEM <br />(SPEC. NO. 09 -045) <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />ENGLISH ❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1s` Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2 "d Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Award a contract to Retention Education, Inc. for the purchase of English <br />Literacy materials in the amount of $83,402.34. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The Santa Ana W /O /R /K Center has been providing work force development <br />programs to the community for over 20 years. In May 2009, the Department <br />of Labor (DOL) awarded the W /O /R /K Center a $728,055 grant to serve 125 <br />Santa Ana residents with work experience training, financial literacy, <br />and /or English literacy. The English literacy program portion of the <br />grant will serve Santa Ana residents whose language skills do not <br />currently meet the requirement for entry level employment. At this time <br />470 of Santa Ana residents are considered limited English proficient. <br />Retention Education, Inc. is a leading provider of English language <br />training solutions for limited English proficient adults in the <br />workforce and education system. They will provide the Sed de Saber <br />language training kit for use by participants in the DOL grant. This <br />system is a customized home -based portable device similar to a "Leap <br />Frog" system. The platform's record - playback- and - compare feature <br />provides the learner with immediate feedback needed to perfect word <br />pronunciation. In addition to the Sed de Saber program, participants <br />will also receive training support and implementation tools as well as <br />personalized tutoring. <br />Retention Education, Inc. is providing similar services to the Greater <br />Santa Ana Business Alliance and to the Santa Ana Unified School <br />District. The Sed de Saber program is an integral part of the grant's <br />scope of work as approved by DOL. <br />22G -1 <br />