HomeMy WebLinkAbout22G - ENGLISH LITERACY SYSTEMREQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
TITLE:
CONTRACT AWARD FOR
LITERACY SYSTEM
(SPEC. NO. 09-045)
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
APPROVED
^ As Recommended
ENGLISH ^ As Amended
^ Ordinance on 1S` Reading
^ Ordinance on 2"d Reading
^ Implementing Resolution
^ Set Public Hearing For_
CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
CONTINUED TO
FILE NUMBER
Award a contract to Retention Education, Inc. for the purchase of English
Literacy materials in the amount of $83,402.34.
DISCUSSION
The Santa Ana W/0/R/K Center has been providing work force development
programs to the community for over 20 years. In May 2009, the Department
of Labor (DOL) awarded the W/0/R/K Center a $728,055 grant to serve 125
Santa Ana residents with work experience training, financial literacy,
and/or English literacy. The English literacy program portion of the
grant will serve Santa Ana residents whose language skills do not
currently meet the requirement for entry level employment. At this time
470 of Santa Ana residents are considered limited English proficient.
Retention Education, Inc. is a leading provider of English language
training solutions for limited English proficient adults in the
workforce and education system. They will provide the Sed de Saber
language training kit for use by participants in the DOL grant. This
system is a customized home-based portable device similar to a "Leap
Frog" system. The platform's record-playback-and-compare feature
provides the learner with immediate feedback needed to perfect word
pronunciation. In addition to the Sed de Saber program, participants
will also receive training support and implementation tools as well as
personalized tutoring.
Retention Education, Inc. is providing similar services to the Greater
Santa Ana Business Alliance and to the Santa Ana Unified School
District. The Sed de Saber program is an integral part of the grant's
scope of work as approved by DOL.
22G-1
Contract Award for English
Literacy System (Spec. No. 09-045)
September 8, 2009
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the DOL Earmark Program account (no. 13218742-
63001) .
Cynthia J. Nelson
Deputy City Manager for
Development Services
Community Development Agency
09-045 CDA/EG
APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS:
` ~~
Francisco Gutierrez
Executive Director
Finance & Management Services Agency
22G-2