Pop-up Power: Schools & Communities Move Quickly to Provide Child Care to Children of Essential Workers

Special guest Mary Jane Burke, Marin County Superintendent of Schools, describes how schools, community organizations and local government agencies are stepping up together in a powerful way to meet the needs of children and families. 

Marin County was one of the first regions to establish an emergency pop-up childcare program to support essential workers at a time when school campuses and regular childcare facilities are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Marin sprang into action even before Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on April 4 to help facilitate expanded access to these types of childcare facilities. What key steps did the partners in Marin County take? And what are some early lessons learned? It’s an inspiring story of collaboration, ingenuity and staying focused on doing the right things.

Plus, we’ll check in with CASBO’s Governmental Relations team, Sara Bachez and Elizabeth Esquivel, to learn the latest news about the state budget and federal relief package, and the potential implications for school funding and students.

Resources

California Department of Education COVID-19 Guidance for Early Learning and Care Programs and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Main Web Page"Marin expands ‘pop-up’ child care during pandemic," Marin Independent Journal articleExecutive Order on Child CareGuidance on Child Care for Essential WorkersCalifornia Department of Finance letters submitted as part of an interim fiscal update to the Joint Legislative Budget CommitteeLegislative Analyst's Office report, "State Budget Effects of Recent Federal Actions to Address COVID-19

Marin County Pop-up Child Care Partners include: County of Marin, Marin County Office of Education, Marin County public school districts, Marin County Free Library, City of San Rafael, North Bay Children’s Center, Community Action Marin, Marin YMCA, and North Marin Community Services.

About Mary Jane Burke

As County Superintendent of Schools, she is responsible for managing the Marin County Office of Education, which serves more than 40,000 students ages birth to 22 years and oversees more than $450 million in public education funds. The County Superintendent of Schools provides a critical fiscal oversight role for the county’s 18 schools districts to guarantee that public funds are managed appropriately and efficiently. In addition, she oversees a broad range of student and education services countywide including special education, alternative education, outdoor education and programs for foster and homeless youth.

About CASBO

The California Association of School Business Officials is the premier resource for professional development and business best practices for California's school business leaders.