This chapter is intended to implement Charter section 6.06 and the management and budgeting of the dedicated fund established by that voter approved measure. The provisions of this chapter are intended to ensure the fund expenses are used exclusively for resources for supporting and advancing child care and early education in the Municipality and the permissible administrative costs for the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund's operations.
(AO No. 2024-61(S-1), § 2, 7-16-2024)
A. 
There is established, in accordance with Charter section 6.06, an Anchorage Child Care and Early Education (ACCEE) Fund Board with the powers and duties described herein. The board's mission and activities shall be for the purpose of supporting and advancing child care and early education in the municipality, and recommending funding priorities or specific appropriations pursuant to the dedication of funds under Charter section 6.06(a).
B. 
The board shall consist of nine members. All board members shall be citizens of the United States, and residents of and registered voters in the municipality while in office. No board member may serve in any elected office, except on a service area board established pursuant to section 9.01 of the Charter. Members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the assembly.
1. 
Board composition and qualifications. The board should reflect the broad range of those involved in and affected by early education and child care services and the diversity of Anchorage. Board members shall be qualified as follows at the time they are seated:
a. 
At least one and no more than four members shall be actively employed in the early education or child care sector.
b. 
At least one member shall be employed in or retired from a social services profession, including behavioral health services.
c. 
At least two members shall be a parent or legal guardian utilizing a program that provides early education or child care to a member of their household.
2. 
Terms.
a. 
Appointed members are subject to a term limit of three consecutive full terms beginning when a board member has been appointed to a full three-year term. Time served by a board member during any initial partial term less than three years shall not be counted in connection with the term limit. After serving three consecutive full terms, the same member may be appointed to the board if three full years have transpired since their previous term limit date.
b. 
Member terms shall be staggered so that not more than three member terms expire each year.
C. 
The board shall have the responsibilities outlined in Charter section 6.06. In addition, the board may exercise the following responsibilities and operations, but is not limited to those listed:
1. 
Serve as an advisory body to the assembly and mayor on topics related to child care and early education.
2. 
Solicit ideas for funding, request research and analysis.
3. 
Evaluate responses to procurement solicitations and requests for grant proposals, and make procurement and grant award recommendations.
4. 
Review financial reports and audits to confirm that spending from the ACCEE Fund is consistent with all relevant rules and regulations, and that the ACCEE Fund is being managed responsibly in a transparent manner with the highest standards of care and accountability to the public.
5. 
Commission an annual evaluation to ensure that programs funded are impactful and meet established outcomes. The board may retain an external independent evaluator.
6. 
Facilitate coordination, communication, and collaboration within the municipality, with the Anchorage School District, and with entities or government agencies that oversee child care and early education programs to promote nonduplication and coordination of services, and to inform the structure for existing programs and any new programs.
7. 
Promote local community support and public awareness of child care and early education programs, and of the actions and strategies of the ACCEE Fund itself.
D. 
Budget and funding. The board shall adhere to budget and funding standards and restrictions set forth in Charter section 6.06(c). In addition, the board shall take the following actions for budgeting and strategic direction of the Anchorage Child Care and Early Education Fund:
1. 
Adopt written policies related to the ACCEE Fund;
2. 
Develop and recommend adoption of an initial investment strategy for the development, implementation, and expansion of child care and early education programs in the municipality. The board shall review and update the strategy every three years;
3. 
Hold at least one public hearing annually, prior to the required public hearing on the board's draft budget recommendations, to solicit ideas from the public for funding, programming and policy; and
4. 
Prepare a recommended annual budget for use of the funds to be presented to the mayor and assembly. The board shall hold at least one public hearing on a draft budget prior to transmitting the recommended budget to the mayor and assembly.
E. 
Expenditures and administrative limit. The board shall adhere to expenditure and administrative limits set forth in Charter section 6.06(d). In addition, the board shall publish a report describing the amounts spent and the results achieved. Reports that are provided to the mayor and assembly shall also be made available to the public.
F. 
Board staff. The costs for personnel in this section are included within the administrative costs limits set forth in Charter section 6.06(d), which states that the board may spend no more than ten percent of the funds received each year on its own administrative costs, shall be in the board's budget, and are subject to approval by the assembly.
1. 
In accordance with Charter section 6.06(f), the board may appoint a principal executive officer in consultation with the mayor. The principal executive officer position shall be "executive director" and shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
2. 
The executive director may hire administrative staff as is required in the execution of the board's duties.
3. 
The board may decide to pay per diem costs but shall not pay a salary to board members.
G. 
Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the following definitions apply:
"Child care"
has the meaning in state law (7 AAC 57.990): The supervision and provision of developmental opportunities, with or without compensation, to a child who does not have a parent present; "child care" or "care" includes services in or away from a child care facility.
"Early education"
means formal and informal programs that guide education for children from birth through five years of age and who have not attended kindergarten. The term includes literacy programs and home visiting programs, as well as formal programs, such as pre-kindergarten or preschool classes, but does not include education provided to children of school age as defined by law. (Reference AS 14.03.070.)
(AO No. 2024-61(S-1), § 2, 7-16-2024)