Teaching and Learning Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, August 29, 2017
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Renewal Agreement for Technical Services with the Arts Council of Hillsborough County for the 2017/2018 Artists-in-the-Schools (AIS) Program (Office of Teaching and Learning)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For decades, the Arts Council has partnered with Hillsborough County Public Schools to ensure all students receive a comprehensive education that includes the arts.  Research shows that students who participate in the arts have an increased high school and college graduation rate and increased academic achievement. This program provides students with instruction and exposure to various arts through the AIS Program and the Performing Arts Field Trips Program. The AIS Program brings standards-based arts experiences and instruction directly to school sites. Highly qualified artists provide performances, workshops, residencies, and magnet adjunct instruction. Performing Arts field trips are often a child’s first introduction to a live performance. These engaging educational performances offer standards-based teacher resource materials to prepare for and extend learning. The mission of the program is to provide equity and access for students by infusing and integrating arts experiences into the school day. Arts integration strategies are used to seamlessly merge arts standards with core curricula to build connections and to provide engaging context, which results in students enthusiastically participating in the learning process. During the 2016/2017 school year, a total of 102,252 students, parents, and teachers participated in 1,366 arts experiences and field trip performances. Matching funds for these in-school programs are provided through grants, fees, and donations made by individual organizations.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $126,332 will be available in the Instructional Tampa Arts Council budget.  For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda items is 6003.  As of August 8, 2017, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $126,332.  Funds in the amount of $30,000 will be available in the Fix Magnet Office budget. For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda item is 5307. As of August 8, 2017, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $53,828.08.
EVALUATION
Of the 1,366 arts and field trip experiences held during 2016/2017, 77 percent of teachers rated AIS experiences as excellent and 23 percent as good. Contracted evaluators rated 60 percent of field trip arts experiences as excellent and 40 percent as good; with teachers' ratings as 69 percent excellent, 29 percent as good, and 2 percent as satisfactory. For 2017/2018, teachers and contracted evaluators will evaluate performances to ensure quality and alignment to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards and Florida Standards.
SUBMITTED BY:  Deborah Cook, Chief Academic Officer, Office of Teaching and Learning Barbara B. Hancock, Instructional Leadership Director, Elementary Education

Gretchen Saunders		Dr. Alberto Vázquez
Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270		Chief of Staff (813) 272-4986
		C 6.05
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20170829_818 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.05