Academic Support and Federal Programs Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, December 5, 2017
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Memorandum of Agreement Between the School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida and the University of South Florida (USF) Board of Trustees (Academic Support and Federal Programs Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
USF was awarded a three-year research grant funded by the United States Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences.  The purpose of this grant, entitled Professional Development of a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Model for Early Childhood Educators to Prevent Reading Disabilities, is to study how well-constructed training modules, in-class coaching, and an Electronic Data Management/Expert Decision Making system will aid in decision making by early childhood educators. It will prompt timely assessment and intervention that will result in high fidelity implementation of an early literacy MTSS model. This project will also expand on the use of Standard Treatment Protocols that have been shown to be effective in teaching phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge skills. The project will capitalize on a skilled and experienced research team that has been developing tools for and models of MTSS in Early Childhood settings and has a strong partnership history with school districts in the Tampa area. This is year one of the three-year project. The contract was reviewed and approved by the School Board Attorney on October 19, 2017.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
Costs and services in the amount of $1,400,000 will be the responsibility of USF.
EVALUATION
This three-year grant will be evaluated by an external evaluator at the end of year one.
SUBMITTED BY:  Marie Caracciola, Director, Early Childhood and HOST Programs Tracye H. Brown, Assistant Superintendent, Academic Support and Federal Programs

Gretchen Saunders		Dr. Alberto Vázquez
Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270		Chief of Staff (813) 272-4986
		C 6.13
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20171205_824 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.13