Educational Leadership and Professional Development Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, January 23, 2018
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services with the University of South Florida (USF) (Educational Leadership and Professional Development)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In order to prepare leaders to serve in the District’s high-needs schools, Educational Leadership and Professional Development has partnered with USF to design an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree Program in leadership for school turnaround.  The purpose of the degree is to ensure that a talented pool of leaders is always ready to be placed into principal positions in high-needs schools.  Staff from USF and Hillsborough County Public Schools will work together to select a fourth cohort of assistant principals and principals to enter the program.  The group of leaders selected will participate in a 30-hour program focused on leading in high-needs schools and schools in need of turnaround. The program will culminate with the delivery of capstone projects that will inform District practice around improving outcomes for students in chronically underperforming schools.  Leaders who complete the Ed.S. Degree Program will be placed in a pool of leaders who will fill future vacancies in high-needs schools.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Improve the high school graduation rate • Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child • Recruit, support, and retain a highly effective and diverse workforce
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
Funds in the amount of $110,755 will be available in the Wallace Grant.  For tracking purposes, the project number specific to this agenda item is 2100.  As of December 12, 2017, the remaining balance less encumbrances for this line item equaled $222,719.72. Funding for this project is provided by the Wallace Foundation Principal Pipeline Initiative (PPI) Grant for the amount of $110,755.  Although the PPI grant officially finished in 2016, the Wallace Foundation had each District roll funding over into a sixth and seventh year to support a special project.  The total funding from the original grant was 12.5 million.  The amount remaining is 222,719.72.
EVALUATION
Two cohorts of principals, assistant principals and District leaders have graduated from the Ed.S. Degree Program and a third cohort will finish in summer of 2018. Of the two cohorts that have graduated, which is a total of 27 leaders, 11 are currently serving as principals in high-needs schools. Nine are serving as principals in schools that are not considered high needs and will be part of the pool that will be appointed to future high-needs vacancies.  Eight are serving in District roles that support leaders in high-needs schools.  Of the 11 leaders serving in high-needs schools, all of them either improved their school grade or the percentage points that make up the school grade.  A formal evaluation of the program will be completed in spring 2018.
SUBMITTED BY:  Tricia McManus, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Leadership and Professional Development

Gretchen Saunders		Jeffrey Eakins
Chief Business Officer 813-272-4270		Superintendent (813) 272-4047
		C 6.08
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20180123_858 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.08