Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Center for Innovative Schools - $20,400 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

The Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) implementation grant, awarded in October 2003, requires ongoing staff development to ensure program effectiveness. A contract has been developed with the Center for Innovative Schools for the period 8/24/05 through 2/17/06 for $20,400 to provide staff training for the four SLC implementation sites: Chamberlain, East Bay, Leto, and Wharton High Schools. The Center for Innovative Schools is a noted national provider of training which is grounded in research. The Center has served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) in crafting the federal SLC grant legislation and can provide the quality of staff development expected by the USDOE.

The provider will conduct on-site, on-demand staff development, coordinated with the site administrators and the SLC site manager, during teacher planning periods. Training content will include the importance of establishing benchmark student performances, reviewing common assessments, and involvement of community and educational agencies. Provider will observe teaching practices of individual team members as a means for coaching and reinforcing the staff development. This effort will complement teachers' Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). The provider will conduct six workshops at each of the four sites and at the conclusion, will meet with the SLC district staff to assess the effort as the professional development services will be linked directly to student outcomes and improvement.

Goal 5 - The district will close the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

Funds of $20,400 are included in the Smaller Learning Communities Implementation grant.

07/11/06