Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 2006
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve the Memorandum of Agreement among Hillsborough County Public Schools, the Department of Children and Families, Hillsborough Kids Inc., the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance (Student Services & Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

If approved by the School Board, this agreement will be in effect on August 23, 2006. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) is a leader in the development of collaborative relationships with other agencies which support student achievement and encourage post-secondary pursuits. An interagency agreement was proposed by FDOE staff to local community leaders and intended to improve educational services to dependent children, known to the child welfare system (i.e., shelter homes, foster care, protective services, etc.) A group of social service leaders in Hillsborough County have worked to develop a working agreement based on this model. This agreement is designed to improve the sharing of information, enhance internal and external communication among agency partners, provide joint training, and involve families, educators and agency staff in case planning which will assist with the unique needs of children in care and provide supportive interventions. Various school district administrators contributed to the plans for this agreement including Transportation, Exceptional Student Education and Adult and Technical Education.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

Goal 5 – The District will eliminate the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

$7,300 – Ten percent of a school social work administrator’s time will be designated to work with the district and agency staffs to fulfill the intent of this agreement. The agreement is designed to reduce costs and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of case planning for children known to local child welfare services.

EVALUATION

Agency partners will meet quarterly to oversee, manage, evaluate and implement this agreement. Recommendations will be made to improve local policies and procedures which impact dependent children.

SUBMITTED BY: Nelson H. Luis, General Director, Student Services & Federal Programs

Gwendolyn L. Luney
Assistant Superintendent, Student Services & Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
5.03
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20060822_182 * Section E Item# 5.03