Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Agreement for Technical Services with C. Victor Fung, Ph.D., for the Lift Every Voice for Literacy Grant - $13,000 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Lift Every Voice for Literacy Grant funded by the Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Program consists of two components: to increase the reading achievement of struggling readers while increasing the music proficiency of students, and to provide teacher professional development. The grant requires an external evaluation team that consists of reading, music, and research specialists. An Agreement for Technical Services has been developed with C. Victor Fung, Ph.D., University of South Florida, to serve as an evaluator to:

  • Administer assessment of students’ proficiency in accurately singing melodic/rhythmic patterns and songs
  • Collect baseline data
  • Devise a training syllabus for music strategy professional development
  • Create survey of satisfaction of training
  • Conduct classroom observations
  • Conduct survey of student reflections
  • Create teacher questionnaires
  • Conduct interviews with participants
  • Collect/organize participant reflections (oral and/or written); lesson logs, and video recordings of model lessons
  • Conduct survey of student reflection on musical abilities
  • ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

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

    FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

    Funds of $13,000 for external evaluators are included in the district special revenue/federal programs budget through the Lift Every Voice for Literacy Grant, Project 1282.

    EVALUATION

    SUBMITTED BY: Barbara Hancock, General Director, Elementary Education 
    Margaret Griffin, Supervisor, Elementary Fine Arts

    Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
    Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
    (813) 272-4221
    Gretchen Saunders
    Chief Business Officer
    (813) 272-4270
    5.10
    Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070116_228 * Section E Item# 5.10