Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Dr. Donna Elam in Conjunction with the University of South Florida Anchin Center to Continue Providing Intervention and Support Services to Five Title I Schools Beginning July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

As a requirement for Title I Schools in Need of Improvement, Corrective Action, or Restructuring the school district must implement a plan that would enhance each school’s ability to make adequate yearly progress. The David C. Anchin Center at the University of South Florida will provide technical assistance and support to a cohort of five Hillsborough County Schools in the way of a graduate resource assistant. The five schools involved in the Direct Approach To Achievement (DATA) Project are Edison, Just, Potter, B.T. Washington, and Witter Elementary Schools. Dr. Donna Elam will meet regularly with schools involved and provide ongoing reviews of academic assessment data. The university will collect data, gather information from all staff, teachers, and parents involved, and identify and share resources that will help each school achieve their academic goals as set in their school improvement plan. Regular staff development training and classroom observations will be conducted by members of the Anchin Center staff. The first year of the project (2005-06) involved Edison, Just, and Potter, and was totally funded by the University of South Florida, Institute for At-Risk Infants, Children, Youth, and their families. Based on the student achievement gains and overall success of the project’s goals at each school during the first year, the school district contracted with the Anchin Center for 2006-07 and added Witter and B.T. Washington to the cohort.

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.

This project is supported by the Title I budget in the amount of $31,214.24.

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