Approve Agreements for Technical Services for Alternative Certification Program (ACP) Instructors for Training of ACP Teachers during June 2007 (Information and Technology Division)

In 1998, the Florida Department of Education approved the implementation of Hillsborough County Public Schools’ Alternative Certification Program to allow teachers who did not major in education to complete their certification requirements. One of the benefits of the program is training provided by classroom teachers in topics related to effective teaching. This training includes six courses that must be taken prior to completion of the program. New teachers join ACP throughout the majority of the school year. Therefore, ACP courses are offered throughout the school year and in June. ACP instructors are paid the board approved rate of $38.84 per hour plus fringe for the time they instruct participants.

ACP courses typically have 25-35 participants and vary in length 15 to 60 hours. The six courses required by the ACP program are: Effective Classroom Management, Effective Teaching Strategies, Integrating Technology into Education, Reading to Learn, Teacher Induction and Transition into Teaching.

Agreements for Technical Services have been prepared for the attached list of ACP instructors. These instructors complete a face-to-face training session prior to facilitating ACP courses. This allows them to effectively train participants and ultimately, increase student achievement. In order to continuously assign instructors as new teachers join ACP, permission is requested to add and delete ACP instructors as needed, not to exceed the budgeted amount of $8,500.

All district goals and success factors

Funds in the amount of $8,500 are included in Staff Development budget, project 4029.

ACP participants and school administrators are surveyed annually to assess the success of the program. ACP instructors are surveyed as well to gain feedback based upon their opinion of the courses. In addition, ACP office staff track the retention rate of teachers who complete the ACP program to determine the success of its components.