Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Susan Peacock for Pre-K Child Find Screening and Assessment, Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) - $27,370 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

The Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) participates in a monthly Developmental Screening initiative throughout our county. The Developmental Screening initiative, unique to Hillsborough County, was recognized as a best practice program by the Department of Education. This program each month, with 22 collaborative partners, including FDLRS, screens at least 60 children, 0-5 years of age, in 8 domains at no charge. The goal is to identify and refer at-risk children and families for early intervention services including Child Find/Pre-K assessment, if needed. We are requesting approval of the Agreement for Technical Services for the provider to conduct speech language screenings at these events allowing the FDLRS/Pre-K speech language pathologists to stay at their school sites conducting team evaluations.

FDLRS also participates in Pre-K assessment of at-risk children, 3-5 years of age. This provider will conduct speech language evaluations of these children with Pre-K teams when speech language pathologists are on leave or not available to pair with other team members week days or on weekends. This provides FDLRS with quality assessment and more flexibility in scheduling and bringing closure to cases and minimize or eliminate any Pre-K backlog. This contractor has worked in our county before and will therefore provide quality part-time services to our Pre-K/Child Find teams.

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 no more than $27,370 are included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B, Entitlement budget, Project 1331, for this contract.