Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Partnership with Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc. to Apply for, and if Awarded, Accept Funds from Workforce Florida, Inc. for the CHOICE Career Institute Grant, 2007/2008 - $200,000 (Adult Technical Education and Career and Technical Education)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We are requesting approval of a partnership with Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc. to submit a grant application to fund new career academies or expand existing career academies that target designated industries and lead to industry-recognized certifications.

Projects funded by this grant must be designed to replicate the Community High Okaloosa Academies for Career Education (CHOICE), which is the model now embodied in the 2007 Florida Career and Professional Education Act, Senate Bill 1232. Grant funds are to help school districts implement the requirements established in the new law.

The CHOICE Academy will be a partnership between Tampa Bay Technical High School’s Computer Systems Technology program and the following postsecondary institutions to provide students an educational ladder which may lead to a variety of related careers in the Information Technologies Cluster.

  • Aparicio-Levy Technical Center’s Geographical Information Systems program
  • Erwin Technical Center’s Surveying and Mapping program
  • Learey Technical Center’s Surveying and Mapping Certification Test Preparation course
  • University of South Florida’s Degree Program in Geographical Information Systems

    • Only regional workforce boards (RWBs) may apply for these grants; however, it is intended to be a collaborative effort between the RWB and the mandatory partners: the local school board, local businesses, and local economic development organizations. The purpose of the grant is to fund new career academies or expand existing career academies that target designated industries and that lead to industry-recognized certifications. The local school district may use grant funds for direct services: marketing, curriculum development, training or mentoring, and other services provided directly to students.

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

    FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

    If awarded, up to $200,000 in grant funds will be encumbered with Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc., which may retain up to ten percent of the award for administrative costs. The remainder of the award would be available to the school district to be applied to the costs of direct services.

    RWBs must obtain and document a dollar-for-dollar match for the project amount requested in the grant application. Matching funds (in the form of cash or in-kind services) may be derived from RWB formula dollars, school districts or individual schools, participating businesses, or any other local source that wishes to contribute financially to the project.

    EVALUATION

    RWBs will be required to submit annual reports on outcomes of the CHOICE initiative over a three-year period. Success will be based on achievement of the following designated outcomes: high school diploma, dual postsecondary credit, and industry certification that prepares youth for employment or postsecondary training/college or both.

    SUBMITTED BY:

    Susan M. Miller
    Director, Adult Technical Education
    (813) 272-4225

      Pamela Campbell-Peralta
      General Director, Career and Technical Education

    		 Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
    Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
    (813) 272-4221

    1.01f
    Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070717_261 * Section E Item# 1.01f