Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, July 31, 2007
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Partnership with University of South Florida and Learn and Serve Special Initiatives Grant, TAPS #07C086, $10,500 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The state of Florida awarded $48,366 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the District’s Learn and Serve Special Initiatives grant project. Of this total amount, $10,500 is for project services rendered by the University of South Florida (USF). A university partnership is a requirement of this grant. The purpose of the project is to increase student reading achievement through the vehicle of service learning.

The two-phase project involves collaboration between USF service learning experts and HCPS expert teachers to: 1) design appropriate staff development components; and 2) deliver training to up to 60 HCPS interested teachers. Training selected teachers and pre-service teachers will introduce the benefits of service learning. The pilot group trained in this module as part of this project will give the HCPS a cadre of teachers who will be able to train other teachers in the district in the implementation of quality service learning projects. Participating teachers may also receive small mini-grants from project funds with which to implement their service learning projects. USF is providing the services of experts in service learning to create the staff development component of the project and perform the project evaluation.

The project began October 27, 2006, and ends August 31, 2007. Funds were received by the District January 8, 2007.

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

GOAL 1 - The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on the FCAT reading will increase a minimum of five percentage points.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: No)

Funding for this project is provided by Florida’s Learn and Serve Special Initiatives Grant award (TAPS #07C086). HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent and project funds reside at this site.

EVALUATION

Under the terms of the grant, USF is responsible for project evaluation. A copy of the final evaluation report will be provided to HCPS office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for project evaluation is December 1, 2007.

SUBMITTED BY: Lynn R. Fell, Grants and Research Operations Officer

Gwendolyn L. Luney
Assistant Superintendent, Student Services & Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879 		Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
5.09
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20070731_262 * Section E Item# 5.09