Hillsborough County Public Schools Business
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, May 18, 2010
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Agreement for Technical Services for Bellwether Consulting for a Three-Year Longitudinal Program Evaluation of Catapult Learning (Information and Technology Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Title I Program has employed Catapult Learning (formerly Sylvan Education Solutions) for the past several years to provide third party remedial reading and mathematics services to 25 eligible private schools, serving approximately 500 Title I students.

An Agreement for Technical Services has been developed with Bellwether Consulting, LLC to conduct a three-year longitudinal program evaluation of the third party services provided by Catapult Learning to Title I private schools for the period from 2007/08 through 2009/10. The provider will gather both quantitative and qualitative student achievement data to assess the project. The provider will communicate regularly with district personnel and will provide expert research-based assistance and will suggest possible programmatic changes as warranted. Both formative and summative feedback will be shared with the district, Catapult Learning, and the private schools involved and will be used to allow data-driven changes to occur.

The following schools with students in grades kindergarten through 12 are involved in this evaluation: American Youth Academy, Bell Shoals Baptist Academy, Bible Truth Ministries, Christ Our Redeemer, Christ the King, Corpus Christi, Faith Outreach Center, Family of Christ Lutheran, Gateway Christian, Hillel School of Tampa, Immanuel Lutheran, Incarnation School, Independent Community, Kings Kids, Mt. Calvary School, Most Holy Redeemer, Nativity Catholic School, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Joseph School, St. Lawrence, St. Peter Claver, St. Stephen Catholic School, Tampa Catholic, University Academy, and Villa Madonna.

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

* Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

Title I Funds will be used for evaluation cost of $10,000.

EVALUATION

Results of the evaluation will be shared with the district, Catapult Learning, and the private schools involved.

SUBMITTED BY: Samuel R. Whitten, Assistant Director, Assessment and Accountability

David J. Steele, Ph.D.
Chief Information and Technology Officer and Project Director, Empowering Effective Teachers Grant
(813) 272-4600
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Financial Officer
(813) 272-4270
A 5.13
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20100518_401 * Section A Item# 5.13