Approve Renewal Contract with Harcourt Assessment, Inc. for Proofreading Services for Program for Visually Impaired Students - $8,000 (Exceptional Student Education)

We request approval of the renewal contract with Harcourt Assessment, Inc. to provide proofreading services for Braille versions of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Sample Tests in a contractor/subcontractor relationship for the period December 11, 2007, through June 30, 2008. Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) will provide the following services:

• Provide third-party proofreading of both the contracted and uncontracted Braille version of the 2007/2008 FCAT Sample Tests (Grades 3-10).
• Tasks include review of materials item-by-item; errors highlighted and edits suggested as needed; and written report of the proofreaders’ comments/suggestions provided to Harcourt.

Funding for this initiative was awarded to Harcourt Assessment, Inc. by the Florida Department of Education. This will be the second year Harcourt Assessment, Inc. has requested FIMC-VI provide these services.

For the past 35 years Hillsborough County has served as the fiscal agent for the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired through a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Education. Currently FIMC-VI provides instructional materials to 3,083 students in Florida’s public and private schools.

Goal 1 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT reading will increase a minimum of five percentage points.
Goal 2 – The percentage of students scoring at Level 3 or higher on FCAT mathematics will increase a minimum of five percentage points.

Harcourt Assessment, Inc. will pay the district $8,000 for services provided and the funds will be included in the divisional special revenue/federal programs budget.