Hillsborough County Public Schools Student Services and Federal Programs
Action Item

DATE: Thursday, February 7, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Partnership Agreement with the State of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice, as part of the Safe Schools and Students Program, Grant #Q8911 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) awarded $100,000 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the Safe Schools and Students grant-funded project Promotion of Wellness, Empowerment and Responsibility For Girls (POWER for Girls), which targets delinquency prevention. This project will be implemented between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2008, and will provide mentoring, counseling services, in home assessments, referral services, parent education and support services, volunteer support services, and life enhancement groups for targeted at-risk girls, ages 5-15. Participants will reside in at-risk communities and demonstrate characteristics such as numerous disciplinary referrals and challenging family issues. Services will be provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is a community-based mentoring program in Hillsborough County that targets youth who are delinquent or prone to delinquency due to the prevalence of risk factors (e.g., high crime neighborhood, incarcerated parent, single-parent home, delinquency history, mental health problems, poverty, poor peer and familial relationships, school problems, etc.). BBBS works with DJJ, the school system, law enforcement, the courts, diversion programs, and other social service agencies to target high-risk segments of at-risk populations.

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

GOAL 5 - The District will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: No)

Funding for Project POWER for Girls is provided by the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Safe Schools and Students Program (Grant # Q8911). HCPS is the fiscal agent for the project, and funds reside with the district.

EVALUATION

Under the terms of the grant, HCPS is responsible for facilitating the project evaluation. HCPS and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay will coordinate the collection of assessment data to the outside evaluator for the grant. The outside evaluator will provide a copy of the annual evaluation report to HCPS Office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for project evaluation for the 2007-2008 school year is September 30, 2008.

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

Gwendolyn L. Luney
Assistant Superintendent, Student Services and Federal Programs
(813) 272-4879
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
A 5.20
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080207_287 * Section A Item# 5.20