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 the $487,512 Payment to the University of South Florida for Services Associated with Their Partnership in Hillsborough County Public Schools Grant Competition To Improve Public Knowledge of and Support for Democracy, Project #Q304C070025 (Student Services and Federal Programs Divisions)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) awarded $2,040,147 to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the District’s Grant Competition To Improve Public Knowledge of and Support for Democracy project, entitled Project Educating Learners to Engage in Civics Today (ELECT). The purpose of the program is to support activities to improve the quality of civic education through the implementation of comprehensive programs to improve public knowledge, understanding, and support of the United States Congress and the State legislatures. This is the first year of this federal grant competition. Only three grants were awarded nationwide, with HCPS receiving the majority of available federal grant funding. The grant period began October 1, 2007, and ends March 30, 2009. Of the total amount awarded, $487,512 is for project services rendered by the University of South Florida (USF). Dr. Michael Berson will serve as the Principal Investigator of Project ELECT. He and his staff will oversee the grant K-12 Social Studies week-long Summer Institute at USF, cybercitizenship instruction, resource and training development, and oversight of the Interactive CD-ROM and model lesson plan development. Dr. Donna Elam and staff will provide research, planning, implementation, and material development in regards to the integration of culturally competent instructional practices into the Project ELECT curriculum and instructional strategies. Dr. Liliana Rodriguez-Campos and staff will direct the evaluation activities.

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

GOAL 6 - All schools in the District will be assigned a state grade of A, B, or C (accomplish goals and critical success factors for goals 1-5).

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: No)

Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) $2,040,147 Grant Competition To Improve Public Knowledge of and Support for Democracy, Project #Q304C070025. HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent, and project funds reside with the District.

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 June 30, 2009.

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 5.19
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080207_287 * Section A Item# 5.19