The purpose of the Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) initiative is to create schools-within-a school in an effort to lessen the negative impact large school settings have on students. The United States Department of Education (USDOE) has changed its emphasis of the grant to academics in the high school setting. Previous emphasis was on Career and Technology. The project includes strategies to create the necessary community structure for student success. These include collaborative planning time between SLC staff members and integrated sequence of staff development for SLC staff members. Regular documentation analysis and technical assistance from a team of experts from the University of South Florida is provided, as well as specialized individual and small group advisement and counseling for students and parents. This includes E-services, intensive interventions for students who are significantly below grade level, rigorous content courses aimed at post-secondary success, tutoring, and academic and development support for all grade levels. Additionally, the program offers increased opportunities for underrepresented students to participate in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses, specific leadership training, and community service opportunities for all students. The USDOE requires that the SLC project be evaluated by an outside vendor. DKH Consulting Services, Inc. has been asked to conduct this evaluation. DKH (specifically, Dr. Deidra Honeywell) has worked with the Pinellas County Public Schools in obtaining and winning grants. She is knowledgeable about the grant process including curriculum integration. Dr. Honeywell is well known in the state and in Washington, D.C. DKH is listed with the Office of Supplier Diversity.

The evaluation will consist of developing an evaluation plan to include the following: designing and administering surveys to assess program progress and analyzing and reporting the outcome of these surveys. On-site evaluation visits will be conducted three times during the school year. Meetings with SLC evaluation teams will be held to discuss data and implementation progress. A continuous improvement loop to review and analyze implementation and draw conclusions will be utilized. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed and feedback will be provided. Recommendations for program changes, revisions, and improvements will be made. The evaluator will provide presentations to the District, schools and community stakeholders as requested. A final evaluation report will be presented to the District. The high schools involved in this project are: Armwood, Brandon, Durant, Hillsborough, Jefferson, King, Riverview, and Robinson.

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. Goal 5: The District will eliminate the FCAT achievement gap by a minimum of ten percentage points as reported by No Child Left Behind.

The total awarded for the Smaller Learning Communities grant is $10,500,000. Of this amount, $340,000 has been allocated for evaluation purposes. The sum of $68,000 has been allotted for this year one evaluation.