Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Information Item

DATE: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Gentlemen's Club (Curriculum and Instruction)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Initiative: The Gentlemen’s Club is a program designed for at-risk Black and Hispanic male students in Grades K-12 who have shown a need to learn the finer points of behavior and etiquette. The club meets weekly providing academic, social, and emotional skills to these students through tutoring, visits to restaurants, art galleries, and college campuses. Through the Gentlemen’s Club, young men have the opportunity to take pride in their accomplishments and become productive citizens.

Goals: The goal of this initiative is to provide schools with a procedure for improving student performance and to build self-esteem and self-image for many inner-city youth.

Targeted Population: The targeted population is a group of at-risk young men in Grades K-12 who attend the following schools that volunteered to offer the club: Just Elementary, Franklin and Memorial Middle Schools, and Blake and King High Schools. Memorial Middle School will share some of their experiences of how the Gentlemen’s Club has helped them change their attitudes.

Timeline: This one-year program began this school year and will continue each year with a new group of students. Students participating in the Gentlemen’s Club will be evaluated throughout their high school years.

Staff Development: Dr. Stephen Peters provided 2 days of training for all staff members at each of the volunteer schools. Gentlemen’s Club curriculum material, consisting of objectives designed to help improve academics, attendance, and behavior issues, was provided to each site.

Transferability: The Gentlemen’s Club is transferable to other sites. Based on the evaluation conducted at the end of the school year, the program may be expanded based on available funding.

Involvement: Through teacher recommendation, students attend an information session about the club. Interested students must receive permission from their parents to be involved in the club. The program is supported by the Council for Educational Change and the Peters Foundation.

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

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

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

The cost per site is $12,500. Funding for existing programs is as follows: Just Elementary - PASS Grant through the Council for Educational Change; Franklin Middle School and Blake High School - through Title 1 funds; Memorial Middle School - through Project 5021 (non-recurring funds); and King High School – through Internal Accounts - Student Incentive Funds.

EVALUATION

The students selected to participate in the Gentlemen’s Club will be followed throughout their high school years. Each student who graduates from high school will receive $1,000 from the Peters Foundation toward their college career.

SUBMITTED BY:

Josie Sanders
General Director, Middle School Education
(813) 272-4862
Michael A. Grego, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221
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Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20080506_292 * Section B Item# 1