Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item

DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Approve Agreement for Technical Services with Lewis Consulting Group, Inc. to Plan and Deliver Writing Lessons - $17,500 (Curriculum and Instruction Division)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We request approval of the Agreement for Technical Services with Lewis Consulting Group, Inc. to plan and deliver writing lessons for teachers and students at Franklin, Van Buren, Sligh, Marshall, Jennings, Bartels, Buchanan, Davidsen, Dowdell, Farnell, Ferrell, Greco, Hill, Madison, Monroe, McLane, Pierce, Webb, Roland Park, Shields, Tomlin, Turkey Creek, and Burnett middle schools, beginning November 4, 2008, through February 9, 2009.

For the past eight years, Hillsborough County eighth grade student writing scores have ranked either first or among the top in the state. The 2007/2008 writing scores placed Hillsborough County eighth graders first in the state among all other counties, large or small. Each school year since 2004, Chris Lewis, a former language arts teacher and specialist in teaching writing, has worked diligently with our language arts teachers and students. All levels of student learners benefit from the consistent, effective instruction that Mr. Lewis developed and models in the classrooms.

Instruction in higher level elaboration will be provided to teachers and students with a goal of a 4% increase in the number of students scoring a 4.0 or above. Mr. Lewis’ responsibilities include the following:

His true commitment and specialization are helping our lower level students to become successful communicators and our high achieving students to further excel.

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

Goal 4 - The percentage of students achieving a score of 4.0 or high on FCAT Writing will increase a minimum of 5 percentage points.
Goal 5 - The District will eliminate the achievement gap by a minimum of 10 percentage points, as reported by No Child Left Behind.
Goal 6 - All schools in the District will be assigned a state grade of A, B, or C.

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes)

Funds of $17,500 are included in the departmental budget for Middle School Education, Project 6153.

EVALUATION

The evaluation will be based on FCAT results, May, 2009.

SUBMITTED BY: Josie Sanders, General Director, Middle School Education
 Max Hutto, Supervisor, Middle School Language Arts

Wynne A. Tye
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221
Gretchen Saunders
Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
A 5.07
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20081007_301 * Section A Item# 5.07