Approve the Cost Reimbursable Subagreement Between Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) and Polk County Public Schools (PCPS) as Part of the Grant Entitled “Inter-district Agreements for Expanding School Choice Through Voluntary Public School Choice Models” (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)

The Florida Department of Education, via a federal Voluntary Public School Choice grant, awarded HCPS $420,468 to implement an inter-district school choice project in partnership with PCPS. Project Building Relationships and Inter-district Development to Guide Education (BRIDGE) will replicate HCPS successful rigorous academic choice programs in schools in both counties. HCPS will serve as the mentor district while introducing the new attractor program to schools in both districts. Project BRIDGE will provide support for the AVID program, teacher training, and week-long residential academic enrichment summer camps at the University of Tampa, for rising 8th graders, and the University of South Florida for rising 10th and 11th graders. Schools included in the grant are Marshall Middle School and Plant City High School from HCPS, and Kathleen Middle School and Kathleen High School from PCPS. The Project Director is the district’s Director of Student Planning and Placement. Of the total funds, $140,448 is allocated to PCPS to fund AVID support, teacher training, and student summer camps for PCPS students. Teacher training and student summer camps will be held in partnership with students and teachers from both districts.

Funding for Project BRIDGE is provided by the Florida Department of Education through a grant from the United States Department of Education. HCPS is the fiscal agent for the project and funds reside with the district.

Under the terms of the grant, HCPS is responsible for the project evaluation. HCPS will coordinate the collection of assessment data to the outside evaluator for the grant. The outside evaluator will provide a copy of the quarterly reports and the annual evaluation report to HCPS Office of Assessment and Accountability. The anticipated date for project evaluation is December 30, 2009.