Approve the Agreement for Technical Services for Dr. Mariann Schmudde to Perform the Duties Associated with the Evaluation of Year 6 of the Transition to Teaching Grant, Project #1574 (Information and Technology Division)

The Transition to Teaching project focuses on supporting eligible paraprofessionals in the pursuit of a Bachelor's Degree and full certification. The project also focuses on recruiting, training, and supporting mid-career professionals and college graduates in the pursuit of full teacher certification. The project trains and supports teachers participating in the Alternative Certification Program (ACP) and places and retains highly qualified teachers in targeted high-needs schools. A full partnership between the Hillsborough County Public Schools and St. Petersburg College has been established for the purpose of implementing the Transition to Teaching project.

One of the components of the project is a requirement to evaluate the program. Dr. Mariann Schmudde has been asked to evaluate the success of year 6 of the program. Dr. Schmudde has a Ph.D. and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. Since 2002, she has been an instructor at Stetson University in the Educational Leadership Program and has experience as an evaluator for public school districts in Florida and Texas. Dr. Schmudde performed the Year 3, 4, and 5 evaluations of the program. Copies of previous years' evaluations are available upon request.

Duties of the evaluator will include, but not be limited to the following: 1) reviewing feedback from the Year 5 evaluation and making program adjustments as indicated by the data; 2) reviewing and revising the Evaluation Plan for Year 6; 3) implementing Phase I Input/Process Evaluation, Phase II Immediate Outcome Evaluation, Phase III Implementation/Utilization Evaluation, and Phase IV Impact Evaluation for Year 6; 4) reviewing instrumentation; 5) evaluating achievement data of students; 6) disseminating results of the Year 6 evaluation in a comprehensive interim report due by a date designated by the Grantor; and 7) disseminate reports, both draft and final, to the Program Manager, the Department of Assessment and Accountability, and district personnel.

* Motivate students to become responsible learners, * Recruit, develop, and retain a highly effective, diverse workforce

Of the $1,978,732 awarded for the Transition to Teaching project, $15,000 has been designated for the evaluation portion of the project.

Both interim and final reports will be disseminated to the grantor, the program manager, the Department of Assessment and Accountability, and district personnel.