HCPS FL Logo Information and Technology
Action Item
DATE: Tuesday, May 3, 2011
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement for Technical Services for DKH Consulting Services, Inc. to Perform the Evaluation of the Federally Funded Grant,  Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) (Information and Technology Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The major goals of the District's Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) is to correlate with the goals of the Federal MSAP.  These goals are to decrease desegregation and provide school choice, build capacity within proposed magnet programs and the District's magnet program, and increase academic achievement for all students.  Recent surveys conducted by the Department of Assessment and Accountability regarding school choice indicate that parents and students overwhelmingly are most interested in academically rigorous magnet programs that will prepare students for successful post-secondary education.

Dr. Deidra Honeywell, the president of DKH Consulting, has worked extensively with the Pinellas County Public Schools in obtaining and winning grants and is knowledgeable about the process including curriculum integration.  She is very well known in the state and in Washington, D.C.  Dr. Honeywell conducted the Year 1, 2 and 3 evaluations of the District's Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

Dr. Honeywell will design a timeline for data collection and an overall evaluation plan.  She will conduct on-site visits to magnet schools and provide verbal feedback and written interim reports.  The magnet schools include Blake High School, Dowdell Middle School, Ferrell Middle School, Hillsborough High School, Lennard High School, Leto High School, Lincoln Elementary School, Middleton High School, and Sligh Middle School.  This contract for evaluation services represents an extension  of the previous Magnet Schools Assistance Program and the fourth and final evaluation of federally funded Project 1833.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  Yes)
The total federally funded grant budget for Year 4 is $1,070,915. Of this amount, $30,000 has been allocated for the evaluation of the program by an external evaluator.
EVALUATION
An Annual Performance Report will be submitted at the end of the evaluation period.
SUBMITTED BY:  Samuel R. Whitten, Assistant Director, Assessment and Accountability
David J. Steele, Ph.D.   Gretchen Saunders
Chief Information and Technology Officer and Project Director, Empowering Effective Teachers Grant
(813) 272-4600
  Chief Business Officer
(813) 272-4270
    A 5.06
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20110503_458 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 5.06