Student Services and Federal Programs Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, December 13, 2011
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Payment to Suncoast Earth Force for Services Associated with Their Partnership in Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) Grant, Project #S215L070536-10 (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) awarded $8,764,040 to HCPS for the district’s SLC grant project, entitled, "Tomorrow’s Leaders."  The purpose of the program is to support activities to improve student academic achievement in large public high schools with enrollments of 1,000 or more students.  The following high schools are included in the grant: Armwood, Brandon, Durant, Hillsborough, Jefferson, King, Riverview, and Robinson.  The district’s Supervisor for Academic Programs serves as Project Director for this grant.  The awarded amount for years four and five of the five year project is $3,090,560.  Of this total amount, $46,183 is for project services rendered during year five by Suncoast Earth Force.  Earth Force will provide a Project Coordinator to oversee all aspects of the contractual work and the service learning program at targeted sites.  In addition, they will provide a qualified trainer for monthly support meetings, loan advanced scientific equipment kits to improve the quality of student projects, and devote grant funds to provide mini-grants to targeted school sites.  Earth Force will also provide training in Service Learning by two qualified trainers for a total of 40 hours of professional development.  Years four and five of the project began October 1, 2010, and ends September 30, 2012.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Increase promotion rates at all grade levels and the percentage of high school graduates • Demonstrate consistent and effective teaching methods • Motivate students to become responsible learners • Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum • Align financial resources to support the district’s strategic goals
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
Funding for this project is provided by the USDOE's Smaller Learning Communities grant, Project # S215L070536-10.  HCPS is the grant’s fiscal agent and project funds reside with the district.
EVALUATION
Under the terms of the grant, HCPS is responsible for project evaluation.  A copy of the annual reports and final evaluation report will be provided to HCPS Office of Assessment and Accountability.  The anticipated date for the final report is December 30, 2012.
SUBMITTED BY:  Lisa Cobb, Assistant Director, Grants and Research Operations

Gwendolyn L. Luney, Assistant Superintendent		Gretchen Saunders
Student Services and Federal Programs (813) 272-4879		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		A 5.11
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20111213_480 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 5.11