Action Item
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Curriculum and Instruction
Action Item |
| DATE: | Tuesday, July 16, 2013 |
| TO: | School Board Members |
| FROM: | MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent |
| SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS | |
| Approve the Purchase of Adobe and Microsoft Industry Certification Practice Software and Testing Licenses from Certiport, Inc. (Sole-Source Provider) (Curriculum and Instruction Division) | |
| EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | |
| On September 11, 2012, the Board approved the agreement between the district and Certiport, Inc. for Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) classroom licenses. We request approval to purchase Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) 2007/2010 Licenses, MOS 2007/2010 Exam Vouchers, and GMetrix Practice software for 24 middle schools, 27 high schools, and 3 career centers to provide MOS certification testing to Career and Technical Education (CTE) students and teachers. In addition, we request approval to purchase ACA classroom licenses for 29 high school sites to provide ACA certification testing for CTE students and teachers. This purchase will extend the existing licenses for an additional year and provide school sites with access to ACA and MOS certification practice software and testing licenses. The software and licenses cover certification tests in Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, and Premiere Pro, as well as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook (including 2007 and 2010 versions). These certification exams are recognized by industry and provide students with a marketable skill to take to the workforce. Industry certification exams are a required component of Career Academies as outlined in Florida’s Career and Professional Education (CAPE) legislation.
Students successfully earning industry certifications generate weighted FTE funding back to the CTE programs where the student is enrolled and where the industry certifications are earned. Industry certifications are to be included in the calculation of school grades. Certiport, Inc. has the global administration rights for the MOS and Microsoft Business Certifications program for Microsoft. Therefore, Certiport, Inc. is the exclusive agent in the state, and is exempt from the solicitation process per the Florida Department of Education rule 6A1.012 (12)(d) Purchasing Policies. |
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| STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES | |
| • Challenge and support all students with an appropriate curriculum • Align the performance management system with the district’s priorities | |
| FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: Yes) | |
| The licenses are subject to renewal on an annual basis to provide continual access to certification preparation and testing. The total cost of this purchase will be $291,892.50, which will be funded from weighted FTE funds earned by previous student achievement in industry certification testing. | |
| EVALUATION | |
| This program will be evaluated by the number of successful industry certifications achieved by students and teachers. | |
| SUBMITTED BY: Warren Brooks, General Director, Career, Technical, and Adult Education | |
| Wynne A. Tye | Gretchen Saunders | |
| Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction (813) 272-4221 |
Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270 |
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| A 6.06 | ||
| Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20130716_591 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 6.06 | ||